Octavia might have been little more than a street urchin, but her mother had raised her well, educated her, and Octavia was certain that she could look after a spoilt boy without too much trouble. And as he was the son of a duke…I can only imagine what he might be paying. Better, too, that he is desperate.
“Excuse me,” Octavia called after the two women. “This duke. Might you tell me his name?”
One of the women frowned at her as her eyes flicked over Octavia in judgment. “And why would you like to know?”
“Conversation,” she said flatly.
The woman rolled her eyes. “It is the Duke of Ironvale, of course. He lives in Mayfair – I am sure you know the home. Hard to miss, a monstrosity like that.”
“Mayfair…” Octavia nodded her head. Mayfair was in central London, not too far from where she and Henry were staying. “Mr. Tidbit, I thank you for the offer, but I am afraid I must pass.”
“One hundred and fifty pounds,” Mr. Tidbit countered.
“No deal.” She snatched the pendant from his hand and shoved it into her pocket. “But it is nice to know that you were willing to barter. I’ll remember that.”
With that done, Octavia hurried from the pawnshop and back into the night. She walked with a kick to her step and a smile on her face. For the first time in as long as she could remember, fate had intervened in her life in a way that did not threaten to ruin her completely. In fact, if this plan of hers worked, it might just save her and Henry’s lives.
She just hoped this Duke Ironvale was indeed as desperate as the two women made him sound, for he would have to be, if he meant to hire Octavia.
Chapter Three
“Imust say, I am not one who is easily impressed, Miss Finch, but in this instance… well, color me impressed!”
Miss Constance Spencer was a kindly woman whom Octavia took an immediate liking to. She was somewhere in her sixties, had a round face with rosy cheeks, big blue eyes, and always seemed to be smiling. There was a warmth to her, one that made her impossible not to feel comfortable around.
Better too, that as much as Octavia liked her, she seemed to like Octavia just as much.
“I am so glad to hear that,” Octavia said with a polite smile, careful not to appear too exaggerated as she knew that such things were sometimes looked down on in these upper echelons of society. “I must admit, when I first walked through the doors of this lovely home, I felt…” She pinched her face in thought.
“Felt what, dear?”
“Comfortable,” Octavia said, letting her smile return. “I felt comfortable, as if I had known this home my entire life. That must sound silly to you.”
“Not at all,” she said, her smile somehow growing.
“It is just so warm and welcoming,” Octavia continued. “And I imagine that you are who I have to thank for such things.” She winked playfully.
Miss Spencer chuckled and even blushed. “Oh, I do what I can.”
“Modesty suits you,” Octavia said. “Even if I do not believe it for a second.”
Oh yes, this is going wonderfully. Better than expected! All I need to do now is not mess everything up, and this job is as good as mine.
Octavia had to work extra hard not to show how pleased she was. Just as she had to remain humble and not get ahead of herself, because the interview was far from over.
Truthfully, she had felt strangely confident about this interview from the moment that she arrived. All morning she had been in a state of panic, not even certain that she would be humored with an interview – it was not as if she had an appointment! She simply turned up, announced her intention to apply for the role of governess, and prayed she would be seen.
The confidence came when she was led inside, at which point the valet had explained to her how thrilled they were that she had come because, as he told her plainly, they’d had some difficulty lately finding someone to fill the role.
She was led to the morning room and introduced to Miss Spencer, and it was within minutes of meeting her that Octavia knew this job was hers to lose.
“To be honest with you, things have not been so easy here of late,” Miss Spencer sighed and let her shoulders sag. “His Grace is… he is kinder than he appears to be. He has a good heart, and he means well. Sadly, he has not been the same since…” She trailed off.
“Since what?” Octavia pressed gently.
Miss Spencer shook her head. “That matters not, and it is certainly not for me to speak of.”
“Of course.”