Secret Dreams of a Fearless Governess Bonus Scene

A year passed in blissful happiness and fortune. The Easter celebrations came again the next spring. Joanna was happy that Edmund was able to organise some time away from the office that he might spend it more readily with his family.

The holiday was drawing to a close, however, and it was not without some regret that the two of them stood outside Hardwicke Hall, watching Jenkins load boxes into the family carriage.

“It was odd, not having Christopher with us this year,” Edmund said. “Normally I can rely on him to embarrass us by falling asleep during the service.”

Joanna laughed. “He will have embarrassed himself attending another church’s service this year,” she pointed out. “His regiment did move so terribly far away. . But at least we know that the battalion will be keeping him in check.”

“We hope,” Edmund grumbled. “He is a law unto himself, as we both know. And after what happened with Lady Juliana…”

He trailed off, unwilling to broach the subject. By some unspoken agreement, none of them discussed that matter.

“I can see, however, that he is taking things much more seriously now,” Joanna said, squeezing his arm comfortingly. “You have nothing to worry about. He will become a responsible man at last. I have faith in the better man inside him, and you should too.”

“I do have faith in him,” Edmund acknowledged. “Strange as it may sound. I have seen reflections of the man he hides inside him, and I believe this better self will fully emerge in time.”

Joanna thought back at the brothers’ relationship a year ago. How strained had it been, that it was almost difficult to even breathe when the two of them were present in a room at the same time. She remembered Christopher’s mission to cruelly hurt his brother in any way he could.

He was a better man now. Although she didn’t excuse his past behaviour, Joanna understood it a little better now. She had no brothers, and her relationship with her sister had never been antagonistic, but she imagined it couldn’t be easy growing up in the shadow of an elder sibling everyone considered better.

Edmund sighed.  “Even though it has brought us nothing but misery until now, I do credit the sickness at least with awakening Christopher’s conscience. I think he would not have exhibited that part of his character at all if he were not faced with the prospect of losing what he held most dear again.”

Joanna was silent for a moment. “I think the same,” she said. “I would risk much more of a loss, and much longer, of my health if I knew that it would bring me such happiness as it did. Had I not fallen ill, I would not have been home when you returned, and we never could have been reconciled.”

Edmund leaned in and softly kissed her forehead. Even now, even this small gesture, caused her skin to shiver with delight and her heart to flutter.

“I choose to believe that we would have found our way to each other even if you had already left,” he said. “I believe I would have had the good sense to realize what a fool I was. I would have followed you to the ends of the Earth to convince you to forgive me and return to me.”

Joanna felt her whole being fill with the light and warmth of his love. “No forgiveness was ever warranted.”

“Is he gone yet?” Patience interrupted their tender exchange, bounding out of the house. “Oh, good. I have not yet missed it.”

Amy trailed after her, lingering on the steps. Joanna did not fail to notice it, and beckoned her closer so that she could slip an arm around the young girl’s shoulders.

“He won’t be gone forever,” Joanna said.

Amy answered her only with a sigh.

“I think that’s everything,” Samuel said excitedly, emerging from inside the carriage. “I’m all ready to go.”

“Then shake your brother’s hand, like a gentleman,” Edmund said gruffly.

Joanna could see that he did not want to appear emotional, but he was - they all were.

Samuel had recovered so much that it had surprised them all. Seeing him well enough to go off to school again had even given her hope that she, too, would be back to her normal self one day.

“Have fun, dear brother,” Patience said. “Don’t study too hard.”

Joanna tutted. “Ignore your sister, please, and study what your masters tell you,” she said. “Your education still requires to be caught up, though I have tried as hard as I could.”

“It’s not your fault,” Samuel said cheerfully. “You’ve been too busy being happy with Edmund.”

Joanna gasped in mock hurt. “That is not true,” she said.

“No, it is not,” Samuel laughed. “I am most grateful for your teachings, governess. Now at last you can be my sister instead.”

