Page 6 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“What I am trying to explain is that Lord Jacob has not yet left babyhood,” Alice said, not daring to ask any questions concerning his lordship’s childhood. “Whereas Lady Beatrice is quite a clever little girl, already reading, writing, and other skills beyond her years. She is an accomplished young girl, and her father was very proud of her.”
“Moving on, Miss Alice,” the duke said, once again turning in his pacing to look her way. “Tell me about yourself. And I assure you I will be asking all the servants the same question. I want to know where everyone is from and what they are about.”
Alice was taken aback; she had not expected to talk about herself.
“My father was a successful tea merchant, among other luxury goods,” she told him. “Alas, he is no longer of this world. I also have an older brother who is a blacksmith in Sheffield.”
The two paused as Alice didn’t enjoy talking about herself, and his lordship was obviously thinking again as he paced.
“And where were you raised?” he asked.
“Mother was born to a fourth-generation farmer, so we spent much of our younger childhood on the farm surrounded by livestock,” she admitted, though it wasn’t something she had told many people.
“I don’t dwell on my childhood. I prefer to remember the part of my life when Father sent me to a young ladies’ boarding school. Mother passed away from a wasting disease, and Father wanted more for us than a farming life. Though my brother objected, I did not.”
Alice was becoming more anxious by the minute; she hated discussing her upbringing. At boarding school, she’d had a hard time once the pupils had discovered she was from a farming background. The fact that her father was a successful merchandiser didn’t seem to matter. She didn’t fit in, and that was that.
“My apologies, Miss Alice, but why are you ashamed of your background?” the duke asked, sensing her discomfort.
“Only in the fact that I didn’t want it to hold back my education,” she replied. “Though my years at boarding school taught me to become independent.”
“Well, I see from the paperwork held by my brother that you came highly recommended,” he told her.
They sipped their drinks and chatted some more about the children. She asked if she could be excused because she was due to help put the children to bed. Outside the parlour room, she leaned against the closed door, holding one hand on her belly and breathing heavily.
That was intense, she told herself.And I am glad it has come to an end.
Setting off to go up the stairs, she headed for the nursery, pondering on the meeting with the handsome duke. His teeth were even and pearly white when he laughed, showing that he took care of himself. His thick, dark hair was cut short, but he boasted a short beard on his chin.
Thick, dark brows sat above his soft brown eyes, and his short sideburns suited his swept-back hairstyle. He was very neat and tidy, something she hadn’t expected of him. The servants had heard that he was a rake of a man, drinking heavily and uncaring of life. To her, he seemed quite the opposite.
I wish I could go to my room until my nerves settle. It feels like I might explode with … with what? I don’t know, she pondered. Grabbing the banister, she could see that her hands were shaking once again, all at the thought of being so close to him. It was a feeling she couldn’t seem to shake off. He had such a strange effect on her.
Once in the nursery, the children were ready for their evening story, and she read to them. Afterward, she would settle Lady Beatrice into her bed, and Nanny would put Lord Jacob into his crib.
“Am I still to have my lessons?” Betsy asked.
“Why ever not, Betsy?” Alice asked, looking puzzled as they made their way back to the nursery.
“I wondered if the new duke might have found out, you were gone so long,” the old woman shared her worries. “I feared he might demand you keep your teaching skills for the children, not the servants.”
Alice placed her hand on the old lady’s hand, “No, Betsy, only you and I know that I am teaching you to read and write. It will stay that way unless you wish to share it.”
Chapter 4
The next day, Phillip sent a message to the governess and the nursemaid. He requested they bring the children to the larger parlour after their midday meal. And now he paced the floor as he waited for them.
All night, he’d thought of nothing but Miss Alice and couldn’t get her out of his mind. Running a seven-hundred-acre sugar plantation had been hard work, so he’d never had a problem with sleep at the end of the day.
In England, he had nothing to do and was fast becoming bored and unable to sleep well. The plantation had around two hundred slaves, and he knew all the workers, considering them friends. Now, he missed them all. He could only assume that he pined for company, so much so that he’d become infatuated with the beautiful Miss Alice.
Although he was also excited to be meeting his brother’s children finally and wanted to do everything right by them. In the past, he’d never considered taking a wife, not that he thought of Miss Alice in that way, or did he? Certainly, she stirred his loins, but he’d never had any trouble bedding women.
Nonetheless, he could see that Miss Alice was special, plus gentle, and kind to the children. He found an aura about her presence fascinating, but he knew a romance with Miss Alice would never happen.
English society was far too wrapped up in its self-importance. His peers would consider a governess much too low down the hierarchy to be in a duke’s bed, unless as a mistress.
That thought caused him to smile.Hmmm, yes, Miss Alice. I would love you to be in my bed,he pondered as he rubbed his chin.
