Page 5 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“How long have you been the children’s governess?” he asked, briefly glancing at her for an answer.
“Since Lord Jacob’s birth,” she replied, at which she needed to clear her throat with a light cough, her nerves getting the better of her.
What’s wrong with me?she wondered at finding her hands shaking.I’m like a quivering idiot; what will he think of me?
“Ah, so you were brought in when my sister-in-law passed?” he asked. “You know, I never even met her,” he added, stopping at the unlit hearth, leaning on its stone surrounding. “Much to my regret.”
“It was a sad affair, but I arrived after her death, Your Grace,” she said, realising she’d let slip his full title and hoping he wouldn’t reprimand her for it.
If anything, he didn’t seem to notice as he stared into the cold hearth. The door opened, and Sally, one of the kitchen maids, came into the room, curtseying to the duke. He ordered a Madeira and brandy for himself, then continued pacing the room.
“At least the children were both too young to understand they had lost their mother,” he remarked. “How are they taking the loss of their father?”
“Lord Jacob is still young, but Lady Beatrice does keep asking for him,” Alice replied. “Though she is young enough to forget, in time.”
“Ah, but I do not wish her to forget her father,” the duke said, raising a finger in the air as if he was in deep thought.
“Of course, I know nothing of children and their minds. I leave that in your capable hands. But, to me, my brother was a fine man, and I want the children to grow up knowing that. Allow them to visit his portrait often once you feel my niece is forgetting him. It is important to me that they know their parentage.”
“Of course, as you wish,” she replied, feeling pleased that he respected her former employer so well.
“When I looked upon their mother’s portrait, I thought my niece looked much like her,” he said. “Do you not agree?”
“His Grace always said that was the case,” she put to him. “But, as I said, I never had the good fortune to meet his lovely wife.”
As she was replying, she looked up and found the duke staring at her oddly. His eyes bored into her as if he had only just noticed her presence. He wore a look of surprise, and it caused her to wriggle in her seat.
“My apologies if I stare,” he said, coming towards her to take a seat by her side on the sofa. “I have realised that you are as fair-headed as she was and, therefore, as Beatrice is.”
His closeness took Alice by surprise, followed by a whole new level of excitement. She felt a thrilling tingle in her breasts before it settled between her legs.
What in the heavens is wrong with me?she questioned herself, wondering why this man had such a peculiar effect on her.
The feelings caused her to shift a little in her seat, moving away from him. They stared into one another’s eyes for a moment as she turned to look at him. He had kind eyes, though dark and mysterious, giving nothing of his character away. Without warning, he stood up and moved away, possibly realising how close he was to her.
“I know little of children’s needs,” he admitted, speaking as if nothing had happened. “That means I put my trust in you and Miss Betsy, their nanny.”
“We both love the children dearly,” she said. She felt that she should say something if only to take her mind away from the most irregular thoughts in her head. Such as how broad the duke’s shoulders appeared and how tall and muscular his frame was.
“My life here will be different, you see,” he continued. “At the plantation, I became accustomed to physical labour. It was a natural part of my life there. I am convinced that my father sent me there for exactly that purpose. There is something very satisfying about doing a hard day’s labour, and I will miss it.”
“But, Lord Phillip, you cannot be seen to be …” Alice began to object.
“I know, as I said, I will need to adjust to my new life,” he said, cutting her off with a raised hand. “Tell me, Miss Alice, what is a typical day in the children’s lives?”
She paused for a moment, imagining the duke stripped to the waist as he cut down sugar cane. That must be why his body was so firm.
“Well … their day begins at eight and ends at eight,” she began, managing to compose herself. “Nanny oversees breakfast time in the nursery, after which I will join them. We will then take them out for a brief turn around the gardens. Upon our return, I will begin lessons with Lady Beatrice, and Lord Jacob will settle into play for an hour.”
“And what might the lessons be for such a young child?” he asked, showing genuine interest in the children, which greatly pleased Alice.
“We begin with the basics, such as reading, writing, and mathematics,” Alice explained. “By eleven o’clock, Lady Beatrice will join her brother in play, where I will introduce educational toys for Lord Jacob’s benefit. Lord Jacob is not yet breeched, so he still wears petticoats.”
“What does that mean, Miss Alice?” The duke stopped his pacing, turning to await her answer.
“He is still wearing his linen clouts for toileting purposes,” Alice explained. “But that is more Nanny’s domain than mine. I am here to educate the children and not decide when their leading strings must be disposed of. I leave those decisions to the nursing nanny, Betsy, who has years of experience.”
“I know. I remember her from when I was a young one. She cared for my brother and me too,” he said, recalling fond memories, or so Alice thought, by his smile.
