A Governess to Guide the Duke’s Heart (Preview)

Prologue

It was far too hot in the theater. Sophia didn’t want to stay any longer, but her father was adamant about staying. He said that she would forget how hot she was once the performance was in the grips of its story. Sophia didn’t know if there was a story within a song: She had never completely understood operas. She was the type of person who needed things explained to her properly, and singing about it wasn’t the way to do it. It just felt awkward.

But it was popular, and most of the ton seemed to appreciate it, so she wasn’t about to argue with it. Not when she was in the minority.

However, being in the box, the walls felt like they were closing in. With so many people packed into the theater itself, Sophia felt stifled and restricted. She was struggling to breathe, and she could feel the sweat trickling down her back. Not very ladylike, but how was she supposed to keep herself cool? A fan was only good at keeping her face cool, not the rest of her.

Her father was engrossed in the opera, almost leaning his arms on the parapet so he could watch with rapt attention. He declared that he loved this, that it spoke to him on a deeper level. Sophia tried to understand where he was coming from but had given up some time ago. Baron Harwood was a tough individual to figure out.

How he and her mother had been in love and devoted to each other until her mother’s death five years before when they had differing opinions on opera, Sophia had no idea. But the two of them managed together, and it worked. Nobody questioned it when they could see the obvious love between the two when the Baroness had been alive. The affection between her parents had been clear, and it made Sophia smile to see it.

She hoped to have something like that for herself one day.

Sophia couldn’t stay in the box for much longer. She was going to faint with the heat. She contemplated telling her father where she was going so he didn’t wonder, but he would urge her to stay, that it wouldn’t be long until they got to an interval, and then she could get some air. But Sophia didn’t want to be around other people. It was going to make her feel crowded, and she wouldn’t get any respite.

He wouldn’t notice that she was gone for a while.

“Are you all right, Miss Bennett?”

Sophia bit back a groan. She had almost forgotten about the gentlemen sitting beside her. That wasn’t helping with the sensation of feeling squashed, either. Normally, it would be just her and her father in the box for whatever they were watching, but now they had four other people sitting with them, including the fair-haired young man with a thin mustache peering at her curiously, his eyes searching her face.

“I’m fine,” Sophia whispered back. “I’m just going to get some air.”

“I’ll come with you.” He started to stand up, but Sophia fixed him with a glare.

“I don’t think you can come into the powder room with me, sir,” she said coolly.

He sat back down again, his face flushing from that remark. Sophia glanced at her father, hoping he hadn’t noticed the interaction. He hadn’t, still avidly watching the woman who had approached the front of the stage, about to start her song. But the other suitors were looking at her, as if she was waiting for them to say they could come with her.

Ignoring them, she moved through the chairs, trying not to accidentally brush up against any of them, and left the box. It was a little cooler in the hallway, but not by much. Sophia slumped against the wall for a moment, her heart pounding. At least she didn’t feel boxed in.

She needed to get away for a bit before one of those insufferable men followed her. Sophia wasn’t interested in talking to any of them.

Making her way down the stairs, her shoes tapping on the polished hardwood, she reached the foyer. It was certainly better than a moment ago, to be free and not feel crushed by others. A few servants were walking around, looking to be setting up for the interval. Nobody paid her any attention as she went over to the front doors and opened one.

It had been a hot day, but now that it was descending into evening there was a cool breeze that wafted over her. It was a massive relief, and Sophia sighed as she leaned against the doorframe.

She needed this right now. It was a welcome escape from what had been going on. When she arrived at the theater with her father, she had expected it to be an evening with just the two of them, like always. But her heart had sank when Baron Harwood introduced her to four young men, all eligible and wealthy, who were keen to meet her.

It was a mass attempted courtship, Sophia realized. And she was horrified that it was happening to her right now. She had made it clear that she wanted to enjoy her first Season in London without being concerned about finding a potential husband. She needed to get herself settled and be more comfortable with herself, but her father wasn’t allowing that to happen. He seemed eager to get rid of her.

He might’ve said that he wasn’t doing that, but his actions said otherwise. Sophia was not happy with him right now. Even if she liked opera, how was she supposed to enjoy it when she was stuck with total strangers who were trying to awkwardly have a conversation with her when they were meant to be watching something?

