Free The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky Page A

Penelope’s afternoon lessons. Sarah had also joined them and sat in the corner, embroidering a delicate floral pattern on a pillow cover.
    Julia nodded to her younger student. “Penelope, please translate the verb dire .”
    She squinted, then replied, “To say or to tell?”
    “Yes, very good.” Julia shifted her gaze to Katherine. “Please conjugate dire .”
    The older girl glared at the book, tossed it aside, and rose from the settee. “Why must we learn to speak French?”
    Julia pulled in a slow deep breath, praying for grace and patience. After only a few days of teaching the girls, she had discovered they were reluctant students at best and distracted and disagreeable at worst. “You must master French because both your aunt and your cousin have asked you to.”
    “But it’s such a tedious task. I doubt I shall ever use it.”
    “A knowledge of French will be helpful when you go to London for the season,” Julia added, hoping that might perk Katherine’s interest.
    “Why? I’m not going to marry a Frenchman!”
    Penelope giggled. “Are you sure? What if he was terrifically handsome and extremely wealthy?”
    Katherine lifted her chin, a resolute look in her eyes. “The man I marry will be wealthy, but he must be a titled Englishman. I’ve no intention of traveling to the Continent.”
    “Not even for a grand tour?” Penelope leaned forward, a teasing light in her blue-gray eyes.
    Katherine huffed and crossed her arms. “Cousin William would never pay to send us on a grand tour no matter how much we begged him.”
    Penelope leaned back. “I suppose you’re right, but you might take a wedding trip to France after you marry.”
    A slight smile lifted Kate’s lips. “Yes, perhaps I will.”
    The girls were forever discussing what eligible men Katherine would meet in London and how soon she would receive her first proposal after she had begun the round of balls, dinners, and garden parties. Julia usually tried to cut those conversations short, but today the topic seemed worthy of delaying their French lesson.
    Julia closed her book. “Deciding whom you will marry is one of the most important decisions of your life. Choosing a husband should be based on his character, manners, and spiritual maturity rather than his nationality, title, or wealth.”
    Penelope’s eyes widened, and she stared at Julia as if she had never considered those qualities as necessary in a future spouse.
    Katherine lifted her chin. “Of course the man I fall in love with will have noble character.”
    “I hope so,” Julia added. “Your future happiness depends a great deal on your husband’s choices and disposition.”
    “His position in society is more important,” Katherine added. “I won’t consider marrying a man unless he is in line to inherit his father’s title and wealth.”
    Julia shook her head. “A loyal, hardworking, middle-class man might make a much better husband than a wealthy, titled gentleman if he is willful and selfish.”
    Katherine turned and glared at Julia. “What makes you an authority on choosing a husband? You’ve never been married.”
    Sarah’s hand stilled, and she looked up at Julia.
    Pain lanced Julia’s heart, and she shot a heated glance Katherine’s way. “No, but I was engaged.”
    “Really?” Penelope’s eyes brightened. “What happened?”
    Julia’s face flamed. Oh, why hadn’t she kept silent? “It was several years ago.”
    “Please, tell us,” Penelope begged.
    Pride tugged at Julia’s heart, urging her to keep the painful story to herself. But sharing it might help the girls make better choices and avoid regrets and a broken heart.
    Sarah sent Julia a compassionate look.
    “All right. I’ll tell you. But you must keep it in confidence and not pepper me with questions until I’m done.”
    Penelope nodded, barely able to keep her smile at bay.
    Katherine also nodded, her expression softening.
    “When I was twenty-two, a young man came to join our