With more laughs and cheerful, though tearful, embraces, Samuel climbed on board the carriage again and Edmund nodded to the driver. With a rush of hooves and a swish of the lead horse’s tail, he moved off, onwards to return to his friends and the lessons that should await any boy.

“Are you alright, dear Amy?” Joanna asked. She crouched to Amy’s height, looking her in the face. “You are sad that he is leaving?”

“Yes,” Amy admitted, sighing and tossing her head. “But I suppose it is alright. I have gained a sister, after all.”

“Speaking of,” Edmund said, as she stood again to walk back into the house. “I have found a promising governess. She can start as early as next week.”

“But I can teach them still!” Joanna protested. “We’ve been over this!”

“We have, and I am still as determined as I ever was to ensure that my lady wife should have as much time to relax as she could want. Your services are no longer required,” Edmund said, taking her arm. “Besides which, you shall soon enough have your time occupied by someone else.”

Joanna looked down, and stroked the growing swell of her belly. “Yes, I suppose he will require a great deal of attention,” she said.

“How do you know it’s a he?” Amy cut in.

“I just do,” Joanna smiled mysteriously. “A little lord to follow after his father.”

“Is it time to get ready, yet?” Patience cut in, as ever living up to only the antithesis of her name. “I do not want to be late because Mary did not start dressing my hair in time.”

“There are hours to wait yet,” Joanna said. “Go and read some poetry if you find yourself with nothing to do.”

Patience harrumphed. “I have to be ready for the ball,” she said. “I have heard rumour that the new captain will be there.”

“A captain rather too brusque for you, from what I have heard,” Edmund warned. “He rose through the ranks from a Private. He’s no noble blood in him at all.”

“A commoner,” Patience pronounced, with no less thrill and excitement.

“I shall revise my plan not to chaperone her after all,” Joanna sighed. “I do not think you can go without me.”

“Are you sure you are strong enough, my sweet?” Edmund asked, placing a tender hand against her forehead to check her temperature as he often did. “I do not wish you to overexert yourself, especially for the baby’s sake.”

“I shall plead pregnancy and take a chair at the earliest opportunity,” Joanna insisted. “But someone must watch over Patience while you discuss business.”

Patience sighed huffily. “I can be trusted on my own,” she said.

“Perhaps, but it is the men of the ball I do not trust,” Joanna said sternly. “Do not force me to bring up the incident with the carriage again, lest the wrong ears should hear it.”

Patience flounced away to her room without another word. Amy trailed after her, leaving husband and wife alone for a time.

“Are you truly happy to attend tonight?” he asked.

“I am truly, greatly, and indomitably happy,” Joanna insisted. “You could throw any misfortune my way, and I would still be so, as long as I have my family’s health.”

Edmund leaned down to kiss her on the mouth. “Well, then, Lady Kelt,” he said. “It is a grand coincidence that I have ordered you a new gown. It arrived this morning. I believe that Jenkins has left it hanging in our chamber.”

Joanna gave a shout of joy. “You impossible man,” she laughed. “You always knew I would insist on coming.”

“I knew,” Edmund admitted with a smile. “Now, go and try it on, for goodness’ sake.”

Joanna climbed the stairs, taking her time as she had learned to do. She had no doubt, now, that she would regain her full strength in time.

She thought of the future, and her child playing happily with Esther’s when they came to visit. She thought of many children to come, healthy and happy, to fill these halls with their laughter.

She turned to look at her husband, escorting her up the stairs, ever there to help her should she need it. Her eyes met his, and he didn’t need to say the words aloud. They had spoken them so often, they were an integral part of them now. She saw them reflected in his warm dark eyes, and knew they were mirrored in hers.

I love you. And I shall love you till my breath is but a whisper among the stars.

They smiled at each other, and Joanna could feel a swell of joy so impressive that she thought her heart might burst under the strain of it.

 The End...

Thank you for reading our books!

Before you go a few things to remind you!

Don't forget to post your review on

Our Website, Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub.

Join our Facebook Group with Voracious Readers

The next book in the series is available!

Click Here or on the image below and Read it now!