Baron Harwood hadn’t thought this through. If he had to do this to her and introduce her to plenty of gentlemen, then why didn’t he do it as a dinner at their home? Or host a ball? It would be less oppressive than a theater. But she was his only child, and her father didn’t have any experience chaperoning a daughter. He probably thought he was doing the right thing.

What happened to letting her get settled?

“I see I’m not the only one who had a bright idea.”

Sophia jumped, her heart almost leaping out of her chest. Looking around, she tried to see where the voice was coming from. Then she saw a gentleman stepping out from an alcove to her left. He was wearing dark blue, the coat fitting him perfectly around his broad shoulders and trim frame.

He was handsome, there was no denying that, although he looked more like one of the busts of a Roman emperor, from eight hundred years before. His dark hair was tousled as if he had been running his fingers through it, his strong, square jaw covered with a thin beard.

But it was his eyes that skewered her to the spot. They were a brilliant green, sparkling like emeralds in the candlelight. There was an amusement to them that also drew Sophia in. She couldn’t stop herself from staring. They were just incredible.

She had never seen eyes like that before.

Then she realized he had said something, and she pressed a hand to her chest, hoping that her heart would stop racing.

“You scared me, sir!” she gasped. “Do you normally sneak up on young ladies?”

“I don’t make a habit of it, I can assure you of that. But I don’t normally interact with young ladies who practically run out of the theater like their life depended on it.”

“I wasn’t that bad, was I?”

“That’s what it appeared like to me. As if you couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”

Sophia could feel her face getting warm. Why did she have to embarrass herself in front of this gentleman, who was clearly a member of the elite? There was something about his demeanor and the way he carried himself that suggested he was a more prominent noble than she was. It sent a shiver down her spine that wasn’t part of the cool air coming from outside.

How had she gotten herself in this position?

“I’m just not really an avid follower of opera,” she admitted. That was close enough to the truth. “I prefer plays. At least it’s given to us in a language I can understand.”

He chuckled. “I feel the same way. It’s just pretentious, opera. And the sopranos manage to sing so high that it makes my ears hurt.”

“Then why are you here, My Lord?” Sophia asked. “Why would you subject yourself to it when you don’t care for it?”

“I’m here with some acquaintances, and a few of them are very keen on opera. They wanted us to go as a group to see this most recent operatic…” He frowned. “I believe they called it a movement. I’m not entirely sure. But they were adamant about it, so the rest of us went along with it, including myself.”

“Surely, they would notice that you’ve gone from your seat, though? Aren’t you worried they’ll be aware that you’ve snuck away?”

“I don’t think so, not when I was in the aisle seat. Those who are stuck with them are going to be envious that I was able to sneak off and they can’t. It would be too obvious if most of them stood up and started to leave.”

Sophia couldn’t stop herself from giggling. “That sounds rather mean.”

“Then why are you laughing about it?”

“I don’t know. I think my father would call it delightfully evil.”

He chuckled, and the sound rippled through her body, making Sophia want to shiver. Then she realized what was going on with her. She seemed to be having a reaction to the man before her. What was wrong with her? Certainly, she found him attractive, and those green eyes were remarkable, but what was happening beyond that?

She needed to maintain her composure and not behave like a fool in front of him. If he was a member of High Society, she needed to be on her best behavior.

“I like that. Delightfully evil.” He tilted his head to one side, regarding her curiously. “And what else would you describe as that? Do you count you sneaking away as the same?”

“I don’t know what I would call mine.” Sophia shrugged. “But I’m just glad that I’m out of there. It was far too warm for anything, even watching opera.”

Just at that point, the soprano could be heard in the foyer. It was so loud and high that Sophia winced. The gentleman grimaced.

“At least we’re not in there. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone else was deaf.”

“I honestly don’t know why Father likes this. It’s rather… strange to me.”

“I won’t argue with you on that.”

As they continued, Sophia was aware that they didn’t have a chaperone. They be having a conversation like this, but she liked to think that they weren’t being inappropriate. There were servants walking around the foyer, so they weren’t completely alone, and he had remained a respectable distance from her.

