Alicia's bedroom was small but nicely decorated, with pale blue walls and shiny wooden floors. The bed was adorned with a pile of fluffy blankets and matching pillows, perfect for those cold nights huddled against the chill. She had even kept some of her old toys. Rachel and Alicia's gaze fell on her old stuffed rabbit at the same moment, and a smile curled at Alicia's lips. "Remember when Mama bought me that rabbit, and I scarcely let it leave my side for months."
"Are you going to take it with you?" Rachel asked, "It seems a shame to leave it in an empty house."
Truthfully, she hadn't touched it in years. It had sat on a shelf above her vanity, watching over her like a silent protector. "I won't take it," she decided after a moment, "Lord Arvill already thinks I'm young for a governess. I don't want him thinking I'm a child. Besides," she added quietly, "I'm too old for toys now."
"Then... can I have it?" Immediately, Rachel waved a hand as a smile creased her pretty features. "Not because I still like stuffed toys or anything. Just, you know, as a reminder of you."
I'm not fleeing the country, she wanted to say, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, Alicia stood to pluck the rabbit from his high shelf, then padded over to gently place him in Rachel's waiting arms. "Keep it safe for me," she said sternly, "and put it somewhere nice."
"Of course," Rachel beamed, hugging the rabbit to her chest. Alicia didn't believe for a second that Rachel didn't still love stuffed toys. Then she straightened up, features slipping back into a serious look. "Now, let's finish packing. You've got a big day tomorrow!"
Alicia only rolled her eyes, a smile gracing her soft features, and returned to sorting through the items strewn across the bed.
Chapter Six
This time, when Alicia arrived at the enormous Warwick Manor, she was early. Better early than late, she supposed, even as her stomach rolled with nerves. With a shaking hand, she reached out, slender fingers wrapped around the solid iron door knocker.
The doorman answered again, and this time he even managed a strained smile. "Good morning, Miss Sempill. Good to see you arrived on time today."
Alicia nodded bashfully as Archie stepped aside to let her in. The heavy trunk banged against her leg with every step, and it had been achingly difficult to drag it all the way from home. Well, it wasn't really home anymore now that she was moving into the Warwick property, was it?
"I can take your luggage up to your new room, Miss Sempill." The doorman stretched out a hand, hefting up her trunk as if it weighed nothing. Although he was an older man, his strength far surpassed Alicia's own. "You'll be staying in the guest wing for now until something more permanent is set up for you. I'm afraid that Lord Arvill has been too busy to find you a proper room yet."
Truthfully, that suited her just fine. A part of her had assumed that she would have been staying in the servant's quarters with the maids, which only proved how little she really knew about this governess business. Swallowing thickly, she managed a weak smile. "Thank you... I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name."
"Archie, ma'am."
"Right, Archie. Thank you."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment, then gestured to the office at the far end of the foyer. "He's waiting for you inside and instructed me to let you go in yourself."
Alicia's stomach rolled with nerves, but she fought it down with a nod of her head. She had been here before, met Lord Arvill before, so this was nothing new. Except that it was because she was now officially a governess with a job and duties and responsibilities. No matter how hard she tried, those nerves refused to be quashed.
Still, she managed to keep her head held high as she knocked politely and waited. Remember your manners, she reminded herself, it won't do to make a poor impression on your first day. So long as she remained professional, everything would be fine.
She had told herself that at the previous job too, hadn't she? And look how that turned out. It hadn't stopped the gentleman of the manor from taking a liking to her, or from cornering her in the study one day, or from his wife catching them together and assuming the worst-
"Come in," a voice called from inside, and Alicia was jolted from her thoughts with enough force to send her mind reeling.
She pushed open the door and peeked inside. Lord Arvill sat at his desk with a pile of letters in front of him, hands clasped neatly. Nervously, Alicia inched further inside, letting the door thump closed behind her.
"Ah, Miss Sempill, it's good to see you. I presume that Archie took your things upstairs for you?"
"Yes, thank you," she murmured in response. The study was just how she remembered it. The big windows overlooking the garden, the oversized furniture that would never have fit into her study back home, the bookshelves lined with all sorts of novels. She even spotted a gardening book or two, and she concluded they must have been his father's.
"Sit, please. I don't expect you to do any work today, of course. You'll have a week to settle in and get to know the children before any governess duties begin."
Alicia hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until she collapsed into the armchair and let out a deep breath all at once. She winced, lips parted to apologize, but Lord Arvill hadn't even noticed. Or if he did, he was exceedingly polite.
"I expect that you will settle in quite quickly," he continued with a faint smile, "and if either of my siblings give you any trouble, please let me know."
"I'm sure they'll be just fine," Alicia replied, too quickly. This had to go well, but she was dimly aware that she was trying too hard to agree with everything Lord Arvill said.
He glanced at her from across the table, blue eyes boring into her. Alicia fought back the urge to look away, but it was actually Lord Arvill who turned first. She must have been mistaken, for it looked like a faint flush had spread across his angular cheeks. "Now, I have a list here of what Jenny and Samuel's old teaching schedule was like when I used to do it myself. You can choose to follow it or create your own. Jenny struggles with writing but can read just fine, and Samuel kicks up a fuss whenever he has to learn history, so please be aware of these things."
Alicia gulped, taking the paper from Lord Arvill's hands. It was almost exactly what he had explained during the interview; arithmetic in the morning and reading after lunch. Outdoor exercise before supper if the weather is good, otherwise it was a short history lesson instead.
"Now, if you need anything - whether it be for the children or yourself - don't hesitate to ask. I try to take excellent care of my staff, and I value your input."
