The Dare-Devil Duke Read online

  When she arrived at Elizabeth’s house she paid the driver and told him not to wait.

  She then informed the old manservant that she was being called for in about a quarter of an hour.

  “The coachman will ask for a Miss Watson,” she said.

  “Miss Dobson?” he repeated, holding his hand to his ear.

  “That is right!” Kasia said.

  She thought if when she was missing, her father made enquiries the more complicated it was for him, the better.

  She was taken up to her friend’s room, who was delighted to see her.

  “How kind of you to visit me, Kasia,” she said, “and thank you – thank you for the lovely presents.”

  “I am on my way to the country,” Kasia said, “and therefore I cannot stay long, but I will come and see you as soon as I return.”

  “That would be lovely!” Elizabeth answered. “How pretty you look, and so very smart!”

  Kasia thought that was the last thing she should look, in the circumstances.

  But there was nothing she could do about it.

  She sat and chatted until the old butler came to tell her that the carriage was outside.

  “I must go now, Elizabeth,” she said. “Take care of yourself, and do not try to walk too soon.”

  Elizabeth sighed.

  “It was so stupid of me to sprain my ankle just at this moment. It means I cannot go to any Balls.”

  “I am sure it will be perfectly all right in a week,” Kasia said. “I shall be back by then.”

  She kissed Elizabeth goodbye and wondered as she went down the stairs if that was the truth.

  She had a feeling that her father might take longer before he capitulated.

  In any case she was not certain how she would know if he had.

  The carriage waiting for her outside was a Travelling-Chariot.

  Although it looked rather old-fashioned she knew with delight it would move at a good pace.

  It was drawn by two horses which appeared to be strong and should be swift.

  She got into it beside the driver, and the footman who accompanied him sat at the back behind the hood.

  As they drove off Kasia said,

  “How long do you think it will take?”

  “Oi’ll do me best, Miss, t’make it as short as is possible,” the coachman replied. “These ’orses be th’ best we’ve got in t’stables. But Oi ’ears ’Is Grace be buyin’ a great many more which be wot we needs.”

  Kasia smiled.

  She knew coachmen and grooms were never satisfied however many horses they had.

  Then she remembered that the Duke had only recently come into the title.

  She hoped that when she got to the Castle she would be able to ride.

  She had carefully laid out a riding-habit with her dresses.

  At the same time she had the uncomfortable suspicion that a Governess was only expected to use a pony-cart.

  She did not talk very much as they drove on.

  Instead she was thinking how she could make a pupil with such a dismal reputation accept her as his teacher.

  She was sure in her mind that he must have been in some way, mishandled.

  Otherwise why should he be so hostile to everyone who was in charge of him?

  She remembered her mother saying that all children needed love.

  It was those who came from bad homes and dissolute parents that made trouble in the village.

  Because the coachman was determined to be as quick as possible, they actually turned in at the Castle gates at a quarter to one.

  He was obviously delighted at being quicker than he had anticipated and Kasia congratulated him.

  As they drove up the drive she could see the Castle at the end of it.

  It was certainly impressive.

  Very large, the original Castle must have been added to considerably over the centuries.

  Kasia had always been interested in architecture.

  She was therefore certain that a new facade had been added in the last century, doubtless by the brothers Adam.

  There was a wing on one side and the ancient Castle itself on the other side of a centre block.

  Kasia thought it would be fascinating to explore it.

  She only hoped she would have a chance to do so before her employer forced her to keep to the school room.

  As they drew nearer she glanced up at the top of the centre block and saw the pole, but there was no flag.

  That told her that the Duke was not in residence and she heaved a sigh of relief.

  She had the feeling that he might be difficult about his nephew having anyone so young as a Governess.

  They drew up outside the front steps and a footman ran down to open the carriage door.

  There was, of course, Kasia noticed, no red carpet where she was concerned.

  She walked into the hall and was greeted by a white-haired butler who said,

  “Good day, Miss Watson. We were told to expect you, and Mr. Bennett is waiting to see you in his office.”

  He did not wait for her to answer, but walked ahead of her down a long corridor.

  It was the same procedure, she thought, that had taken place in Berkeley Square.

  The Secretary’s room here however, was much larger, and there were many more maps on the walls.

  Mr. Bennett was rather like Mr. Ashton, except that he was older.

  He rose when she entered and held out his hand.

  “I am delighted to see you, Miss Watson,” he said politely. “Mr. Ashton informed me that you were arriving, but you are earlier than I expected.”

  “The horses brought me here very quickly,” Kasia explained.

  She was aware that the Secretary was looking at her with barely concealed surprise.

  She thought that, like Mr. Ashton, he was going to tell her she was too young for the post.

  “Will you sit down?” Mr. Bennett suggested.

  Kasia sat as he indicated, on an upright chair which was on the other side of his desk.

  Mr. Bennett looked down at a letter he held in his hand.

  “Mr. Ashton tells me that you are prepared to undertake the education of Master Simon Horne, and that he has explained to you that it is in fact, a very difficult position.”

  “Mr. Ashton was very frank,”

  Kasia replied. “I told him I would do my best.”

