The Key to the Governess’s Heart – Extended Epilogue

Eight years together that seemed to be but a day. Beatrice still looked at her husband with hope and devotion, with love and affection.

Peter had been the most ideal husband that she could’ve asked for. He was hard-working, he was loyal, he was loving.

In eight years, they had lived a lifetime. Or so it seemed. They had experienced so many wonderful things together that they may as well have been through a century.

And when the time came, and their daughters were old enough to begin learning, a new age dawned upon the house.

In many ways, it was difficult for Beatrice to search for a governess. Although she still respected the position, it made her ache for her younger days.

It made her wish that she had experienced more respect when she had been in that role.

Because of that, she vowed to ensure that the entire household staff, including the governess, would always be treated with dignity and honor.

Still, Beatrice wanted what was best for Emily, Bridget, and Catherine.

Catherine was still too young for schooling, but she would be ready soon enough. In the meantime, Emily and Bridget were ready to begin learning.

“My dear, when is the next one arriving?” Peter asked.

“Shortly.  I expect she shall be here within half an hour,” Beatrice said.

“And she is the last?” Peter asked.

“Indeed.  I liked the first two, but do not wish to make a decision until I have met this one,” she said.

“Very well.  I trust whomever you choose,” Peter said.

“Thank you, my love.  Would you like to take part?” she asked.

Peter laughed, nervously.

“I fear that I would not be a very good judge.  I trust you.  I must return to my work,” he said, giving her a sweet kiss before he departed.

Beatrice was excited to interview the three young women who had written in response to the open position. She had paid for a coach to bring each of them, one at a time.

By the time she reached the final young lady, Margaret, Beatrice felt quite confident that they had found the right governess for them.

“I must say, Margaret, you are precisely the sort of young woman that I had hoped to find.  And you are able to start right away?” Beatrice asked.

“Yes, Lady Hawthorn.  I would be honoured to do so,” she said.

Beatrice had a good feeling about her. She was sweet and useful, energetic and full of life. Just the thing that young girls needed in a governess.

The interaction was cut short.

Beatrice heard the sound of a coach approaching outside. She gave Margaret an apologetic look and went to the window to see who it was.

She saw Isla and Andrew climbing out of the coach, along with a young man. Beatrice had heard that Andrew’s young cousin, Steven, was planning to come and stay with them for a short time. She wondered if this was the young man.

“Forgive me,” she said. “It appears as though we have company. Do you mind if I entertain them as well?” she asked.

“Oh, no, not at all, Lady Hawthorn. Would you like for me to leave?” Margaret asked.

“No, please do stay. I must confess that I am quite fond of you and think you would be the right fit for our girls. If you would not mind, you are welcome to stay. In this home, we do not send away our employees when our guests arrive. We find that to be rather disrespectful,” she said.

“That is very kind of you,” Margaret said.

“You may be surprised to learn, but I was a governess once,” Beatrice confessed.

Margaret’s eyes widened with wonder. It was clear that she did not believe it.

“It is true. And my husband was engaged to my best friend, the daughter of my former employer. I know; we have a strange story. However, it is true and we are most fortunate that things worked out the way that they did,” Beatrice said.

“I should like to hear more of that story someday,” Margaret said.

“And I would be more than happy to share it,” she replied.

Soon, Andrew and Isla entered the room, followed by the young man. He looked very similar to Andrew, only younger.

Beatrice instructed the maid to call for Peter. In the meantime, she introduced her guests to the new governess.

“And this is my cousin, Steven,” Andrew said.

“It is very nice to meet you,” Beatrice said to him.

“And you as well, Lady Hawthorn.  I have heard so much about you.  My cousin and his wife speak highly of your accomplishments and have told me all about the days in which you helped to ensure that they were married,” he said.

“I think it was quite the other way around, to be sure.  They were the ones who helped me to marry my husband, I assure you,” Beatrice said.

But there was not much more to be said in that moment.  Beatrice realised that she was not the object of Steven’s interest and that he wanted to speak with another altogether.  Steven’s eyes trailed off toward Margaret. Margaret blushed under his gaze. And then she smiled.

And Beatrice could hardly hide her amusement. She knew precisely what it was like to be a governess living with an attraction to a man of nobility.  She also knew what it was like to have a man of rank and position be interested in her in return.  There was something exciting about it.  She only hoped that Steven was as noble a man as his cousin.

Of course, not everyone would have a story like hers. Not everyone would have their happy ending with a wealthy and noble man.  Beatrice understood that she had to be realistic about this matter, when her own marriage was something of a fairytale, she thought.

