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do, my lord,” she said quietly. “It was most kind of you to invite me. We seem to have arrived inopportunely, I’m afraid.”
    Philip recovered himself at once. “Not at all,” he said, a reassuring smile lighting his face. “This is quite normal behavior in our household.”
    Clarissa bustled up in time to hear his words. “Philip, what a dreadful thing to say! How do you do, Miss Pennington? Please forgive this confusion. If you’ll bear with us until Mrs. Covington is recovered, we’ll be able to see to your comforts as we should. Reggie, my dear, how good to see you! And Jamie, love, it’s good to have you home.”
    With a quick kiss for Jamie and a hug for Reggie, Clarissa turned to go back to the side of the still swooning Martha. A small, involuntary sigh escaped her at the sight before her—the maids hastily gathering up armfuls of lingerie and running up the stairs with them; Gervaise and Sally bending over the prostrate Martha; Edward Covington shaking his head and muttering, “I knew it, I knew something had to happen,” under his breath; and the twins, as boisterously as if nothing had happened, chasing each other up and down the staircase.
    â€œI beg your pardon, ma’am,” came a soft, calm voice behind her, “but may I be of assistance? I would be glad to take the little boys and settle them in.”
    Clarissa looked at Miss Pennington with an expression of gratitude and relief. “Oh my, that would be most helpful, and most kind in you.…”
    â€œBut my dear,” Lord Gyllford objected, “it would be unforgivable of us to put a guest to work, like a governess, as soon as she puts her foot in the door. We could not so impose on her.”
    â€œIf you please, my lord, I would not feel in the least imposed upon. I am a governess, after all, and I’d be grateful to be permitted to make myself useful.” And without waiting for an answer, Miss Pennington handed her cloak and gloves to a waiting servant and gracefully crossed the floor. Philip and Clarissa stared after her as she spoke a few words to a young woman they took to be her abigail. Then the astounding Miss Pennington took each of the twins firmly in hand and in seconds had disappeared with them around the bend of the stairway.
    â€œGoverness? Did she say governess?” Clarissa asked Jamie in surprise.
    Jamie grinned down at his puzzled aunt. “Yes, she did. Wonderful, ain’t she? Don’t worry about it. I’ll explain later.”
    Jamie and Reggie moved into the hall, greeting the others. Martha soon revived, and by slow degrees the whole party made its way to the library, where hot soup and mulled brandy did much to restore order and good spirits. But Philip gave scant attention to the laughter and banter around him. He was staring at his son. Jamie must possess depths beyond his ken. He had brought home a young woman who, although perhaps beneath him in station and wealth, seemed vastly superior in character. Certainly she was not at all the sort of young woman whom Philip would have thought likely to attract a young buck so newly on the town. Philip had to admit that the sight of Jamie’s choice had completely surprised him. In the past, he had prided himself on the aplomb with which he had withstood the shocks, disappointments and worries of fatherhood. But this time … well, this time Jamie had shaken him profoundly.

Five
    When guests were lodged at Gyllford Manor, the two hours before dinner became the quietest time of day. The ladies were closeted with their abigails, who carefully dressed their hair; the gentlemen either stole a little time for a nap, or discussed with their valets the costume for the evening. Philip availed himself of the temporary lull in the day’s activities to visit his son for a tête à tête . He found Jamie standing in front of his mirror doing violence to the third neckcloth with