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Anna choked. What nonsense was this, now?
The earl threw Anna a brief, speculative look. “Miss Hilversham, eh?”
“But—” Anna began and was interrupted by Phoebe.
“It is because I have been learning so poorly, and I need to catch up with so much. In nearly all the subjects. You said I needed additional help sessions with a personal tutor, you said so yourself, Miss Hilversham, do not deny it. And there isn’t a better teacher in the entire county, in all of England, than Miss Hilversham, so who else is to teach me if not her? So, you must take her with us.” She folded her arms across her chest and pouted. “I shan’t move an inch without her.”
Anna shook her head resolutely. “But Phoebe, you know this is impossible. I have a school to run.”
“You have Miss Grace, and it is now the holidays, and the entire school is empty anyhow. There is no reason whatsoever for you to stay here.” Phoebe pushed out her lower lip.
“But Phoebe…”
“The idea has merit.” St John got up from the bed. “It is no disadvantage to have a schoolmarm in one’s company when one is travelling with a schoolgirl.” His glance rested on her thoughtfully. “Besides, I like you. I like you very much indeed. I shall take you along. We shall deal most famously together.”
Miss Grace gasped. Anna was thunderstruck and opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
Phoebe squealed with delight and clapped her hands. “Miss Hilversham, it is decided. You shall come with us.”
Anna shook her head. “I can’t possibly do that.”
“Why not?” His eyes bored into hers. Goodness, they saw down to her very soul! She shivered and looked away.
She lifted her hands helplessly. “Because I am needed here?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I thought we just established that you aren’t.”
She racked her brains. “Because, because…”
“Is it money? Of course, it must be. You will naturally be handsomely recompensed for your troubles. How about…” He named a sum that had both Anna and Miss Grace stare at him, dumbfounded.
“Lawks, for that sum I’d do it myself,” Miss Grace whispered.
“No. I want Miss Hilversham.” Phoebe pushed her bottom lip forward.
“Well, naturally. If you want her, then you shall have her,” her uncle said good-naturedly. “We shall have only the best for my Phoebe.”
“I—Truly?” Anna stuttered. “You’d pay that much?” Her mind calculated quickly. That sum was irresistible. Her own wages barely covered the necessities for Jules.
He nodded solemnly. “To have you accompany Phoebe and me to Kent, stay with her over the summer as her governess and get her up to scratch regarding the necessary subjects. What are they?”
“Literature, History and French,” Phoebe rattled off.
“Literature, History and French.”
Anna exhaled loudly. Her head was spinning. The sum was so enormous, she was certain she must have misheard. But judging from Miss Grace’s reaction, it appeared she had not.
“Do it,” she hissed. “Do it and come back before Miss H—I mean, before the other pupils return and the next term commences. You would be a fool not to take advantage of this opportunity.”
“I—I—I…”
“She appears to have lost her ability to talk.” St John sounded bored. “Is the amount too low, mayhap? Very well, I can double it.”
It was a fortune. Anna toppled into a chair. The amount he mentioned would allow her to live independently and set up her own house somewhere, and do what she loved doing the most, which was painting. She could pay back all her brother’s debts. She could buy herself an entire wardrobe of the most fashionable clothes. She would be freed from a life of drudgery in service. She would never, ever have to clean for other people again. “You must be quite mad,” she stammered.
“Aye, so they say.” He nodded darkly. “Other than that, unless you have any other objections that need to be addressed, I suggest you pack your trunks immediately so we can set forth for Brighton anon.”
Chapter 3