But that did not mean that she could not try to nurture this obvious attraction.

Peter arrived and they spent some time with their friends. Their daughters came to the room, having finished up their baths with the nurse.

“My darlings, you must meet Margaret. She is to be your new governess. Be good to her,” Beatrice said.

“It is so lovely to meet you, young ladies. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. You must be Emily, and you are Bridget. And, of course, our youngest must be Catherine,” she said introducing herself.

“Girls, what do you say?” Beatrice asked.

“Lovely to meet you,” they said in unison, with varying degrees of aptitude.

“Oh, they are so lovely,” Margaret said.

“You have not found them in the kitchens, having snuck into the pantry,” Beatrice said, raising an eyebrow.

For the next hour or so, Beatrice and Peter entertained their dear friends. It was a lovely time to spend together. Isla and Andrew had not brought their son and daughter, but Beatrice insisted that they arrange a time for the children to play together.

As Stephen and Margaret made casual conversation in the background, Beatrice could not help her scheming. She could not stop herself from wanting to see whether or not a union could be made.

Then again, that was foolishness. She had no say. In truth, it would only be an inconvenience for her. She had only just found her governess.

Not only that, but what would Steven’s mother and father say?

It hardly mattered. The two had only just met. But, because of her own story and the match that she had ended up in, Beatrice was a romantic. Any time she saw a connection between two people, she wished to see it through.

“Beatrice, you have found such an ideal governess.  What are we to do when Millicent is in need of one?” Isla asked.

“I met with two others, both of whom were lovely.  Margaret was certainly the right fit for us, but I would be happy to refer the other two for your consideration,” Beatrice said.

“Oh, well, Millicent still has a year before she begins her lessons.  Her nurse will do her just fine for now,” Isla said, brushing the thought away.

“My dear, perhaps our friends should return to the duties of their day.  We can see that they have their hands full with Peter’s work and Beatrice’s need to get her new employee settled,” Andrew said.

“But it is so painful to leave!” Isla exclaimed, pouting rather amusingly.

“I must agree.  You should stay for lunch and for dinner.  Have the children brought,” Beatrice said, knowing that it was not going to happen.

The time had come for their guests to leave. And once they had gone, and once Peter as well had returned to his work, she sat alone with Margaret once more.

“And those are our very dear friends.  They do come around often.  Well, Lord and Lady Beckridge, that is.  His cousin is someone that I had not met until now,” Beatrice said.

“They are very kind, Lady Hawthorn.  I am glad that I was able to meet them,” Margaret said.

Beatrice eyed her for a moment, sensing Margaret’s hope in seeing Steven Beckridge again someday.

“Shall I now tell you the story of how I met my husband?” she asked.

“I should like that very much,” Margaret replied.

“Well, it happened quite some time ago. I was working in a home as a governess for two young girls. Their older sister was nearly my age. You just met her. Lady Beckridge. She was my friend,” Beatrice said.

“She was arranged to be married to my husband. But on the same night that she met Lord Beckridge, I met Lord Hawthorn. That evening, we were both disappointed. But life is filled with strange twists and turns,” she said.

“What commenced was a very difficult season. But it was one that I would not trade for anything. From there, I married my husband and had to learn to live the life of nobility,” she said.

“Was it very difficult to adjust once you were married?” Margaret asked.

“At times, it was. There were days in which I knew I was being judged. Women who were already members of society looked at me with contempt. But there were also those who took no notice of my former station,” Beatrice said.

“That sounds awful,” Margaret said.

“It was.  As you know, our lot in life is not easy.  For a young woman, and a governess, life can be a bit of a struggle.  We must face the prejudices of society; we must be subject to them.  It is a cruelty that most cannot understand or abide.  But it is something that we live through each and every day,” Beatrice acknowledged.

“Yes, I fear that it is,” Margaret said, sadly.

“You mentioned that your former position came to an end when your employer’s daughter went away to boarding school.  Were they kind to you there?  In that home, I mean,” Beatrice asked.

Margaret was hesitant.

“It…it was not an easy home to work in,” she said.

Beatrice swallowed and nodded.

“I was most fortunate to work for Lord and Lady Seton.  They were kind to me, in comparison with others that I knew who had similar work.  I know that life is often hard in homes with strict masters,” Beatrice said.

“Indeed, Lady Hawthorn,” she said.

“Well, I can assure that it will not be so in this home.  We expect that you do your work to the best of your ability, that you look after our daughters with love and care and attention,” she said.

“Of course,” she readily agreed.