She didn’t want this to stop. This interaction, even though it was brief, was far more interesting than the practiced flattery and remarks toward her from the suitors Father had introduced to her at the start of the evening.

They had sounded very rehearsed, almost as if they didn’t believe what they were saying. Sophia had found it insulting that they couldn’t be original with what they said to her; they had likely said the same thing to other ladies.

She wanted someone to be genuinely interested and focusing the compliments on just her and nobody else.

“Your Grace? What are you doing out here?”

The sudden female voice made Sophia jump, and she saw the reaction from the gentleman immediately. His easy smile that had been on her for some time immediately disappeared, and his eyes went blank. It was like he had slipped a mask on so fast she barely saw it happening. Sophia was shocked at how it had occurred in front of her.

Now it felt like a completely different person was standing in front of her.

A tall, graceful-looking woman with white-blonde hair and alabaster skin, wearing a dark blue gown, was walking toward them, her skirts swishing around her legs with her confident stride. A maid was with her, almost hurrying to keep up with her.

Sophia thought she recognized her, but she couldn’t completely place where from. And she didn’t like the way the lady was giving her a haughty look, practically staring down her nose at her from across the foyer.

Then she practically ignored Sophia as she turned back to the gentleman with a ready smile.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you out here. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Lady Honoria,” he said stiffly, practically ignoring Sophia now. “I was merely getting some air. It is rather warm in the theater.”

Lady Honoria giggled. “I know. It’s very stuffy. That’s why I was going to find a moment to myself. Perhaps you would wish to join me?” Without waiting for him to answer, she slipped an arm through his. “Come on, Your Grace. We can have a more interesting conversation than with anyone else this evening.”

Sophia noticed that she was barely acknowledged after that glance, and before she could say anything to the gentleman, he had been led away by Lady Honoria, the maid in tow. As they walked off, Lady Honoria glanced over her shoulder and gave her a sly smile, which indicated she knew exactly what she was doing.

Sophia tried not to feel a flash of annoyance over it; this was nothing to do with her, and yet she had been rudely interrupted and discarded by someone. The gentleman hadn’t done that, and from the way he interacted with her, things seemed to be going well. He hadn’t insulted her, and there was an easy attitude between the two of them. She had wanted to keep that going, no matter how little it was.

From the look on Lady Honoria’s face, she was smug about taking that away.

It was only as they left the foyer that Sophia realized she didn’t know his name. Somehow, she had never learned it. Then she remembered Lady Honoria saying to him ‘Your Grace’. Did that mean…?

Did that mean she had been conversing with a duke? How had she managed that?

Sophia stepped out onto the steps of the theater and took a deep breath. She needed the cooler air to shock her into realizing what had just happened.

Chapter One

It was freezing. Sophia had her coat on and a scarf tucked around her neck, but she was still cold. She shivered as the wind from the open window wafted across her face and found a gap in her scarf to go down her neck. Her whole body felt like it was being tickled, and it was horrible.

If only they could close the window on the carriage, but someone had broken it on a previous trip. Sophia wanted to do something to cover it up, and yet she had been told to leave it alone, scolded like she was a child.

She was twenty years of age. How could she be treated like that?

Then again, things had changed a lot in the last few weeks. She had managed to get through the New Year and the snow, which was one of the least favorite things in her life. It was far too cold for her. Then Father had died, and Sophia felt as if there was no meaning to the day.

One day he was there, and the next he was gone, and Sophia didn’t know what to do with herself.

Especially once she found out there was practically nothing left after the debts were paid off. Just enough for her to buy a small cottage somewhere in the country, but that was it. No servants, no fine gowns or being taken to balls, or other social gatherings—nothing.

She had gone from a baron’s daughter to practically a pauper in the space of a week. It had been three weeks since her father’s death, and Sophia had no idea how to cope with any of it. She had been told there was no other family—none that would take her in, anyway—so she had to do things on her own.

How had it come to this?

“Where are you heading to?”

Sophia startled. She had almost forgotten that she wasn’t traveling alone in the carriage. Across from her was a matronly woman with a pleasant-looking face and easygoing demeanor.

She looked comfortable, bundled up in the many furs wrapped around her, and Sophia felt a little envious of that. Why couldn’t she have furs like those? She’d had a couple, but then she had to sell them for money. It was frustrating, but it had to be done. She could cope without a fur.

