A wave of compassion displaced, for a moment, her simmering anger. After this incident, she was even less impressed with the housekeeper who ran Somers Abbey—and its deliberately distant master.
Both were going to get a piece of her mind in the morning.
Despite her assurance that Elizabeth did not need to concern herself with the housekeeper, the little girl woke Olivia well before daylight. ‘Miss Overton, we must go back to our room. Before Mrs Wallace comes up and finds out we came here.’
The poor child was obviously afraid of the housekeeper—and small wonder, if she were threatened with a beating for any small infraction of the woman’s rules. After lighting a candle, Olivia turned to reassure her.
But the worry etched on the child’s face made it quite clear she didn’t trust the new governess to protect her, despite the fact that Olivia had rescued them last night. Her lack of confidence in the person appointed to look out for her was not surprising, considering that the adult who should have cared for the children had instead sent them across an ocean to live with a stranger.
A stranger who then consigned them into the charge of a woman who beat small children and was unconcerned that they were cold and lost, Olivia thought, her anger against both the housekeeper and her employer reviving.
Not wishing to increase their anxiety by keeping them in her room, she said, ‘Very well, I’ll take you back to the nursery. But I’m bringing the counterpane with us, so you may stay warm until I can obtain suitable clothing and bedding.’
Elizabeth’s eyes went wider. ‘But Mrs Wallace will see your blanket! She will know right away it isn’t ours.’
‘I’ll tell her I came to check on you in the night and found the nursery too cold for you to sleep in with just a cotton blanket. Since I didn’t know where more blankets were kept, I brought you mine. And please believe me, I am quite capable of dealing with any objections Mrs Wallace might raise. So, ready? Let’s get you back down the hallway before your toes freeze!’
After hurrying the little girls back to the nursery and draping the counterpane over their two beds, Olivia brought the candle over to the dresser and once again inspected its contents. Though the cotton undergarments and dresses were all of excellent quality, they had obviously been intended for wearing in a tropical climate. She didn’t discover anything made of wool or even linen. ‘We shall have to get you heavier clothing, too, at least until the weather is sufficiently warm.’
‘Does it ever get warm in England?’ Elizabeth asked.
Compared to what she knew of weather in the tropics, the child had a point. ‘Probably never as warm as you were accustomed to at home, but we do have pretty, sunny summer days sometimes. Now, wrap up tight! I’ll get dressed and be back before Mrs Wallace arrives.’
Sophie gave her sister an anxious look, but both obediently huddled down in their beds. Girding herself for the confrontation to come, Olivia paced back to her chamber, threw on her garments and returned to the nursery.
Just as dawn was lighting the sky, Olivia heard the maid’s footfalls in the hallway. Stepping into the corridor, she said, ‘Good morning, Mary. Bring my breakfast tray in here, won’t you? I will eat with the girls.’
‘If you please, miss,’ the maid said. Her eyes widened as she entered, no doubt noting the forbidden counterpane draped across the beds. ‘I’ll bring the girls’ tray up in a trice.’
‘Thank you. And would you tell Mrs Wallace I would like to speak with her at her earliest convenience?’
Mary’s gaze travelled from Olivia to the counterpane covering the girls’ beds and back. Setting down Olivia’s tray, she gave her a nervous smile. ‘Yes, miss. I can take that coverlet back to your room on my way.’
Olivia returned the smile. ‘That’s kind of you, but it shall remain here until the children are provided with adequate blankets of their own.’
The maid stared. ‘Are you sure about that, miss?’
Evidently it wasn’t just her two charges who feared the housekeeper. ‘Quite sure. Indeed, that is what I wish to speak with Mrs Wallace about.’
The maid hesitated, as if she meant to say something, then shook her head. ‘As you wish, miss.’
After the maid walked out, Elizabeth whispered, ‘Mrs Wallace is not going to be happy with you.’
‘Probably not. But that’s all right, because I am not happy with her, either.’
Olivia was able to finish her coffee, toast and cheese and assist the girls to dress before she heard the housekeeper’s light step in the hallway. No doubt Mrs Wallace had deliberately delayed responding to her summons, intent upon putting the new employee in her place.
However, a governess occupied a unique position within a noble household. Being gently born, she was not part of the staff below stairs or under the housekeeper’s authority. A fact Olivia suspected she was about to have to prove.
Which was fine with her. After the way the children had been treated, and the slovenly condition of her chamber, she was quite prepared for a confrontation.
Mrs Wallace walked into the nursery, spied the coverlet over the beds and frowned. ‘Miss Overton, what is the counterpane from your bedchamber doing here?’
‘The girls were cold when I came in to check on them this morning. Not knowing where the linens are kept, I brought in my own coverlet to keep them warm until I could have you bring them thicker blankets.’
Anger flaring in the woman’s eyes, she turned her gaze accusingly on the girls. With a whimper, Sophie cowered behind her sister.
Looking back at Olivia, she said, ‘As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Miss Overton, the household is living in...reduced straits. The children are newcomers to England, and will soon become adjusted to our climate. I have no household funds to spare for such frivolities as extra blankets.’
Though Elizabeth remained protectively in front of her sister, she looked nearly as scared as Sophie. The fear on their faces raised Olivia’s simmering anger several more degrees.
One of us is going to yield and it won’t be me, she thought. But no point terrifying the children by having them witness what promises to be an unpleasant exchange.
‘Perhaps you will accompany me to my chamber so we may discuss this further.’
Mrs Wallace opened her lips, obviously intending to refuse. Olivia fixed on her the hard, unwavering stare that had, in the past, reduced impudent housemaids and a few insolent footmen to silence. ‘Very well,’ she said at last. ‘I wouldn’t wish to embarrass you in front of the children.’
‘Nor I, you. Shall we?’
As soon as they reached Olivia’s room, Mrs Wallace said, ‘Let me put some things straight right away. The household, and all household supplies, are my responsibility and I won’t have you interfering in my realm. Besides, it’s ridiculous, indulging a pair of orphans like that.’
‘The welfare of girls is my realm, and I shall “interfere” wherever necessary to ensure it. I’m not demanding you provide them satin quilts and eiderdown pillows. Just thick woollen blankets