“But,” Beatrice said, “So long as you agree to do that, so long as you hold your standards high, you have nothing to worry about.  I would sooner dismiss you than treat you poorly.  If I am unhappy with something that I see, I shall discuss it with you first, giving you an opportunity to correct it.”

“That is very generous,” Margaret said.

“It is how it ought to be done.  You never have anything to fear beyond that.  We shall always treat you with dignity because that is how all men and women should be treated.  It is what you must expect,” Beatrice said.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Anyway, back to the life of nobility after having been a governess…” Beatrice said, looking at Margaret with mischief in her eyes.

“Yes?” Margaret asked.

“Mr. Beckridge is rather dashing, do you not think?” she asked.

Margaret blushed.

“Forgive me, My Lady,” she said.

“For what?  I should like nothing more than to conspire with you.  Perhaps I might try to invite him around more often.  He comes from a noble line, you know, but he has no title of his own, so I cannot see why anyone should think twice about his obvious notice of you,” Beatrice said, shrugging.

“I can hardly imagine that he noticed me.  Or that his mother and father would approve, even if he had,” Margaret said, laughing nervously.

“Well, that is a trouble for another day.  Anyway, for now, why don’t you go and spend some time with the girls and their nurse?  You ought to get to know them better,” Beatrice said.

She sent Margaret off and then made her way to see Peter in his study.

“Ah, my dear, how is it with the governess?” he asked.

“Her name is Margaret,” Beatrice reminded him.

“Yes, of course.  My apologies,” he said.

“It has gone very well.  I do think that Andrew’s cousin noticed her.  What do you say?  We must make a pair out of them,” she said, excitedly.

Peter looked up at her with a flat expression.

“Not everyone who has noticed one another must be made a match of, you know,” he said.

“Oh, but you cannot ruin my fun,” Beatrice said.

“Besides that, you must be cautious in setting up our new governess.  We have only just found her and I do not care to see you spending your time in trying to find another one all over again,” Peter reasoned, looking back to the papers in front of him.

“But I would love to see this kind young lady happily married.  Even if that means a bit of extra work on my part,” Beatrice said.

Peter looked up at her and grinned.

“Ever the romantic, are you not?” he asked.

“Only because my husband has given me reason to be,” she replied.

“Yes, well, I do love how you take care of people,” Peter said.

“I only wish to do for others what has been done for me.  I found kindness and that leads me to hope that I may bestow it on others as well,” Beatrice said.

She thought back to her past fortunes. Not many people had the same luxuries that she had been given. Not many people had been allowed to flourish despite their position, in the same way that she had.

For Beatrice, it was quite a grand opportunity to be able to help another woman. She wanted to see to it that others had the same treatment that she had been given.

When she thought about the love between herself and her husband Beatrice was still amazed, even after all these years.

Peter had been good to her every step of the way. He had fought for her; he had been willing to do whatever it took to make their match come to pass. He had even been willing to lose the respect of a man who had played a significant role in his life.

But, ultimately, Peter had loved her enough to do these things. He had made her his priority.

“What is it? What are you thinking?” Peter asked.

“I am thinking about the fact that you were always so good to me. You still are. You have made me more than just your wife. You have made me everything. I do not know why I am so fortunate as to have a husband like you,” Beatrice said.

“And I do not know why I was given the blessing of having you for a wife. But I would happily go back and do it all over again for the sake of marrying you. Thank you, Beatrice, for being the woman that I had always hoped to marry,” Peter said.

With that, Peter stood from his desk and came to Beatrice. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his forehead against hers. While staring into her eyes, he smiled.

Beatrice inhaled the scent of him, the smell of vanilla and leather, just the way that he so often smelled from being around his musky books in the study these days.  He was busy so often.  But, despite that, he always made time for her.

They always made time for one another.

In the difficult days of the past, and even in the trials they had faced since being married, they had been together through it all.

Peter had stood by her side when Beatrice had difficult pregnancies, when she had nearly lost Catherine in the last one.  He had been with her in adjusting to motherhood and with handling the struggles that came with trying to fit into a noble world as a woman unaccustomed to titles and wealth.

He had never left her on her own for a moment of it.

“What would I have done without moments like this?” Peter asked, swaying with her in his arms.

“I can hardly fathom such a life,” she said.

He continued swaying, moving to invisible music.  Their dance was imperfect, as it always was.  But it was a dance that was befitting to them.  One that only they knew the steps to.

The rhythm was their own.  One made of uncertainties and commitments, of different stations and determined unions.  It was a dance of love that would not be broken by anything.

And to end the dance, Peter moved to give Beatrice a kiss.  She responded in kind and their dance created music of its own.

THE END

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