Mostly, she grimaced to herself as the wind went down her neck again.

“I… I’m going to Ravenshire,” she said.

The woman looked surprised.

“Oh, really? I live there myself.”

“Do you?”

“Not too far from the coast, actually. Very beautiful there, and only a short walk to the beach. Very windy, unfortunately, so you always have to wear a bonnet.” The woman touched her perfectly coiffed hair. “Whereabouts are you going to, my dear?”

“Thornfield Manor.”

That was when the other lady stopped what she was doing, blinking in surprise at her.

“You’re going there?”

“I am.” Sophia shifted uncomfortably on her seat. “I’ve been hired as a governess to the Duke of Ravenshire. They’re in need of someone to look after his sister’s children.”

The woman’s face had gone pale, as if horrified that Sophia was even contemplating it.

“But… surely not!”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Have you not heard the rumors about that man and that place?”

Sophia frowned. “What are you talking about? What rumors?”

“You mean nobody told you about how bad it is over there?” The woman leaned forward as if she was giving her some national secret. “There have been plenty of governesses there over the years. I’d say at least a dozen.”

“A dozen?”

“And they never stay long, either. They end up leaving very quickly.”

Sophia didn’t like how this sounded. It was beginning to feel like the start of a scary story told to children before they went to bed. She was reminded of a book she had read when she was ten years old, The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, and how she had nightmares for a while afterward.

She pushed that aside. Now was not the time to start worrying about that.

“That’s not all,” the woman continued, her eyes lighting up as if she had found an avid audience. “It’s known that the Duke is cold and mean. He’s very stony with everyone, including those poor children he has to care for now.”

“His sister’s children? I believe I was told that during the interview process.”

“Apparently, she got married to someone nobody approved of and was disowned. Now she’s dead, and her children are in the guardianship of their uncle, the Duke of Ravenshire.”

She pursed her lips. “From what I’ve heard, he’s more than displeased about looking after them. When the governess isn’t around, they’re in the care of an aging nanny who is incredibly strict. If you ask me, she should’ve been dismissed from her position long ago.”

Sophia didn’t know what to say to that, but it wasn’t boding well for her position. When she had been told that she needed to get things sorted and that would mean getting a job that would suit her situation, she had been productive enough to ask around to see if there were any governess positions that needed filling.

It was humiliating to be put in that situation, but she knew she could cope with it; she liked children, and she had been very studious when she was a child so she was confident in her teaching abilities. This governess spot at Thornfield Manor had been just what she was looking for. Now she was beginning to doubt herself.

“I’m sure things aren’t as bad as they sound,” she said, trying to sound as calm as possible as her heart pounded. “Once I’m there and settled in, it’ll likely be absolutely fine.”

“Even with a cold man as your employer and a strict nanny?”

“Maybe that’s just what he’s like, and I’m sure the nanny will be able to ease off with whatever she’s doing. These children have lost their mother, after all, so they’re going to need someone to properly care for them.”

“You have a point there.” The woman still looked skeptical. “I don’t know if it’s possible, though. The other governesses apparently said the same thing, and then they were gone once a bond had likely been forged. Those children have been through enough without the adults in their life running away all the time.”

Sophia didn’t know what to say to that other than agree. It was not fair to the little ones when they had lost a parent. Where was the father? If they were in the care of their uncle, he was likely gone as well.

Her heart ached for them, and she could feel the tears well up as she thought about her own father. It was still very raw for her, and she wanted to cry. But she wouldn’t lose her composure in front of a stranger.

That could wait until later.

The carriage slowed, and then stopped, and there was a bang on the roof.

“We’re here, Miss Bennett!” the driver called from above. “Thornfield Manor. Edgar will get your bag down for you.”

Sophia looked out the window. Thornfield Manor was huge. It loomed up at the end of a very long, wide driveway lined by trees. Even at the end of the driveway, the manor looked big.

“He’s not going to go any further than this,” the woman said, likely reading her thoughts. “He never deviates from his journey. Very meticulous.”

