The Governess

Chapter Six

The next morning came like any other--much too quickly. Violet found her thoughts were overgrown with Mr. Langley, as they had been of late. In the freshness of the new day, she realized just how much she had shared with him last night, and was quite vexed. What had compelled her to be so open and speak so freely? It was rather unlike her. At the same time, she rarely had such an opportunity to speak with another. Could she truly blame herself for finding pleasure in a companion?

Violet wished she could get out of her own mind. Her thoughts and worries were her own folly. Unfortunately, matters were not helped when the servant, Mary appeared in Violet's bed chambers.

"Brought some clean linens," Mary said, holding up her stack of cloth. Violet smiled and gave a remark of thanks. Mary sat the linens on Violet's bureau. Instead of leaving, she strolled casually to Violet's window and looked out, as if it was her own bed chamber she was in.

"Ye know somethin' 'bout the window in the servants' quarters? The one window we've got?" Mary asked, eyes still steadfast on Violet's window, looking out. Violet stood some paces behind her, hands tightly intertwined. This was the most Mary or any other servant had ever said to her, and it was quite unsettling.

"Pray tell," Violet said softly.

"It's got a surprisingly good view of the gardens." Mary turned her head back just enough to make eye contact with Violet. Her eyes were nearly black. It sent shivers down Violet's spine and an almost immediate nausea sensation was triggered.

"How lovely," Violet said, forcing herself to smile. She wasn't quite sure where Mary was going with this conversation, but something told her it wasn't just to make light chit-chat.

"Couldn't help but notice ye and Edmund Langley seemed quite familiar walkin' in the garden last night," Mary said, her cockney accent strong. She turned her back to the window, facing Violet completely. Mary's eyes were narrowed, and she held an arrogance in her countenance that was utterly unappealing.

"We've had a few conversations, but it was nothing more than being friendly." Violet said. She tried desperately to keep her voice steady, and appearance calm, but inside she was sheer panic.

"Is that so? Miss Proper Governess isn't try'n to snag herself a wealthy husband?" questioned Mary. A strand of her black hair had escaped the constraints of her white cap, and hung along her sharp jawline.

"I don't know what you're getting at Mary, but I would prefer it if you would leave."

Mary smiled, as if satisfied by Violet's response. She took a step forward, so her face was only a few inches from Violet's. Mary's eyes drifted up and down Violet, as if sizing her up.

"Ye know he'll never marry someone like ye," Mary sneered. She pushed passed Violet and left the bed chamber with her head held high.

Violet took a deep breath and smoothed her skirts, in the hopes that by doing so, she would collect herself. She couldn't understand why Mary had made such a point of telling Violet she was aware of her. . . friendliness. . . with Mr. Langley. Was she truly just aiming to insult Violet? Violet knew Mary had never liked her, perhaps more so than the other servants. But this visitation was rather malicious.

She knew she should not have walked with Mr. Langley.

*

Violet was still a little shaken by Mary's visit, but what was waiting for her in the school room proved to have more of an effect on her.

Her lessons with Charlotte and Fredric had started with much normalcy. Violet took comfort in the children and their readiness to learn, and had almost forgotten what had happened in the last four and twenty hours. That is, until it was time for their daily reading of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.