Excerpt from The Governess -- Chapter 18 continued:
Finally, the big day had come. Jonathon was sitting in his room with Lady Blakemore and Elspeth.
Carly still regretted that Lord Huntington was not at home today. But, no matter. This was an important event, hoping that it would show Jonathon that his father had been involved at least to some degree.
Carly held up a small black vest, “This you will wear over the white ruffled shirt.” She laid it down on his bed and held up a red handkerchief, “This will be worn around your head.” Carly noted that Jonathon’s eyes were getting brighter with excitement. With the last piece, his mouth fell wide open. She could see that he now knew what he was dressing to be. “And this is your eye patch,” she giggled at his excitement.
Jonathon fingered the costume and looked up at Carly in wonder. “I am to be a pirate?”
“Do you think it shall be fun?”
He could only nod vigorously.
“And last, but not least, here is your buckle and sword.”
Jonathon gasped in astonished excitement, carefully fingering this fine gear. Smiling brilliantly, he quickly nodded his head. “I will dress straight away!”
“Let me know if you shall need any help. Then I will explain further. Elspeth and I shall be waiting in my room.”
“Thank you,” he nodded.
Taking Elspeth’s hand, Carly left the room so he could have privacy. “Let’s pick out your favorite ribbons that we shall work into your hair, Elspeth.”
Elspeth gasped in surprised pleasure, “Your ribbons! Oh! I just love your ribbons!”
Closing the door behind them, they went over to Carly’s dressing table and opened the drawer. “Which ones do you think you shall like, darling?”
Elspeth’s eyes glittered as if she had found her own treasure chest filled with fine jewels. “I cannot make up my mind, Miss Blakemore.”
“Shall we match to your favorite dresses?”
Elspeth looked adoringly up to her governess and said, “You always know best.” Carly laughed, hugging this sweet, darling child.
As they waited for Jonathon, they carefully selected the most delicate, feminine ribbons in Carly’s collection. Carly had known Elspeth would pick from these finest, since she had quickly learned so much of this little girl’s taste and style already showing itself at such a young age.
A knock came to the nursery door, followed by the debonair Jonathon. He held the belt around his waist but apparently needed help doing it up.
“Oh dear Jonathon! You look so charming. Does he not look charming, Elspeth?”
“Yes, quite handsome I would say.”
After helping him buckle his sword just right, Carly exclaimed, “Goodness! I almost forgot the crowning piece. We cannot have that now, can we?”
With Jonathon’s eyes wide, he slowly shook his head in agreement, astonished that there could be more.
With an excited laugh, Carly stood and went into her dressing room opening her wardrobe and reaching into the bottom. She pulled from it a large red hatbox.
Setting the hatbox upon her bed, she motioned for him to come forward, both children’s eyes bulging with excitement. As Jonathon carefully opened the hatbox, he removed the paper and gazed down to see a captain’s hat with a large red feather plume stuck in the black strap. Both children gasped their surprise. Ever so gently, as if it was a priceless fortune, Jonathon gathered the hat out of the special paper and placed it upon his red handkerchief-covered head. His grin was extraordinarily beautiful, all that Carly had hoped for. What an adventure he was to have today.
Suddenly, Jonathon, with a giggle, took his hat from his head and swished it through the air as he gave the ladies a suave bow. Placing it upon his head, he quickly hugged Carly, giving her a most precious gift before his treasure hunt had even begun.
Hugging him to her and laughing with both children, she said, “Oh, Jonathon. I hope this means that you are happy…that you are excited?”
“Oh yes, Miss Blakemore! You have shocked me greatly with your surprise. Thank you most kindly.”
“But this is just the beginning, Jonathon.”
He let go of her as he looked up into her face with greater astonishment. “There’s… there’s more?”
Elspeth jumped up and down clapping her hands, “Oh, Johnny! You are going to be so excited! So, so excited!”
“Shall we tell him then, Elspeth?”
“Oh yes, please!”
Squatting down in front of both children, Carly was thrilled to say, “Would you care to go on a real treasure hunt, Jonathon?” Elspeth squealed, jumping and clapping again, thrilled for her brother.
“Miss Blakemore! Really?”
Jonathon’s expression told Carly all that she had hoped to see; all that she had prayed for all these weeks of preparation.
“I shall be glad to!” As Jonathon, in a grown-up gentlemanly way, helped Miss Blakemore to stand, he hugged her again, his hat dislodging from his head. He quickly picked it up as a solitary tear of happiness trickled down Carly’s cheek.
She quickly wiped it away so the children would not see.
“Come. Let us sit down for a moment.” Carly guided the children to the couch so she could show Jonathon his first clue. With a contagious grin, she explained, “I have placed clues about the house for you to find.”
Jonathon’s expression was a myriad of emotions.
“They are numbered for you to see if you are in the right order for the next clue. If it is alright with you, Jonathon, Elspeth and I would like to accompany you on your search.”
“That would be most welcome, my lady.” He bowed over her hand, and kissed it lightly, and both Elspeth and Carly laughed in surprise at his chivalry, his uncharacteristic teasing.
“Oh, Jonathon. You are such a dear. Now then, shall you read your first clue and see if you can figure it out? It will lead you to your next clue.”
“This will be so fun!” Elspeth cried.
Jonathon nodded his head excitedly in agreement as he read, “It says:
Chocolate and cream is my taste,
To where should I make haste?
(If you wish to read the Treasure Hunt's conclusion, please log on to the link at the right, authonomy.com, and go to Chapter 18 to finish reading.)
Will the love Carly already holds for the children pay off? Will her good deeds see happiness? Thanks for reading with me today.
Ellise
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