Sophia didn’t know what to say to that. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and got out. Edgar, the young man who hung onto the back of the carriage, had already gotten her bag down from the rack. He gave her a sheepish smile as he handed it to her.

“My apologies, Miss Bennett, but my boss is very particular about us staying on the route. You’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

“I can manage. You don’t need to worry.” Sophia flexed her fingers inside her gloves and picked up her bag, “Thank you.”

As Edgar climbed back onto the carriage, the woman stuck her head out of the window.

“Good luck, Miss Bennett,” she said. “I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

Before Sophia could say anything back, mostly to say it couldn’t be that bad, the carriage had moved on, trundling down the route.

She watched them go as if they were the last civilization she was ever going to see. Then she turned to look at the driveway. It was late February, and the frost was thick on the ground, turning the grass white. It looked like everything had frozen in time. There was no wind, no sound of any animals. It was still.

Sophia wondered if this was a sense of things to come or if she was just imagining things.

Squaring her shoulders, she began to walk, the frost crunching under her shoes. It felt somewhat satisfying despite everything, and Sophia found that a comfort as she walked up the driveway. She needed that now, especially with her predicament.

She had no money and no prospects anymore. Those days when she had been flirted with and entertained like an esteemed guest were long gone now. She hadn’t cared much for them before, but now she was regretting that it wasn’t going to happen again. Her father’s debts had been far greater than anyone imagined, and now Sophia was paying the price for it.

She could only hope that it wouldn’t be this bad forever. She would get back on her feet, and she would find a new life for herself. One that she made on her own and didn’t need to rely on anyone else outside of finding a job. Women having independence was a strange concept, but Sophia was actually looking forward to it.

She would need to if it was going to be her future.

Halfway up the driveway, her foot slipped out from under her suddenly, and she stumbled forward. Her bag went flying out of her hand in her attempt to stop herself from landing face-first on the ground, and it opened as it hit the grass.

To her horror, Sophia saw her garments scatter across the driveway, ending up in a heap around her. As if sensing something had happened, the wind began to pick up and she could see her gowns flapping in the strong breeze, ready to take off.

Ignoring the pain in her knee and hand, her shin throbbing through her stockings, Sophia scrambled up and began to grab at her garments in a panic, stuffing them haphazardly back into her bag. She had only been told to bring a certain amount of garments, and most of her finer gowns had been sold off, so this was all she had. And they were ruined by frost and mud. All of her things were going to need to be washed once she got to the house now.

Sophia felt awful for giving the servants work before she had even arrived.

Finally, she reached the end of the driveway and got a better look at Thornfield Manor. It was bigger than she anticipated and spread across to her left and right. There was something Jacobean about the design, making her wonder how old the house actually was. It was likely a good three hundred years; Sophia had seen houses of a similar design that were built in the fifteen-hundreds. It was remarkable.

It had a certain atmosphere to it, though. It felt as cold as the frosty weather outside. Sophia wondered if what the woman in the carriage had said was true about the Duke of Ravenshire. About him being cold and uninviting. Would she be able to cope with that?

Given her current position and how things were going, she didn’t have much of a choice. It was either this or end up in the poor house. That was far more humiliating than becoming a governess when she was a baron’s daughter.

Hefting her tattered bag and hoping it didn’t break apart on her, she went up the steps and found the bell pull, tugging on it hard. She could hear the bell ringing somewhere inside the house. How long would it be before someone answered the door?

It felt like a long time before the door opened and a severe-looking woman in her thirties wearing a dark gray dress with her dark hair pulled tightly back into a chignon appeared in the doorway. Sophia took half a step back at the scowl aimed in her direction, feeling a flash of fear in her chest.

She gathered her composure.

“Good morning,” she said, trying to sound calm. “I’m Sophia Bennett. I’m the new governess.” She waited as she was eyed suspiciously. “You’re expecting me?”

“You’re late.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You were meant to be here this morning at nine sharp.” The woman’s tone was clipped, almost disapproving. “And you were meant to be appropriately dressed.”

“What?” Sophia looked down at herself. “But I…”

“Then she saw that she had smudges of mud on her skirts. Biting back a groan, she dusted herself down.

“My apologies, I ended up falling over. I didn’t realize…”

“There is no time for excuses. You are to sort yourself out as soon as you get your belongings into your quarters.”

