Page 31 of The Hidden Heart

“Since the sixteenth century?” Jessica could not hide the note of skepticism in her voice.

Lady Westhampton chuckled. “It does seem a rather long time for a family to be unhappy, doesn’t it? Anyway, it would seem that Dev has broken the curse. He and Miranda are very happy. I daresay no curse would stand a chance against the new Lady Ravenscar.”

Richard smiled faintly. “Dev tells me that she is something of a dynamo. I gather she keeps him on the straight and narrow.”

“She is breathtakingly energetic, and quite efficient and practical, as well. But she understands Dev and loves him dearly. He has taken up his art again.”

“I know. He sent me a portrait of Miranda. Apparently one of many he has painted. It was masterfully done, as his work always was. But more mature now.”

“Yes. There is a new depth of emotion in him. Thanks to Miranda.”

“Well, she will always be a saint to you,” Richard said with a faintly teasing tone, “since she vanquished the dread Leona.”

“She saved Dev,” Rachel said simply.

“Yes, I rather think she did. And for that we must always be grateful.”

“As for Leona,” Rachel went sternly, “I cannot believe that you would let her in the house. Or Vesey, either.”

“I wish to God they were not here,” Richard replied in a heartfelt tone. “But Miss Maitland will attest that I could not get out of it. Their sheer audacity carries them far. I know that she faked her fall.”

“You mean you don’t think she hurt her ankle?” Jessica asked, her eyes dancing.

Cleybourne shot her a sardonic glance. “I am sure that her ankle is no more hurt than her heart was over Dev, but I cannot prove it. The doctor said it wasn’t broken, but she moaned and got great tears in her eyes—no doubt having unbuttoned the first few buttons of her bodice—and he decided that it must be a sprain.” He grimaced. “Well, one can have a sprained ankle only so long. Hopefully she will get so bored that they will leave soon. I cannot think what they are hoping to accomplish. I already told Vesey I’d never let him be Gabriela’s guardian.”

“Of course not. It’s absurd,” Rachel agreed.

Jessica glanced at Gabriela and saw the pleased surprise on her face—and more than a touch of hero worship. She could only hope that Cleybourne did decide to remain her guardian. She could see that Gabriela would be crushed now if he shunted her off to someone else.

They had finished their tea, and Jessica excused herself and Gabriela, saying it was time they returned to their lessons. Lady Westhampton bade them goodbye, stating the usual polite pleasantries with obvious sincerity.

“I like Miss Maitland,” Rachel told her brother-in-law. She watched him carefully as she went on. “Though she hardly seems like a governess. She is far too beautiful. Don’t you agree?”

Richard, whose gaze had remained on the doorway through which Gabriela and Jessica had walked, glanced at Rachel. “What? Yes, I suppose so,” he said with studied casualness. “I never much cared for redheads myself.”

“She seems genteel, as well.”

“Genteel? I don’t know whether I’d term her that, exactly. But she comes from a good family, if that is what you mean. Uncle’s a lord, but her father was involved in some sort of scandal several years ago, lost all their money and position.”

“How sad.”

“Yes. It is why she became a governess.”

“Well, I like her,” Rachel reiterated. “She has a forthright manner, but she is quite pleasant, too, and rather humorous.”

Richard snorted. “Oh, she is certainly forthright. She is the most damnably forthright woman I have ever had the ill fortune to meet.”

“You do not like her?”

He grunted. “She says whatever she thinks, without the slightest regard to politeness or tact. She is argumentative and stubborn in the extreme. I cannot imagine how she ever kept a position as governess. General Streathern must have been the most patient and undemanding employer in the country.”

“You don’t think she is a good governess?” Rachel asked innocently. “Perhaps you should get rid of her, then. You wouldn’t want your ward having an unsuitable or ill-prepared governess.”

“I can’t do that,” Richard protested. “She has been with the child since she was eight. Gabriela has had enough people taken away from her already. I could not take away Miss Maitland, as well.”

He hesitated. Now, he knew, was the time to tell his sister-in-law that he did not plan to be Gabriela’s guardian. It was, after all, one of the main reasons he was reluctant to let Gabriela’s governess go. Surely Rachel would understand why he did not want to have a child around, a constant reminder of his own loss. Of course, it had not hurt as much as he had thought it would to meet Gabriela and talk with her. There had been some pain, inevitably, but she was so different from Alana in age and looks, so much her own entertaining person, that after he had been around her for a few minutes, he had found himself no longer thinking of her in relation to his dead daughter but simply as herself. It might not be the horror he had dreaded to have her around day after day.

But, he reminded himself, there was still the problem of carrying out his plans. He could not take his pistol and seek his own quiet peace until he had gotten Gabriela and Miss Maitland away from the house. It would be far too cruel a thing to do to the young girl.