If Annie, the nursery maid, wasn’t the worst kind of gossip, she might have left the children with her for a while, but Annie was the kind of girl who wouldn’t believe there could be such a thing as a perfectly innocent meeting between a governess and a young working man. At least it was a fine day, and that gave her an idea. ‘It’s time Master Rodney learnt a little more about the history of Knytte,’ Phoebe said, as Annie finished fastening Eliza’s coat. ‘We shall begin with the ruins of the monastery. Not many children are fortunate enough to have so much of the past at their fingertips. Once you have finished your duties here you may come and join us if you wish, Annie, it would be a treat for you. The development of the monasteries is a fascinating subject.’ She knew from past experience that the nursery maid hated listening to any sort of lesson. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Miss, but I’ve orders to help with the downstairs, once the nursery is done.’ Not wishing the girl to guess at her relief, Phoebe looked disapproving.
