The Undesirable Governess

In Short

The Undesirable Governess is a lighthearted Edwardian comedy of manners centered on the Follitt family, whose unruly daughters have driven away every tutor until they meet the "unappealing" Miss Scott. The book captures the social anxieties and spirited leisure of the British upper class at the dawn of the twentieth century. Through a series of playful deceptions, the novel explores themes of identity, social status, and the friction between rigid family expectations and individual desires. It remains a charming relic of its era, known for its wit and warmth.

The Story

The Follitt household at King’s Follitt is in chaos. Colonel Follitt and his wife, Lady Jane, are at their wits' end because their two young daughters, Gwendolen and Evelyn, spend their time racing horses bareback, poaching rooks, and terrorizing the local roads with a motorcar. Desperate for order, Lady Jane advertises for a governess, specifically seeking one who is plain and uninteresting to avoid the romantic distractions that have plagued their previous hires.

Enter Miss Scott. She arrives with a pronounced limp, a hunched shoulder, and a drab, unattractive appearance. She is immediately dismissed by the Follitt sons as "dreadful," which is exactly what Lady Jane wants. However, Miss Scott proves to be a masterful presence. Behind the scenes, she is actually Diana Trevelyan, a young woman who has fallen in love with the eldest son, Lionel. She has used theatrical makeup and careful padding to manufacture her "undesirable" persona, allowing her to infiltrate the home and win Lionel’s heart without his parents' interference.

The plot thickens when an unexpected adventure disrupts the quiet country life. A group of friends, including the Follitt sons and members of the Trevelyan family, are involved in a dramatic ballooning accident that lands them at the mysterious estate of a man named Mr. Steele. During this strange sojourn, a darker, long-held secret comes to light: it is revealed that Miss Scott is not the daughter of a simple student, but rather a long-lost heiress to the Trevelyan family estate, separated from her parents as an infant during a house fire.

When the truth about her background and her elaborate disguise is eventually revealed, Lady Jane’s initial horror turns to relief. She had feared her son was marrying a commoner, but the discovery that Miss Scott is actually an heiress of noble connection makes the match entirely acceptable. The deception is treated not as a grave scandal, but as a clever, spirited prank. The novel concludes with the marriages of both Lionel and his brother Jocelyn to the Trevelyan girls. The unruly Follitt daughters, however, remain unchanged, returning to their mischievous habits of poaching and riding as soon as the house is left to them, suggesting that the "governess" problem at King’s Follitt is far from permanently solved.

How It Unfolds

The search for order The Follitt parents struggle to manage their wild daughters, who treat the country estate like a playground for reckless sports. They decide that only a truly "undesirable" woman can restore discipline to the household.

The arrival of the disguise Miss Scott appears, carefully crafted to be as physically unappealing as possible to satisfy Lady Jane’s rigid requirements. She manages to win the respect of her employers by effectively "meaning business," even while Lionel struggles to recognize his acquaintance underneath the artifice.

The ballooning complication A group of young men and women take to the skies, leading to a disastrous crash-landing and a bizarre, atmospheric night spent at a mysterious estate. This interval shifts the focus from domestic discipline to the revelation of a hidden, aristocratic lineage.

The truth unveiled Evidence of a broken sixpence provides the missing link in Miss Scott’s history, identifying her as a lost Trevelyan heiress. The revelation transforms her status, forcing a confrontation between her and the Follitt parents.

The happy resolution The deception is exposed as a harmless, albeit audacious, game of wit. With her true identity confirmed, the social obstacles to her marriage with Lionel vanish, and the Follitt family settles into an uneasy but ultimately satisfied peace.

The People

Lady Jane Follitt is a classic social conservative who values appearances above all. She wants a governess who will be "invisible" to her sons and strictly obedient, yet she eventually proves flexible when she realizes the "governess" is a social equal.

Miss Scott (Diana Trevelyan) is the protagonist, whose sharp intellect and talent for theatricals allow her to manipulate the Follitt household to her own ends. She is determined to marry for love and is willing to endure the indignity of a "hump" and "blotchy" skin to do so.

Lionel Follitt is the eldest son who, despite his mother’s attempts to control his future, finds himself drawn to the intelligence of the woman he recognizes beneath the disguise. He remains the most steadfast character, providing the necessary bridge between his family’s expectations and his own heart.

Gwendolen and Evelyn represent the forces of untamable youth. They are the catalyst for the entire story and, by the end, demonstrate that no amount of instruction will alter their spirited, destructive, and joyfully rebellious nature.

In Its Own Voice

“They were taking her measure for the coming contest, and in the mind of each girl there was already a conviction that it would not be an easy one.”

This describes the wary assessment the two daughters make of their new, seemingly stern governess.

“I suppose it was just devilry that made me do it--and I wanted to see more of Lionel, since we were engaged.”

The protagonist confesses her motives for the elaborate ruse to Lady Jane after her true identity is revealed.

What It's Really About

The book examines the performance of social class. It posits that being a "lady" is often a matter of perception rather than inherent virtue, as shown by Diana Trevelyan’s ease in slipping between the role of a dowdy servant and a wealthy heiress. The novel also explores the tension between the Victorian ideal of the "proper" young woman and the actual, irrepressible energy of youth. Ultimately, it argues that life is often governed by luck and charm rather than strict social hierarchies, suggesting that the "serious" business of marrying into the right station can be successfully navigated through wit and a bit of "devilry."

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the sparkling dialogue and gentle irony of classic British domestic comedies will find much to admire here. It is a light, swift read that feels like a precursor to the modern "cozy" genre, focusing on the friction between a stiff, rules-obsessed older generation and the clever, unconventional youth who outmaneuver them.

The prose is warm and unpretentious, capturing the peculiar, high-spirited leisure of the Edwardian era. You will likely walk away remembering the sheer audacity of Diana’s ruse and the chaotic energy of the Follitt girls, whose antics provide a constant, humorous backdrop to the more serious matters of courtship.

It is important to note that the book reflects the attitudes of its time—there is a casual, aristocratic ease about money, social status, and gender roles that may feel dated. Additionally, the dialect and specific cultural references to "ballooning" and Edwardian social customs require a bit of patience from a modern reader. However, if you are looking for a story that values intelligence and humor over stuffy tradition, this book offers a delightful, low-stakes look at a world where a well-placed practical joke is the key to a happy ending.