A Mysterious Governess for the Reluctant Earl Bonus Scene

Hannah settled into the drawing room after their long trip. She was happy to be home again at Brighton Abby.

It was late at night by the time they returned after their three-month season in London. Both Rebecca and Caroline had been fast asleep when the carriage pulled up to the manor’s entrance. Both were carried one by one by their father off to bed.

Hannah settled into the comfort of the drawing room while she waited for her husband to join her before they retired to bed.

They had chosen to spend the season after their wedding at Sebastian’s town house. Partly it was due to the fact that Lord Grimshaw had business to attend to with the House of Lords. More than that, he wanted to introduce his wife to society properly.

He had voiced some concerns to her that not everyone might be accepting of his new bride. Luckily, for the most part, that had not been the case. Hannah had completely and utterly enjoyed her time back in her beloved London.

It had become an all-new world for her at the side of her husband. Even the girls, who had seen the vast city little in their life, found it to be greatly exciting.

More than getting used to the newness of her position as Countess Grimshaw and her place in society, Hannah had also enjoyed the time in London because it gave her a chance to get to know her husband better.

Together they were able to learn and grow as a new couple in a setting all their own. Hannah couldn’t help but smile against the fire glow as she recalled all the nights she danced in Sebastian’s arms at one ball after another.

“What has you so amused?” she heard a deep voice call out of the darkness.

Sebastian came to sit next to his wife on the sofa. First taking her hand and kissing it in a loving fashion, before stretching out luxuriously at her side.

Hannah suspected he more than any of them was relieved to be free of the confines of a carriage. She watched with loving humor as he reached his long arms out and kicked out his legs as far as they would go.

“You look like a cat,” Hannah mused.

“I do?” he replied, finishing his stretch rather sleepily.

“Yes, like a cat just woken from his nap.”

“Well quite the contrary. I am just about to lay myself down for a nice extended sleep in the comfort of my own bed.”

“That does sound lovely doesn’t it?” Hannah agreed.

“You can’t come though,” Sebastian said, sitting up straight.

“I can’t? And why ever not?” Hannah retorted in her stubborn tone.

“Because,” he said, patting his jacket coat, “I have something for you first. I hope you don’t mind that I held on to it this long. I was waiting for the right moment and...”

Hannah recognized that nervous chatter in her husband that told her what he was about to do was important to him.

He pulled from his jacket pocket a tattered envelope.

“I wanted to wait till you were home to give this to you. I don’t know why, exactly, but I just thought this would be the right way to welcome you to Brighton Abby as Countess and mistress of the manor.”

Hannah looked at the envelope in the firelight. It was addressed to her. Very clearly it had to be from Sebastian’s first wife.

“She made several letters there at the end,” he stated simply. “Mostly to the girls, of course. She knew she wasn’t going to make it and wanted to do it before she became too weak. I hope you don’t mind that I have those for the girls,” Sebastian said, looking to Hannah suddenly.

He wondered if it might offend her that he had kept this a secret. His greatest fear would be that Hannah would be hurt to know that the girls would have letters given to them periodically from their mother.

“I think it was very wise of her to do so. I am sure both girls will be happy to have sage advice from their mother.”

“They will be happy to have it from both of their mothers,” Sebastian said, putting a warm hand on top of Hannah’s.

“But this one is for you. I don’t know what it says, I never read it,” he continued, handing over the envelope.

“Of course you can choose to read it or not. I would not make you if you don’t wish to. I just thought it right to give it to you because…” Sebastian hesitated for a moment. “Because it belongs to you.”

He gave his wife a soft kiss and a pat on the hand before getting up and retiring to his bed. Hannah had to admit she was grateful for the privacy as she turned the letter over in her hand.

She considered not opening it. What words could the late Lady Grimshaw have written down for her? She worried that they might be some that she wouldn’t want to hear.

Hannah chased the thought away. What she had learned of Ann Blackburn had told her that anything written on this parchment was done with love and hope for her family’s future.

With that in mind, Hannah Blackburn, Countess of Grimshaw, broke the seal and opened the letter.

To the future Countess of Grimshaw,

My dearest friend. I hope that you don’t mind I call you so, for even though we may never meet, I am sure you are that and so much more to me.

I know it might seem a bit strange to be receiving this letter from me but I wanted you to know how important you are to me.

You are one of the most important persons in my life as they have chosen you. I truly hope that you will open your heart to love them as well.

I want you to know that I am happy for you, for you and Sebastian both. I am happy that he was able to find love again.

Please do love him. I know he has his imperfections as we all do. At times he will be quick to anger, and even may take a demanding tone from time to time.

Know that all he does, he does because he cares deeply. He sometimes doesn’t realize it himself, but he has such a great big heart.

Please be the mother to my girls that I wish I could be for them. Remind Caroline to smile and let Rebecca keep her innocent joy for life.

Be there for them as they grow and help mold them into the beautiful young women that I know they are destined to be.

Lastly, thank you. From the bottom of my heart I thank you. I know it can’t be easy to marry a stubborn man or love children not of your own body. I am eternally grateful for your willingness, your kindness, and your pure love for my family.

I know because you are reading this letter, you are the best woman to take on such a heavy burden and I thank you for it.

Please love them, hug them, kiss them for me from time to time. But more importantly than that, do all those things for you.

You are the greatest gift to them. Through my weakness I have made a wound in them. With you they are made whole again.

Your eternal friend,

Ann Blackburn

The End...

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