Free Nell by Elizabeth Bailey

disturb her. Too late. There was nothing for it but to speak.
    Miss Faraday had halted, but she made no attempt to approach him. Jarrow gave an inward sigh and made towards her. He had known her but a few short hours, but already he could tell at once that she was in an uncertain mood. As he neared, he tried to read her face. She was eyeing him with complete assurance, but there was stiffness in her carriage. He plunged straight in.
    ‘Are you wishing to leave?’
    Her brows rose. Such hauteur! It could not but amuse him, no matter how misplaced. But then Miss Faraday was no ordinary governess. That much he had deduced at the outset.
    ‘Why should you think so, sir? Nothing has occurred since I saw you last to change my intention.’
    Jarrow smiled. ‘I am glad to hear it. But you will not persuade me that there has been nothing to disturb you.’
    She hesitated, but only for a moment. She gave a decisive nod. ‘Since you have guessed it, sir, let me not beat about the bush.’
    ‘I am all ears, Miss Faraday.’
    Nell was almost betrayed into a laugh, but she stifled it. She had been excessively annoyed, and here was the opportunity to unburden herself.
    ‘This morning I was privileged to have Henrietta in my schoolroom for the better part of an hour, and no more. Admittedly we began late, for I overslept. But even taking that into account, it is absurd to expect meto make any progress if the child is not to have lessons in the afternoon at all.’
    To her further annoyance, Lord Jarrow did not even respond to her complaint. His brows had drawn together.
    ‘How did you get on?’
    ‘We cannot be said to have got on at all!’ retorted Nell. ‘That is what I am trying to tell you. Is it not possible for—’
    Jarrow interrupted her without ceremony. ‘Miss Faraday, you are the child’s governess. If you wish her to come back to you after her nap—I gather that is where she is now?—then that is what she will do. There is no necessity to drag me into the business.’
    It gave him a curious sense of satisfaction to see her nonplussed. She said nothing for a moment, but he could almost see thoughts revolving in her head.
    ‘This,’ she said at last, ‘becomes interesting, sir.’
    He bit back a laugh. ‘Indeed? How so?’
    Nell gathered her forces. Let them establish this immediately, for it would make her life a good deal easier.
    ‘The nurse Duggan, my lord, gave me the impression that she is the arbiter of what Henrietta may do. Now you tell me that I must decide. Were I in the nurse’s place, I should certainly resent interference from one who necessarily knows less than I, particularly in a case such as this. I should expect her to take my advice. On the other hand, it is unlikely that Nurse Duggan and myself will easily reach agreement upon any point.’
    She thought there was a good deal of comprehension in his eyes. Yet there was also a gleam suspiciously ironic.
    ‘Tactfully put, Miss Faraday. Let us find a compromise. I will tell Duggan that Hetty is to attend school atyour pleasure. After all, she is no longer a baby, and some change in her routine is to be expected.’
    ‘But?’
    He noted the returning stiffness. She was no fool! He could not help a rueful note from creeping into his voice. ‘I confess my reliance is a great deal upon Duggan. The arrangement is not ideal, but frankly, Miss Faraday, I don’t know what I would do without her.’
    ‘The matter is now perfectly plain, sir.’
    Jarrow frowned. ‘You are angry.’
    Disconcerted, Nell looked quickly away. He saw too much! Abruptly recollecting his distressing bereavement, with all that Mrs Whyte had let fall, she felt immediately guilty. Who was she to be causing him difficulties? Naturally he must value Duggan above herself, for she had done nothing yet to demonstrate her usefulness. Besides, she was perfectly capable of dealing with the nurse herself. She forced a brief smile.
    ‘Not at all, sir. I quite understand. It was