Page 68 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“Of course, Constable.” Phillip gave the constable a friendly smile. “Come to my study,” he told him but first turned to Miss Alice a moment longer.
“I will see you shortly, Miss Alice. In the morning, we will go and collect my niece and nephew. For now, please rest and refresh yourself,” Phillip ordered as that seemed the only way he could get her to comply. “Oh and do tell Nanny the good news. All will be resolved very soon.”
He watched as she headed towards the parlour and then turned to lead the constable to his study. There he would pen a letter telling Davina how clever she was and that he would be with her in the morning to discuss the terms of her letter. It had been a long night and would soon be over, but he truly did not wish the children to feel threatened in any way. By the time they arrived at Davina’s address, everyone would be calmer.
Chapter 35
Alice felt relief in the core of her very soul; the children were safe. Lady Davina didn’t care much for them, and nor did they for her, but Alice was confident that she wouldn’t harm them. At last, Alice felt she could unwind and get some much-needed rest before they set off to return the children to their home.
As soon as she entered her bedchamber, she let out a huge sigh. She would have preferred to set off immediately, but there was good sense in waiting until daylight. It had been a long night and a vexing one too. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes, allowing her mind to slow down.
They are safe,she told herself.Not with some lunatic who might … well … I no longer have to imagine such things. My babies are at least safe with that French woman.
Lady Davina’s letter had threatened to take the children to America, but Alice knew that wasn’t her ultimate goal. The woman wouldn’t want to be straddled with two young children, though she might indeed wish to start a new life in America.
Whether Davina would fall for the duke’s ruse he had penned in his letter remained to be seen, but they would know soon enough. Alice poured cold water into the porcelain bowl and splashed it on her face. After drying her skin on a soft towel, she went to lie on the bed to try and get some sleep.
She must have fallen into a light sleep because the sound of the door opening awoke her. Not having drawn the drapes, she could see the skies were starting to lighten as dawn was almost breaking through. Alice didn’t move as she felt a presence in her room, but she knew who it was.
Someone clambered onto her bed, and that was when she could smell his masculine aroma. The woody scent of musk, mingled with fresh peppermint, all indicative of the man she loved.
Within seconds, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. Phillip had climbed onto the bed to scoot up behind her and pull her close to him, the warmth of his body comforting her. She felt alive; she always felt good whenever they were alone.
“We should not delay for too long,” she told him in a hushed, tired voice.
“I know, and we will not,” he whispered in her ear as he kissed it.
“Stop tickling me.” She chuckled, accepting his embrace and kisses.
“Have your tears stopped now?” he asked, stroking her arm with his long fingers.
Alice went to take his hand and hold on to it. “Yes, I am calmer now that I know the children will be home very soon. But I do not wish to fall asleep again for fear of delaying their return. They will be uneasy with their aunt.”
“I agree, but we have been fraught for most of the night. Let us at least enjoy a quiet moment together before we confront that woman,” Phillip suggested.
Alice could hear him breathing close to her ear, and he couldn’t resist giving her little kisses on the back of her neck.
Slowly, he turned her around and began to shower her with little kisses over her throat and breasts.
“Know this, Miss Alice Evans, I love you very much,” Phillip said between his sensual kisses. “The time is nearing when I wish to let everyone know.”
“I love you too, Phillip, but I do feel guilty laying here with you, relaxing, when the children need us,” she confessed.
“You act like their mother rather than their governess,” he pointed out as he stopped his kisses and looked into her glistening eyes.
“Do I?” she asked, raising her brows at him. “That is because I love them dearly. First, their mother passed, and then their father. They are all alone in the world.”
“No, that they are not,” Phillip responded. “They have you, and they have me, but for now, I have you,” he finished and pressed his lips to hers.
Alice could never resist his kisses, and she passionately returned his efforts. This was a man she loved, a man she wished would remain in her life forever. But in her heart, she’d never felt they belonged together, given the differences in their social standing. What exactly did he mean that he would do something about their relationship? Should she ask him?
But his insistent lips stopped her from asking any questions, and she soon found herself lost in her desires. Phillip knew how to press her passion buttons, and desire overtook her instantly. She’d been an innocent maiden until meeting him, never finding it hard to decline the interests of other men until Phillip came along. She simply couldn’t resist him.
Alice drank in his essence, tasting his tongue as he offered it to her, and entwining it with her own to be as one with him. Now wasn’t a time for passion, but her desire pushed aside any doubts. It also helped her unwind even more, having her lover’s attention. She wasn’t ignoring the needs of the children; they were safe. First, she needed to calm her emotions, and only then could she give the children all the attention they would need.
“You are thinking of the children, are you not?” Phillip asked her as he pulled away from her mouth. “I can tell because you hold back.”
“I am, I admit it.” She nodded. “Should I be here enjoying your attention while the children suffer miserably?”
