Excerpt from The Governess -- Chapter 11 continued:
Carly was busy spreading the old patchwork quilt for the fifth time in one week, while Jonathon helped Elspeth carry the picnic basket over to her. She had been excited to find out that Jonathon loved the outdoors, so made their picnics work to her advantage.
“Shall we put this here, Miss Blakemore?” These were the first voluntary words that Jonathon had spoken to her since the day of their introduction. Smiling an encouraging smile at him, she said, “That would be fine, dear.”
Taking in a deep breath of fresh country air, she exclaimed, “What fresh air! Mmmm! I think the lake was a fine choice for our picnic today, do you not think so children?” Only Elspeth agreed.
Jonathon hesitantly volunteered, “It has been a long time since we have come here.”
“Well, I think it is absolutely gorgeous! We shall come here often, I think,” Carly exclaimed, laughing as she spoke. As they sat down upon the quilt and started to unpack the delicious-looking food, Carly said, “Mrs. Cooper has spoiled us again today! Look at all this food! We could feed an army!” Apparently Elspeth thought this was funny, that they could feed a whole army, and she giggled about it while they passed out freshly-made sandwiches. “Look here, she has packed some early berries, lemonade, and even chocolate cake!” The children gasped excitedly, and they looked at each other in surprise.
“Chocolate cake,” Elspeth sighed.
“That is the second time in one week,” Jonathon said. Carly was glad to see that he was excited too.
“Yes!” Elspeth agreed in amazement.
Jonathon was showing remarkable improvement today by contributing so much to their conversation. “I believe we have had more desserts than normal since you have arrived, Miss Blakemore.” Jonathon looked at Miss Blakemore as if she were some magical genie with powers to snap her fingers together and produce sumptuous chocolate cake!
Smiling at his excitement, she laughed as she said, “Well, let us hope we do not get fat!” As Carly and Elspeth laughed, Jonathon smiled.
Having been here for nearly two weeks, Carly was hopeful that things were beginning to improve as she watched both children enjoy their lovely outing. She had not had any more trouble from their father, and Jonathon had been fresh out of tricks for three days. Both children were exuberant, but Carly’s youthful energy and excitement could match their own. Jonathon had been a difficult child, but she would catch him smiling and laughing from time to time; and now, during their picnic today, seemed to have made a decision that it was not so unpleasant for him to talk. Carly would find him watching her frequently, as if he was trying to figure out her secrets.
Elspeth, on the other hand, had completely accepted Carly. Finding that she loved sitting in the governess’s lap, hugging and spreading sweet kisses on her cheeks, Elspeth reminded Carly again of what this dear child’s father had told her of their mother’s unkind ways. Elspeth was very affectionate and ate up any loving tenderness that was shown her. She loved Carly’s hair and would, most often as not, undo the pins and run her fingers through it like a comb. By the end of their picnics her hair would be cascading down her shoulders and back. Elspeth loved this and would then insist upon Carly doing the same to her hair so they would be twins.
“I will grow my hair to be as long as yours!” Elspeth told Carly. “In fact, I am determined to grow it to be even longer!”
“Well, then. Let us see how far you shall have to grow it!” Carly placed her finger between Elspeth’s shoulder blades showing the little girl how long her hair was and how far she had yet to go.
Carly had tried each day to make sure there were plenty of hugs to go around for both children, drawing understanding from the words Lord Huntington had shared with her about their mother’s cruel heart. Jonathon never welcomed these hugs, unlike Elspeth, but Carly always pretended not to notice. She felt that if she altered this new routine, having been established, he would feel selectively different, immediately noticing her change towards him. This would not do. Eventually, she was sure he would give in to this much needed affection.
Each day, Nanny, as she became even to Carly, took charge by bathing the children, feeding them dinner, and getting them to bed after stories each night. “You shall be the death ‘o me yet!” she always mocked.
Following dinner with Lord Huntington, Carly would sneak into their bedroom kneeling with them for prayers. She made sure she always snuggled and tucked them back into bed, as though they were her own precious treasures. Once in a while, Carly would slip in a bedtime story, making up a funny one, or telling them of her youth. The children were growing to love this special story time with her, especially the stories about her and Susannah and always begged for more. This affection from Carly, she could already see, was working on Jonathon’s tender heart. She only wished his father was here to shower affection upon him too.
After they had finished their cake, Elspeth skipped over to the water and Jonathon excitedly followed. They began throwing rocks into the lake listening to the splashes, laughing as they watched the ripples getting bigger, enjoying the tiny minnows as they darted here and there. Looking back at her, they would laugh, even Jonathon, and she would laugh with them and wave. As they excitedly pointed at the minnows, she thought to herself that she must remember to bring a jar next time to show the children how to catch them. The children would enjoy that, she was sure. It had been a favorite pastime of hers and Susannah’s. She found herself relaxing on the blanket gazing up at the cornflower blue sky, her favorite happy color. Hardly even a cloud on this pleasant day, they had enjoyed exceptional weather this spring, and she was determined to enjoy every minute of it, especially with the children.
Suddenly, she heard Lord Huntington yelling at the children as he rode up on his steed. “Jonathon! Elspeth! Get away from that water!”
So what's next? Why would Lord Huntington be upset about the children being next to the lake?
Thanks for reading today!
Ellise ;)
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