“I am so sorry,” Helen blurted, stricken.
Mrs. Robinov straightened, forcing a smile. “You and I must stop apologizing to each other, Miss Milsom.”
“You are dressed to go out,” Anne observed brightly. “Are you going for a walk?”
“Come with us,” George offered, no doubt with the hope of avoiding the schoolroom for the rest of the day.
“I think we’ve disturbed you enough,” Sir Marcus said, reaching for his hat.
Helen didn’t know if she was more relieved or piqued that he was in such a hurry. But whatever his motive, it was vetoed by both Anne and Mrs. Robinov, who both seemed eager to walk in the grounds of Audley Park. There was little Helen could do but lead the way. Now she, too, longed for Spring to distract them all.
At the outset, Sir Marcus strode ahead with the children while the ladies walked more sedately behind. Anne danced between the two groups, apparently quite at her ease. The difference between her manner at Steynings and here was quite remarkable.
“Are her parents likely to accuse me of abduction?” Mrs. Robinov asked at once.
“No, I imagine they believe Anne came with me. In fact, they probably think she is at Audley Park with us.”
“Is that what you told them?”
“No… but I believe someone else will. Anne is not good with scolds and disapproval.”
A shade of amusement lit Mrs. Robinov’s fine eyes. “I perceive I have met a fellow managing female.”
Helen cast her a reluctant smile. “It goes with the profession. And I seem to regard Anne much like one of my pupils when, in fact, I have no business interfering in her life at all.”
“I have absolutely no objection to her coming to Audley Park now that I have met you, and Marcus has explained.”
What did Marcus explain? Helen bit her lip to prevent herself asking. Instead, she said, “I am happy to leave that to Anne, and to you since you seem to have become her chaperone.”
“My children are happy in her company. They have no other friends in England.”
A shout of laughter came from George in the distance. “Miss Milsom! Look at this!”
With an apologetic smile, Helen strode ahead to discover both Eliza and Horatio hanging upside down from the same tree branch by their knees, identical grins on their faces.
Helen couldn’t help laughing. “You’re stuck now, aren’t you?”
“Not in the slightest,” Horatio said, dropping onto the hard ground with a sound like “Ouff!” He wriggled underneath Eliza who promptly dropped on him. As one, they jumped up and ran on.
“You take it all in your stride,” Marcus observed from some feet away.
“They are high spirited, and I like to see Eliza smile. On the other hand…” Hastily, she ran after them, more to escape the pull of staying in Sir Marcus’s company than because she was truly worried. But, in fact, they seemed only to be talking together as they walked, admiring something in George’s palm—probably some unusual insect.
Anne fell into step beside her. “Thank you for coming after me.”
“I’m sure everyone has already told you how risky and just plain silly it is to gad about the country on your own? You were lucky to fall in with Mrs. Robinov.”
“I know,” Anne said contritely. She glanced sideways at Helen. “Do my parents know where I am?”
“I imagine they think you’re safe at Audley Park with us.”
“I suppose I should be there when they arrive,” she said gloomily. “For they will come to fetch me, won’t they?”
“I imagine so.”
“What if they don’t like Mrs. Robinov?”
“They will like the connection to Sir Marcus,” Helen said cynically.
Anne laughed. “That is true, but they will soon learn they are barking completely up the wrong tree. Sir Marcus would never have offered for me, for it’s my belief he is in love with Mrs. Robinov.”
Until the words hit her with the force of an ax, she hadn’t realized how much she had feared this, or how much it would hurt her.
I want his love. Because I love him.
I can’t love him! I have not known him a week! It’s mere infatuation.
Whatever she called it, the pain was the same. But it made sense. Mrs. Robinov had been married to another, but he had still been determined to go to Russia—in wartime and in winter—to rescue her. Helen had been merely a distraction, one of many kindnesses on his way to his great love.
Her heart seemed to twist. Lashing herself, she murmured, “Why do you say that?”
“Aside from him rushing to her as soon as he received her note at Steynings? They talk with their heads close together. I’ve seen them hold each other’s hands. And he has invited her to Cotley Hall.”
And yet, he flirted with me. He kissed me. Why do I always fall for such unsuitable men?
“Well, it is none of our business,” she managed with commendable lightness. “I am glad to see you more comfortable in his company.”
“Oh, yes, he is quite the hero, you know! He has been everywhere you can think of and had such amusing adventures. He has published several books and articles on his travels, too. And guess what? Only last month he actually went to France and rescued his wounded brother from certain death. Or imprisonment. Or both. I’m not quite sure, but at any rate, it was most heroic, don’t you think?”
“It does sound so,” she agreed. She cast a quick look at Anne. “Did he tell you all this?”
“Lord, no. Some of it was gossip I heard, even before I came to Steynings and met him. The rest I had from Mama and Papa, and from Kenneth and Carla. Some people said he’d run away to France with Isabelle de Renarde—you know, the traitor’s widow—but apparently that is not true. She just helped him rescue his brother.”
“Just,” Helen repeated. His life seemed to be full of brave, capable, and beautiful women.
By the time they returned to the house, the twins had invited everyone to stay for tea. Helen, who had successfully avoided Sir Marcus during their walk, felt obliged to endorse the invitation.
Mrs. Robinov hesitated. “My daughter was not feeling well when I left. I don’t like to leave her too long.”
“Kenneth is with her,” Marcus pointed out.
“And Miss Milsom says there is nowhere better than the Hart Inn when one is not quite well!” Anne added.
George chortled. “I remember that time! You were weak as a kitten and slept for two days, while we went off on a pirate ship!”
“No, you didn’t,” Helen said mildly.
“Well, it was a ship, and you didn’t notice.”
“It’s just as well she didn’t notice,” Eliza pointed out, “or she would have sent to Mama and Papa and you’d have been locked in your rooms for a month. So would Henrie,” she added.
“Why is it your reminisces always remind me what a shockingly bad governess I make?”
Eliza slipped her hand into Helen’s as they walked up the stars. “You are the best governess we ever had.”
Leaving the children to play hosts, Helen excused herself to confer with the kitchen. There was no need for her to do so, as the cook pointed out when she sent her away again, but it kept her out of Sir Marcus’s company for another five minutes or so.