The Redemption of the Puzzling Governess Bonus Scene

Three years later

Delia no longer had time to relax, but now and then, when Miss Camden would take all of the children outside, she would take time to enjoy her reading.

Grace had developed into quite the tremendous young lady, and the Earl and Countess were extremely proud of her. She was known throughout London already for her beauty and the character of her name, her extreme gracefulness.

Delia could hardly believe that her season was only a few years away and that Grace was already twelve years of age. They had received an offer from the Duke of Granton to commit her to their son who was just three years her senior.

But Delia had thought it a poor decision to arrange Grace's marriage so young, and she was relieved that the Earl agreed. He had had his own first marriage arranged for him when he was years older than that, and it had not been what he had always hoped for. For him, the idea of arranging it for his daughter was not an option, at least not this early in her life.

Delia stood and set down her book, making her way to the large windows that overlooked the backside of the home.

Miss Camden was chasing after the twin boys, Jacob and Markus, as Grace held the baby, Anya.

Having four children in just three years of marriage had taken some getting used to, but Delia was glad to have a family and knew that she was entirely blessed for the opportunity. She could hardly stand to be away from them for any period of time, and it was a sign to her that all was as it ought to be.

The Earl arrived home shortly after, when Delia was back to reading her book. He came to the library, having called Miss Camden and the children to come back inside, and told Delia that Mrs Andrews had informed him that dinner was ready.

Delia stood and walked with her husband. They passed Amy in the hall who had just finished her duties and then descended the stairs to the dining room.

The boys sat in their places where Miss Camden put them, although Delia could see their temptation to swap seats in order to confuse their parents. They did this often to their governess, but she had warned them that she could tell them apart. They had little chance for success. At only two years of age, she was frightened by the fact that they had already discovered their exact appearance of one another.

Grace took her seat as well. She sat calmly and peacefully, waiting for the meal to be served and showing perfect manners while she was at it. Again, Delia swelled with pride. She didn't want Grace to grow any older. She couldn't bear the thought of it.

Anya was fed and put down for a nap. Delia longed for the day when she could have all of her children at the table, all of them able to sit and enjoy one another's company.

And yet, she wished it always to remain as it was. She didn't want any of them to grow older. She didn't want any of them to change. She wanted only her family as it was already.

"My dear, could you please pass me some of the potatoes?" her husband requested. Delia passed them and the Earl added them to his plate.

The children ate everything as instructed and, finally, they all departed after dinner.

The Earl and Countess made their way up the stairs.

Delia let out a yawn. She had little reason to be so tired. She had rested that day more than most. But still, she found herself tired out and wanting to sleep before the journey that was to come the following morning.

"Do you think it will go well?" the Earl asked her.

Delia gave a sigh of uncertainty.

"I should hope so. But we have two young boys and a baby not yet six months. I can imagine that we shall have our hands rather full," she replied.

"Miss Camden will ensure that the boys are entertained and not disrupting anything. And you know that Grace will help as much as we allow her. She loves and adores her baby sister, after all," the Earl reminded her.

Delia nodded. She knew that he was right. Everything would certainly be fine. And yet, she could not help but feel anxious to see her parents again.

They had at least shifted their attitudes somewhat and were reminded more and more of their humble beginnings, but Delia was still displeased with them. This trip to Brighton was evidently only an effort they were making to show off that they had nobility in their family now. They wished for all to see their sons-in-law and their daughters who married them.

With Thea, their father took great pride in having arranged the match, although society saw him as a leech for having done so. But with Delia, they could take no credit. She had not been a part of their lives when she managed to find herself a man of nobility. And while she never considered her marriage to be one of station, she knew that they did.

The Earl wrapped his arms around his wife, and she appreciated the comfort. She knew that he understood her frustrations and how she had felt abandoned by the parents that were meant to love her so dearly.

But the next few weeks in Brighton would prove important, she felt. It would give her time to see her parents. She had not spent much time with them. It would be a relaxing event. And she would not have to worry about anything with her husband at her side.

Thea would be there as well, with the Duke and their three children. And so would Georgette, who was now out in society and being sought after by many men. Their parents, of course, had not deemed any of them important enough to settle for.

But Delia would be able to spend time with both of them and that was a small mercy indeed. At least she would be able to be at leisure with her sisters.

In the morning, when she woke, the Earl was already up and ensuring that the household was ready for the day of travel ahead. Breakfast had been made ready early and everything was packed well enough for the venture.

They went down to eat and then made their way to the coach for the trip ahead.

It was a long day of travel with all of the children and a governess in tow. Delia continually felt anxiety from the wants and needs of her children, primarily for food. Jacob felt nauseous the entire journey and she pitied him as they went along and had to stop occasionally for him to relieve the contents of his stomach. It was difficult for her as a mother to see this from him.

