Fussy sort of governess, ultimately with heart to accept learner (8)
I believe the answer is:
stickler
'fussy sort' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'governess ultimately with heart to accept learner' is the wordplay.
'ultimately' indicates one should take the final letters.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'heart' becomes 'ticker' (synonyms).
'to accept' is an insertion indicator.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
The final letter of 'governess' is 's'.
'ticker' going around 'l' is 'tickler'.
's'+'tickler'='STICKLER'
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stickler that I've seen before include "Someone fastidious" , "Someone who insists on something" , "Particular type" , "Pernickety person" , "I may do that precisely" .)