  “No one can do more, and I am very grateful to you for trying.”

  He spoke in a somewhat tired manner, as if he did not like to think of the difficulties that lay ahead.

  Then Kasia asked,

  “What does he do that has upset so many other teachers?”

  “Well, with the last one,” Mr. Bennett replied, “who was a very intelligent man, the boy took an unreasonable dislike to him, and finally threw an ink-pot which hit him on the chin and drenched his clothes with ink.”

  Because she could not help it, Kasia laughed.

  “I only hope that does not happen to me!”

  “I have taken the precaution,” Mr. Bennett said,

  “of having the ink-pots removed from the school room, and have told Master Simon that in future he will use only pencils.”

  “What did he say to that?” Kasia asked.

  “He said he had no intention of learning anything anyway!” Mr. Bennett replied.

  “You have prepared me for the worst,” Kasia said lightly. “Shall I see him now?”

  “I thought you would like first to have some luncheon,” Mr. Bennett replied. “Master Simon had his at twelve-thirty in the school room, but you might find it more agreeable to eat alone.”

  “Thank you, that is kind of you,” Kasia said.

  “I have instructed the housekeeper, Mrs. Meadows, that you should not use the room which is next to Master Simon’s, but another on the same landing, which has a sitting room attached to it.”

  He hesitated for a moment. Then he said,

  “I feel, Miss Watson, you will wish from time
to time, to have some rest from your arduous duties, in which case, one of the housemaids will deputise for you.”

  “Thank you,” Kasia said. “You have kindly thought of everything.”

  She rose as she spoke and Mr. Bennett put up his hand to the bell-pull.

  The door opened almost immediately and Kasia was sure the servant had been waiting outside.

  “Please take Miss Watson to the room which Mrs. Meadows has assigned to her,” he said, “and not to the school room.”

  “Oi knows which it be, Sir,” the footman replied.

  “Thank you very much,” Kasia said as she left the office.

  She was well aware that Mr. Bennett was looking at her with some anxiety, being quite sure, she thought, that she was too young for the position she had taken.

  The footman was going ahead of her up a side staircase.

  He obviously thought the same for as they neared the first landing he said,

  “Ye’ve let yerself in fer a real shock, Miss!”

  “Why do you say that?” Kasia asked, knowing the answer.

  “Th’ young gen’man be a real problem, an’ no mistake!” the footman answered. “There ain’t no one as can do anythin’ wiv ’im, an’ that’s th’ truth.”

  “Perhaps I will prove to be the exception,” Kasia said.

  “Oi wishes ye Good Luck!” the footman replied, “an’ Oi ain’t ’alf glad it ain’t me!”

  He climbed another flight of stairs which took them to the second floor.

  Then Kasia was led along a passage.

  They passed a door which she thought must be the school room.

  Then some way further along the footman led her into a small, but attractive sitting room.

  It was well furnished, and there was a bookcase at one end.

  “This be th’ room used by th’ companion to ’er late Ladyship,” the footman said. “Ever so keen on books, ’er was. They tells Oi th’ footman were forever running up an’ down t’ th’ library t’ get ’em for ’er.”

  “I might want the same,” Kasia said.

  “Ye asks me an’ Oi’ll fetch ye anythin’ ye wants,” the footman replied, “an’ don’t upset yerself if things goes wrong. They ain’t never bin right since Oi’ve bin ’ere.”

  She thought he was being kind to her, and at the same time admired her.

  ‘At least,’ she thought, ‘the staff will support me, if no one else will.’

  She saw there was a table laid in the centre of the room.

  The footman turned towards the door.

  “Oi’ll tell ’em downstairs ye’re ready for yer lunch – oh, an’ yer bedroom be yonder.”

  He pointed to a door at the other end of the room and said,

  “If ye wants me, just ask fer Jim.”

  “I will certainly do that,” Kasia said, “and thank you for being so helpful.”

  “Be a pleasure, Miss,” Jim said.

  As he reached the door he turned back and winked.

  “Keep yer pecker up,” he said. “It might not be as bad as yer thinks.”

  Kasia laughed and went into the bedroom.

  She could not imagine any of her father’s servants talking to her in such a familiar way.

  But now she was just a Governess.

  Jim was not taking liberties, but treating her in a way that was correct for her rank.

  She took off the cape she had been wearing and removed her bonnet.

  She was washing her hands and was just about to dry them when there was a knock on the door.

  When she said ‘Come in’ the housekeeper appeared.

  She was elderly and Kasia knew very like the housekeeper who looked after their own house in the country.

  “Good Afternoon, Miss Watson!” Mrs. Meadows said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to welcome you, but you were early!”

  She made it sound like a rebuke.

  “We had a good journey down from London,” Kasia said, “and I know that you are Mrs. Meadows.”

  She put out her hand and the housekeeper shook it.

  Kasia was aware once again that she looked too smart and too young to be a Governess.

  “Your luncheon’s just coming upstairs,” Mrs. Meadows was saying, “and as soon as you’ve finished, I’ll take you to meet Master Simon, if he hasn’t disappeared in the meantime.”

