The Governess Club: Claire
HE
G
OVERNESS
C
LUB
: C
LAIRE
E
LLIE
M
ACDONALD
For my family. Thanks for your support and your speechlessness.
C
ONTENTS
An Excerpt from
The Governess Club: Bonnie
An Excerpt from
Skies of Gold
by Zoë Archer
An Excerpt from
Crave
by Monica Murphy
An Excerpt from
Can’t Help Falling in Love
by Cheryl Harper
An Excerpt from
Things Good Girls Don’t Do
by Codi Gary
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
M
any thanks to everyone at the Avon Impulse team for bringing this all together, especially my editor, Tessa Woodward, for taking a chance on me and all of her patience; I wouldn’t have done this without her. Also special thanks to Toby Anne for her willingness to help and obsess along with me. She was there every step of the way with a glass of wine in her hand and glitter in her hair.
ROLOGUE
“C
an any of you honestly say she hasn’t thought about it?”
Silence reigned; teacups hovered between saucer and mouth. Eyes flitted away with guilt —or secret shame, unwilling to admit that it had indeed crossed their minds.
“You’re not being fair,” one chided softly.
“But who genuinely wants this for the rest of their lives?”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a governess,” another chimed in.
“Of course not. Not if one disregards the fact that for women of our station it signifies a lowering of one’s situation. We were not born to be in service.”
“It’s not quite service, per se . . .”
“How is it anything else? We are being paid to render a service. Our lives are theirs to dictate. I cannot even count the number of times I have been called upon to even out the numbers at a dinner party. And they think they are bestowing some great honor upon me when they know full well I have attended more illustrious tables than theirs.”
“Now you’re just being aggressive.”
“And I dislike the being termed ‘one whom another pays for a service,’” said another. “It makes me feel dirty, like a . . .”
“Say it dear. A
whore
. We are being paid for a service, which in essence is exactly what a whore is paid for.”
“I believe my half day is nearly up. It is a long walk back, and the children will be expecting me back for their evening meal. I have no wish to be caught in the rain.” A small redhead pulled on her gloves and left the room.
“Louisa, what is the matter with you? You know very well your logic is flawed. The whole of the working class are paid for services; it is only a minority who have a negative stigma attached to them, and that is based on the service they render, not simply the fact that they are getting paid.”
Louisa sighed and sipped her tea. “I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
Claire patted her arm. “We know. And Sara knows that, I’m sure.”
Bonnie spoke up. “What caused this rant, Louisa? You are not usually so ferocious in your opinions.”
Staring into her tea, Louisa said, “The Waldrons had a house party last week. One of my brother’s friends was a guest.”
“Oh dear.”
“When he first saw me, he seemed genuinely delighted. And he was. I welcomed his compliments and platitudes because it reminded me of how my life had been before . . . well, before. But when his attentions became more marked and aggressive, I knew the truth. All he said was . . . he said . . . that surely I must expect this as part of my duties.”
“Did you—I mean did he—”
“One thing I can thank my brother for is teaching me how to defend myself against unwanted male attention.” A small smile accompanied Louisa’s words. Twin sighs of relief escaped her two friends, and she raised her eyes to theirs, beseeching their understanding. “There must be more to life for us than this. We were raised to expect better.”
“But how?” asked Bonnie. “None of us earn enough money to live independently for the duration of our lives, and our marriage prospects have dwindled more quickly than our social statuses.”
“It’s not like we have regular exposure to the kind of gentlemen who would elevate us back up anyway, even if they could,” Claire joined in. “The gentlemen we work for are already married, and their friends see us as nothing more than sport, if they see us at all. We can no longer trust gentlemen of the titled class.”
“But who says we need a man or marriage to escape our positions? And who says that
independent
means
isolated
?” Louisa asked.
“I don’t think I quite follow,” Bonnie said.
Louisa turned to Claire. “Have you made any progress on Ridgestone?”
Claire blinked. “No, but my father’s—
my
solicitor remains optimistic.”
“And each of us has been saving our wages, correct? Even Sara, I’m sure.” At the confirming nods, Louisa became more adamant. “We could do it.”
“Do what?”
“We could pool our resources and live independently, yet not isolated, and without marriage. Say we continue saving our money for three more years, five at most. That would give Claire ample time to see if regaining Ridgestone is possible and for us to save nest eggs capable of supporting us, albeit not in the style we were raised, but still comfortably. If Ridgestone is a possibility, then we already have a place to live. If not, then with all four of us contributing, we could afford a place large enough for the four of us.”
“But houses cost money to maintain. How would we manage that if we no longer have our incomes?” Bonnie asked.
“We could still hire out our services as sort of tutors to young ladies and boys in want of preparation for school. Continue being teachers privately, not governesses, and maintain control over our own lives.” Louisa beamed at her own ingenuity.
“You are sounding like Mary Wollstonecraft,” Bonnie warned. “You’ve been reading her books and tracts again, haven’t you?”
“What is wrong with thinking there is more to life? Why is it sinful for a woman to be treated equally and live independent of men?”
Claire and Bonnie exchanged a glance.
“I suppose that it is possible,” Claire said.
“The idea does seem appealing,” Bonnie agreed.
