The Mistress of Hanover Square by Anne Herries Read Free Book Online

‘Please…’
    ‘Yes, certainly. I shall come in the morning,’ Amelia said. ‘I have a gift for you, Lisa—and I thinkwe could go for a walk together in the park or even a ride in the carriage since it is cold. You, your papa and me—how would that be?’
    ‘I should like it above all things, mademoiselle .’ Lisa threw herself at Amelia and hugged her.
    ‘Come along, Miss Ravenshead,’ Nanny said. ‘You are over-excited. You will never sleep and I shall be up all night with you.’ The woman shot a look of dislike at Amelia.
    Mindful that it would take time to replace her, Amelia made no reply. However, she turned urgently to Gerard as Nanny led the child away.
    ‘I must speak to you privately. I have made certain observations and I think you should consider replacing that woman.’
    ‘You do not like her either?’ Gerard looked relieved. ‘I am so glad that I asked you to take note, Amelia. She was recommended to me, but I have thought her too sour. I was not sure if I was being unfair—and I know that children need discipline…’
    ‘Not to the extent that all the joy of life is squeezed out of them,’ Amelia said as they walked from the room into a smaller parlour where they were alone. ‘Lisa is high-spirited, but she is a delightful child and has good manners. I think Nanny is too strict with her. She is not allowed to play or to have honey for tea—and that I must tell you is a terrible deprivation.’
    ‘And entirely unnecessary,’ Gerard said and laughed. ‘I knew I might rely on you, my very dear Amelia. I was afraid that my partiality for Lisa mademe too lenient. I have a nursemaid. I shall put her in charge and dismiss Nanny. Oh, I will give her a year’s wages and a reference, but she shall not have charge of my daughter again.’
    ‘Oh dear, the poor woman. I feel terrible now for she has lost her employment, and at Christmas—but I confess that I did not like her. I once employed a woman of that sort at the orphanage and had to dismiss her soon after, because she ill treated her charges. I do not understand why some people feel it is necessary to treat children as if they were criminals.’
    ‘Some can be little monsters. I remember that I used to put frogs in the bed of my nanny.’
    ‘Did you? I did that once and she went to my father. He sent me to bed and I was given nothing but bread and water for two days—and I had to apologise.’
    ‘My father thrashed me. It did me the world of good, for as he said—think what a shock it was for the poor frog.’
    ‘The frog…’ Amelia went into a peal of delighted laughter. ‘Oh, no! That is a great deal too bad of you, sir. You have a wicked sense of humour.’
    ‘Yes, I have at times,’ Gerard admitted. ‘Though I have not laughed so very much of late. Amelia…may I tell you something?’
    ‘Yes, of course.’
    He led her towards a little sofa. ‘Please sit down. This is not easy for me. I have wished to tell you something that almost no one else knows, but I fear it may give you a bad opinion of me.’
    ‘Have you done something wicked?’ she asked with a smile.
    ‘I have not told you the whole truth about something.’
    Amelia’s smile faded. This was clearly serious. ‘Please explain. I do not understand.’
    ‘I told you that my wife died after a long illness?’ Amelia nodded. ‘It was not quite the truth. She had been ill, but she had recovered in her physical health at least, though I know now that she must still have been suffering in her mind.’
    ‘Gerard! Please explain. I do not understand.’
    ‘Lisette seemed happy enough while she was carrying the child, but afterwards…she complained that I did not love her—that I thought more of the child…’
    ‘Surely any father would love their child? Perhaps she was pulled down by the birth? I have heard that some women are deeply affected by childbirth.’
    ‘Yes, it may have been that…’ Gerard hesitated. Now was his chance to tell her the whole