  She spoke with a sharp note in her voice and Kasia asked,

  “Is he in the habit of disappearing?”

  “You never know what he’ll get up to next!” Mrs. Meadows said. “I’ve tried leaving a housemaid with him, but he always manages to evade them if he has a mind to. Then there’s a hue and cry until we find him again.”

  Kasia made no comment.

  She was going into the sitting room as she and Mrs. Meadows were talking.

  The meal had been carried up on a tray by a footman, who placed on the table the first course. “I’ll come back as soon as you’ve finished,” Mrs. Meadows said.

  She moved towards the door.

  “I think,” Kasia replied, “I passed the school room which is just on the right as I was coming up the stairs.”

  “That’s right,” Mrs. Meadows answered.

  “Then I think, if you do not mind,” Kasia said, “I would like to go in unannounced. It might give me a better chance than if my pupil thinks I am yet another teacher.”

  “As you wish,” Mrs. Meadows agreed. “In any case, I expect somebody has mentioned your arrival so Master Simon’ll be expecting you.”

  Kasia hoped it was with something not so unpleasant as an ink-pot that he would greet her, but she did not say so.

  She merely helped herself to the dishes that were being offered to her.

  After watching her with an expression of surprise on her face, Mrs. Meadows left the room.

  Because Kasia was hungry and the luncheon was well cooked, she ate a hearty meal.

  She then drank a cup of coffee and told herself a little nervously that she was ready for the fray.

  She waited until the footman had taken her tray downstairs, then walked along the passage towards the school room.

  As she opened the door she was aware there were footsteps on the other side of it.

  She was not surprised as she went in to see a small boy at the far end of the room staring out of the window.

  He had his back to her.

  As she shut the door he said,

  “If you are another Governess coming to teach me, you can go away!”

  He spoke in a hard, aggressive tone and Kasia stood still, just inside the door.

  Then she said in a low voice,

  “Please – please – help – me.”

  The young boy made no response and she moved forward saying very quietly,

  “I want your help and, if you will listen, I will tell you – why.”

  She got to within a few feet of him, then went no further.

  After what seemed a long pause, the boy turned his head and looked at her.

  “Why do you want me to help you?” he asked.

  “It is a secret,” Kasia replied.

  He stared at her and she added, almost in a whisper,

  “Look and see if there if anyone listening outside the door.”

  For a moment she feared he would refuse.

  Then, as if his curiosity got the better of him, he pulled open the door.

  He looked to left and right, then shut it again.

  “There is nobody there.”

  “Good!” Kasia answered. “Now I can tell you without being overheard.”

  He came back towards her.

  She saw that he was in fact a very attractive little boy, with dark brown hair and a clear expression.

  He was dressed neatly in expensive clothes, but his shoe-laces were untied.

  She guessed that he had refused to let anyone tie them for him.

  She sat down on the sofa in front of the window. Simon leaned against the end of it saying,

  “You
asked me to help you. What can I do?”

  “If I do tell you,” Kasia said, “will you ‘cross your heart’ and promise you will not tell anyone else?”

  “What does ‘cross your heart’ mean?” Simon asked.

  “It means that if you break your promise something awful will happen to you.”

  “What sort of thing? Will somebody shoot me, or hit me?”

  “You might fall out of a window,” Kasia said, “or drown in the lake.”

  “I will ‘cross my heart’,” he decided.

  “You do it like this,” Kasia explained.

  She crossed her own heart and he copied her.

  “Now, everything I am going to tell you is very, very secret,” Kasia said in a whisper, “because if you tell I will be sent away.”

  “Why would you be sent away?” Simon asked.

  “Because,” Kasia said slowly, “I am not a real Governess. I am only pretending to be one.”

  Simon was obviously intrigued.

  “Why should you pretend to be a Governess?” he asked.

  Kasia looked round as if she was afraid someone was hiding in the comer.

  Then she said in an even lower voice,

  “I am in – hiding!”

  Simon sat down next to her.

  “Who are you in hiding from?”

  “Someone who is trying to make me do something I do not want to do, something horrible and wicked!”

  “And so you have come here to hide!” Simon said.

  Kasia nodded.

  “That is right. I am hiding here in the castle, and no one will know how to find me.”

  She paused and looked at him before she added,

  “That is – if you will – let me – stay.”

  “You can stay, if you do not teach me,” Simon said. “I hate people who teach!”

  “I cannot teach you if I am only a pretend Governess,” Kasia said. “At the same time, you will have to help me pretend – otherwise the people here will say I am no good, and you must have – somebody else.”

  Simon considered this for a moment.

  Then he said,

  “If we pretend to be doing lessons, they will not guess that you are not teaching me anything.”

  “That is right,” Kasia said, “but we have to pretend very cleverly so that they do not think for a moment that I am an imposter.”

  “I will help you,” Simon said firmly.

  “Oh – thank you – thank you!” Kasia cried. “It is very important I should hide here for the time being. But if you make them send me away, I shall have to do something very horrible which will make me desperately unhappy.”