“I was…” Sophia winced, knowing how this was going to sound. “I was wondering if I could use resources to clean my clothes. They got ruined when I fell just now. I’m sure most of it can come off if I give them a good shake…”

“I suppose you’ll have to.” The woman didn’t sound happy about it. “But you’re doing it yourself. Nobody’s looking after your laundry.”

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to.”

She looked Sophia up and down before stepping aside. “Follow me. I’m Mrs. Flack, the housekeeper. While you’ll be answering to the Duke of Ravenshire himself, if you need anything from the staff you’ll need to talk to me about it.”

“Of course.”

Sophia hurried inside, feeling the warmth in the foyer seep into her bones. At least it was better in the house than outside.

She couldn’t stop herself from staring at the sight around her. It was magnificent, that much was clear. The Duke was certainly opulent in his spending, or his ancestors were. They liked to show they had the money. Sophia looked at the decor, the huge portraits on the walls, and the expensive furniture.

It made her current situation feel even worse. Sophia felt nauseous, and she pushed that back. She didn’t want to think about how much she had lost when it wasn’t her fault.

“Come with me,” Mrs. Flack said, making her way toward the staircase. “You can put your belongings in your quarters. They’re going to be next to the children’s nursery and their bedchambers.”

“Am I going to be meeting them shortly?” Sophia asked, following the older woman up the stairs. “If I’m going to be their governess…”

“They are with their nanny right now,” Mrs. Flack cut her off. “They’re going to be doing other things. They don’t take well to strangers.”

Sophia frowned. That was incredibly odd. If she was going to be around them all the time, she would need, at the very least, a formal introduction. She wasn’t expecting them to become close friends in a few minutes.

Maybe they are shy. It was best to leave it be for now. Sophia had to follow the lead of everyone else.

As she was led through the hallways, listening to Mrs. Flack giving her instructions on the house, Sophia noticed something. Despite the evident wealth that was around her, and the paintings hung up on the walls, there didn’t seem to be much color. Outside of the paintings, the decor seemed bland, almost non-existent with color. It was strange.

What was even stranger, was that they passed a door that Mrs. Flack said led to the nursery and the children were inside, but there was no sound coming from it. It was silent. Didn’t the housekeeper say that the children were with their nanny? Sophia wondered if they had gone for a walk in the gardens or something, but Mrs. Flack had said they were in the nursery. It sounded as if nobody was in there.

It was incredibly strange. Everything was still, no laughter or anything. The only sounds Sophia could hear were their footsteps and Mrs. Flack talking. Even then, despite her clipped voice, she kept the noise down.

Finally, they reached a door at the end of the wing, and Mrs. Flack opened it, gesturing inside.

“This is going to be your room, Miss Bennett,” she said. “You have a small suite of rooms to yourself that you can do with what you want, as long as you run it by me. Here’s the key so you can lock up when you leave.” She pressed a long brass key into Sophia’s hand. “Any questions, you can talk to me or Mr. Flack, he’s the butler. The servant’s stairs are at the end of the hallway here, and they will take you straight down to the laundry room.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Flack.”

The woman’s mouth twitched, and then she turned away, walking off without another word. Sophia stared at her, wondering if she was really going through this or if it was just her imagination.

She stepped into her room. It was a decent size with a big enough bed and a dresser with a stool and a wardrobe. There was a wash basin in one corner as well. Two adjacent walls had windows across them, allowing her to have a view of the gardens and countryside on the north and west side of the house.

Sophia put her bag on the bed and went over to the north windows. She could see the garden stretching out beneath her, looking like a painting of its own with the frost still dusting over everything. The view from all the windows was spectacular. At least she had that.

Her fingers went to the chain around her neck, and she tugged out the locket, absently running her thumb over the dark blue case. It had once been her mother’s, and her father had given it to her soon after Baroness Harwood’s death. Sophia had treasured it since.

She wished her mother was there right now. She would know what to do. As it was, Sophia felt stuck.

Not that it was a bad thing. She had to figure out how to get through this on her own. Not quite how she imagined starting out on her own, but Sophia knew she could make it work. No matter what happened, she intended to stay.

There was no one as stubborn as her.