“I would much rather live with my three friends and be mistress of my own fate than have the Waldrons breathing down my neck,” Louisa said emphatically.
Claire gave a wry smile. “That is certainly a ringing endorsement.”
The others laughed. “Still, there is much to be thought upon and worked out,” Bonnie cautioned. “Much can happen in five years.”
“We have five years to do so,” Louisa said.
“And Sara? Do you think she would be willing to join the club?” Claire asked.
“We have five years to convince her of that, too,” Louisa answered. “And I like that idea—a club. Ladies and gentlemen have their exclusive clubs and gatherings that we cannot participate in; this is something that
they
cannot participate in. I say we make this entirely our own. Governesses only.”
“A governess club?” Bonnie said with a smile.
“Indeed. And furthermore, we should have a motto,” Louisa declared.
Claire laughed. “Like what?”
Louisa considered for a moment. “I know it is not an original idea, but perhaps ‘All for one and one for all.’”
It was Bonnie’s turn to laugh. “We are not defending the French monarchy, Louisa.”
“No,” she agreed solemnly. “We are fighting for our lives.”
And thus, the Governess Club was born.
HAPTER
O
NE
June 1822
“M
iss Bannister! Miss Bannister!”
Six pairs of eyes looked up at the call; six pairs watched a maid hurry across the green lawn toward the trees. “Miss Bannister!” This time the maid added a wave, just to ensure she was noticed.
Miss Claire Bannister turned her pair of eyes back to her charges. “Keep sketching, children, while I speak with Lucy. Miss Allison, what a lovely shade of purple that hair is.” The four-year-old beamed up at her as Claire stood and made her way toward the approaching servant.
“Miss,” Lucy puffed as the two met, “there’s a London gent in Mrs. Morrison’s parlor fer ya.”
“What?” Claire asked, surprised.
“A London gent. He said he was to meet with you, Mr. Fosters, and Mrs. Morrison. They’re all there, waitin’ fer ya.”
Claire pressed a bewildered hand to her forehead. “What does he want?”
“I dunno, Miss, they didn’t tell me. You’d best hurry; it took some time to find you, and they’ve been waitin’ an age.”
“Indeed.” Glancing back at the group under the tree, Claire started toward the manor. “Please watch the children for me. I will return as soon as I am able.”
“Yes, Miss,” Lucy replied with a quick curtsey.
What would a “London gent” want with her, Claire wondered as she quickened her pace. The only man she knew in the capital was Mr. Baxter, her late father’s solicitor. Why would he come all the way here instead of corresponding through a letter as usual? Unless it was something more urgent than could be committed to paper. Perhaps it had something to do with Ridgestone—
At that thought, Claire lifted her skirts and raced to the parlor. Five years had passed since her father’s death, since she had to leave her childhood home, but she had not given up her goal to one day return to Ridgestone.
The formal gardens of Aldgate Hall vanished, replaced by the memory of her own garden; the terrace doors no longer opened to the ballroom, but to a small, intimate library; the bright corridor darkened to a comforting glow; Claire could even smell her old home as she rushed to the door of the housekeeper’s parlor. Pausing briefly to catch her breath and smooth her hair, she knocked and pushed the door open, her head held high, barely able to contain her excitement.
Cup and saucer met in a loud rattle as a young man hurried to his feet; Mrs. Morrison’s disapproving frown could not stop several large drops of tea from contaminating her white linen, nor could Mr. Fosters’ harrumph. Claire’s heart sank as she took in the man’s youth, disheveled hair, and rumpled clothes; he was decidedly
not
Mr. Baxter. Perhaps a new associate? Her heart picked up slightly at that thought.
Claire dropped a shallow curtsey. “You wished to see me, Mrs. Morrison?”
The thin woman rose and drew in a breath that seemed to tighten her face even more with disapproval; she gestured to the stranger. “Yes. This is Mr. Jacob Knightly. Lord and Lady Aldgate have retained him as a tutor for the young masters.”
Claire blinked. “A tutor? I was not informed they were seeking—”
“It is not your place to be informed,” the butler, Mr. Fosters, cut in.
Claire immediately bowed her head and clasped her hands in front of her submissively. “My apologies. I overstepped.” Her eyes slid shut and she took a deep breath to dispel the disappointment. Ridgestone faded into the back of her mind once more.
Mrs. Morrison continued with the introduction. “Mr. Knightly, this is Miss Bannister, the governess.”
Mr. Knightly bowed. “Miss Bannister, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Claire automatically curtseyed. “The feeling is mutual, sir.” As she straightened, she lifted her eyes to properly survey the new man. Likely not yet thirty, Mr. Knightly wore his brown hair long enough to not be following the current fashion. Scattered locks fell across his forehead, and a darkening of a beard softened an otherwise square-jawed face. Standing nearly a head taller than herself, his loosely fitted jacket and modest cravat did nothing to conceal broad shoulders. Skimming her gaze down his body, she noticed a shirt starting to yellow with age and a plain brown waistcoat struggling to hide the fact that its owner was less than financially secure; even his trousers were slightly too short, revealing too much of his worn leather boots. All in all, Mr. Jacob Knightly appeared to be the epitome of a young scholar reduced to becoming a tutor.