“Because I know the people in this mansion far better than you do. If Thomas and Lady Eleanor were bickering, it has nothing to do with you or me; learn to mind your own business for once in your life!”
Chapter 18
Livinia’s heart skipped a beat when Benedict entered the parlour. They hadn’t said more than two words to each other since the previous day when she’d pushed him away. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, yet her mind couldn’t grasp why he hadn’t taken what she was saying seriously.
He’d been all hell-bent on solving the mystery, but as soon as she had provided him with what could have been a lead, he changed his mind.
Benedict nodded an acknowledgement in her direction before taking up his regular seat. He hardly looked in her direction, and whenever he did, Livinia could feel the distance now creating a giant void between them. Had Thomas been correct when he said Benedict would cast her aside when he was done with her?
She had begun to think of him as someone intelligent, passionate, protective, and dedicated. Was he truly like all other men when it came to their lust?
Her heart ached with confusion as she turned her attention back to the stack of letters in her hands. “There is a letter here for you, My Lord.” Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the name on the envelope. The return address had the Spencer name in bold letters.
“Thank you,” Benedict grunted and took the letter from her without looking into her eyes. The atmosphere between them was so intense that Livinia felt as if she would cry. She knew she had overstepped the mark but had done so with the belief that she was protecting the family she had come to care for.
Benedict opened the letter after reading the names and quickly read over the note.
Her heart beat uncontrollably in her chest as she wondered what Lady Eleanor had written to him about. Perhaps there was an explanation for her quarrel with Thomas the previous day. She had made the bold decision to keep the letter as evidence should anything else occur. Whether Thomas would discover its absence was another question entirely.
Benedict folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. “Lady Theodora and I will be attending a dinner with Lady Eleanor tomorrow evening. I expect you to have her ready and versed in proper etiquette,” he commanded her in a cool tone before placing the letter beside him on the table.
Livinia swallowed hard as a jolt of shock ran through her body.
A dinner with Lady Eleanor?
What was the woman planning if she was indeed part of some conspiracy with Thomas? Would the earl and Theodora be in any kind of danger? “Will I be attending as Lady Theodora’s chaperone this evening?” she worked up the courage to ask him in a dignified manner.
“No, you will be staying here and carrying out your duties. An intimate dinner is no place for a governess,” he snapped at her and shot her such a scornful gaze that she felt her heart breaking.
“My Lord, if I …” She began to explain her motives for taking the letter, but his words cut her sentence in half.
“You what? Forgot that you are a governess in this house and not some kind of great detective?” His chest moved up and down in anger as he glared at her. “You will do better to keep to the duties you are paid for.”
Gone was the open conversation and banter they’d had in the past. Livinia felt as if the entire world she’d immersed herself in had come crashing to the ground at her feet. Was this truly because she had rejected his advances in the heat of the moment, or did his behaviour have something to do with the sudden appearance of Lady Eleanor Spencer?
“Make sure that Lady Theodora is ready on time.” He pushed himself out of the chair and left the room in a huff without so much as a glance in her direction.
Livinia wanted to go after him and fix what had gone wrong, but something inside her knew it wouldn’t work unless he saw reason in what she was trying to show him.
Cheerful whistling caught her attention as someone came down the hall.
Thomas?
Her heart began to thud despite the pain she was feeling because of her current situation. Why was he in such a good mood?
“Miss Campbell?” He greeted her with cheerful indifference before coming into the room and clearing the tea tray.
He couldn’t have found the letter if he were in such a cheerful mood, or had he already realized she had taken it?
Clearing her throat, she decided to test the waters. “His Lordship informed me now that he and Lady Theodora will be attending a dinner tomorrow evening with Lady Eleanor.” She tried her best to remain cool and collected.
Thomas stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a strange expression. “Will you be in attendance as chaperone as well?”
“No, it will only be Lady Theodora and His Lordship. I will be staying here to attend to my duties.” She held her breath as she waited for his response.
“Very well.” Thomas nodded and turned back to the tray.
What is going on in this house?
Livinia collected her belongings and decided to head upstairs. At least one person in the house would still treat her as if she weren’t a pariah. She agonized over whether she should trust Lady Theodora with the new information or protect her innocence as Benedict had done for so many years.
***
Livinia pinned Theodora’s dark brown hair to the back of her head in a tight bun. She asked for something simple and not too fancy since it was just a dinner with an old friend. Livinia had agreed and instructed the girl in proper social etiquette as a young lady at dinner.
The light green dress they had chosen for the occasion lit up her eyes hauntingly, making her light green irises stand out with their beauty. Theodora sat in front of her dressing table with Livinia at her side, fussing over her like a mother hen. Yet the silence that ensued between them was palpable.
Livinia spent the previous night agonizing over whether or not she should involve the girl in the situation. Something at the back of her mind kept nagging at her to protect her at all costs. The loss of one’s innocence wasn’t something that could ever be restored when it was broken.
“Miss Campbell, has something happened? You aren’t leaving us, are you?” Theodora asked her with a wide-eyed expression of concern.
The pure, child-like innocence she saw reflected in the mirror as she looked up tugged at her heart. “No, I’m not going anywhere; at least I am not planning on leaving. Why would you ask a question like that?” She probed the waters gently, not wanting to lead the girl in any specific direction. If she wanted to say something, then she wanted Theodora to offer it up of her own free will.
Theodora took a deep breath as if she had been holding back her breath. “I don’t know, I just have this strange feeling that things have changed again. Benedict was a bit more light-hearted after your arrival, and now he’s back to being the same closed-off person he was before. Did the two of you quarrel? Why are you not joining us this evening again as a chaperone?” The girl’s words fell over one another in torrents as the concerns spilled from her mouth.
Livinia had to take a moment to compose herself before saying anything she shouldn’t. “I will not be attending this evening because it is not proper for a governess to attend an intimate dinner. The only reason we could get away with it at the ball was because of my disguise, and His Lordship thought it a good idea for me to keep an eye on you.” Her heart broke again at the memory of their kiss.
Perhaps she should have allowed him to kiss her again instead of pushing him back; at least then, he’d still be talking to her instead of having to deal with his silence.