But finally, that evening, they arrived in Brighton. The town was exquisite and the regiments were out in full numbers, causing many young women to run about in excitement.

They reached the rooms they had rented and set up everything they needed for the children before going out to the place they had arranged to meet with her family.

Thea was already there with the Duke and all of their children. Delia greeted her sister with delight and the Duke seemed entirely glad to be there as well. Everything that could have been peaceful was, and Delia was relieved by it.

The children seemed to get on quite well, and Thea's daughter was barely younger than Delia's boys, which made for the cousins to be good friends right away, despite not being able to communicate much beyond simple phrases.

Nearly an hour passed before Mr and Mrs Caulfield arrived, with Mrs Caulfield looking entirely strained. As it happened, they had experienced a few issues on their route and it was all they could do to arrive in time.

Georgette came in behind her parents and was ever still the portrait of elegance.

After dinner, Delia, Thea, and Georgette stole away for a moment to discuss life and plans. They wanted to share with one another about everything happening in their separate stages and places.

"Georgette, I have heard that you have a great deal of suitors but that Mother and Father have approved of none," Thea remarked.

Georgette took in a deep breath.

"It is true. They wish for me to marry someone older and wealthier, a man with a title as you both have done. But I cannot say it is what I long for," Georgette confessed.

"Oh? Whatever do you mean? You do not wish to marry or you do not wish to marry who they should like to choose for you?" Delia asked.

Georgette seemed to ponder this for a moment.

"I think I should like to marry. But I do not think I should like to remain in England," she told them.

"Where do you wish to go?" Thea asked, shocked by the news.

"Abroad somewhere. Perhaps Italy? I'm not sure," she answered.

"But what will you do there? And what will Mother and Father say?" Delia asked, still uncertain of her sister's plans.

"Mother and Father will not like it. I am quite sure of that. And I do not know exactly what I shall do there. But I cannot help this desire to leave and find something that is missing here. All I ever longed for was to be in society, to be someone of status. And here I am, but I can hardly stand it," Georgette confessed.

Delia nodded, understanding. She had been through the same feelings, and so had Thea. Not that either of them had really sought after society as Georgette had, but they both knew what it was like to suddenly have gained it and not wish for it.

What Georgette wanted was unlikely to come to pass, but Delia could not blame her for wanting it nonetheless. Life was a series of challenges for women, but being in the eye of the public as they now were? That was entirely different and not for the better.

After the three had spent their time together, they made their way back to the rest of their families. Thea and the Duke departed early, going to their rooms at the same place in which Delia and the Earl were staying. Their parents, however, had chosen to stay at another place, one that was far more superior in name.

After a short time alone, the Earl and Delia headed back to their own room, with all of the children along. Grace went to her place and the boys to theirs, with Miss Camden taking Anya to rock her to sleep.

When the Earl and Delia were alone, they moved out onto the balcony that overlooked the city. In their chairs, they leaned back, watched the sky and the contradicting lights of Brighton as they reminisced on their past, present, and their future.

"I was so in love with you. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that you would lower yourself to marrying the governess," Delia said with a laugh.

The Earl held her hand and chuckled in reply.

"And I never imagined a governess would want to become the mother of the child she governed. Or that you would want to marry someone like me, who was so introverted and quiet all the time," he replied.

"You are still quiet much of the time," Delia noted. "But I have rather enjoyed seeing you break from your shell and spend more time with your peers."

When they spoke of the present, Delia told him how she wished she could preserve it forever. She told the Earl how she longed for the children to remain and not grow, that she might always be able to love them and be loved by them in this exact way.

Change was inevitable. The children would, indeed, grow older, and she had to accept that. But it did not mean that she would ever stop loving them.

"You are a magnificent mother," the Earl complimented her.

Delia blushed. The Earl had given her many compliments in their time together, but this was perhaps, her favourite. To know that he was proud of her, that he liked how she was parenting their children, that was a joy to be sure.

And when they spoke of the future, Delia told the Earl that she wanted it to always be as it had been. The two of them, side by side, loving one another through everything.

"My dear, I can think of nothing more perfect than that," the Earl replied.

"Truly?" she asked.

"Truly. You are my joy. My first priority. And I shall remain with you and our children always. I cannot imagine ever letting you go," he said. Delia saw the glint in his eyes. He was sharing only truth with her, the truth that he knew in his heart.

The Earl loved her. He loved their children. Their family really was his everything.

"And I shall remain with you always," she committed in reply.

"I shall love you always," the Earl promised.

"And I shall love you," she told him.

With that, the Earl closed the small gap that remained between them and settled his lips on hers with a forever kiss.

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