Page 11 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“Excellent,” Phillip said, putting his napkin on the table. “They will be along at two to speak with you. Meanwhile, enjoy the grounds and familiarise yourself with the house and servants,” Phillip suggested. “You will find me in the nursery, paying a surprise visit to the children.”
“Is that wise, Phillip?” Lady Davina asked. “A nursery is hardly a setting for a grown man. Why don’t you send for them to come and see you in the larger parlour room? Children can be quite dirty; it might be better to keep them at a distance while you talk with them.”
“No, Davina, that misses the whole point. It is to be a surprise visit, so I can see them in their own surroundings,” Phillip told her as he opened the door to leave.
Arriving at the nursery, he found the door was open and quiet. He spotted Miss Alice, busy clearing away, and her face flushed as she saw him too.
“Oh, Lord Phillip, I was not expecting you. Please do come in and take a seat,” she offered. “I assume you are here to discuss the children’s progress?”
“I had rather hoped to see them and spend some time together. Perhaps it would have been wiser to let you know in advance,” he said, not making any attempt to leave. In truth, he was content with being alone with Miss Alice.
“Nanny is dressing them. They should not be too long,” she told him. “If you like, we can discuss them while you wait?”
“I would like that, Miss Alice,” he agreed, pleased that she accepted being alone with him.
They sat in the easy chairs placed in the nursery for the adults. The chairs were close together because the governess and nanny would rest in them as the children played.
“Lady Beatrice continues to practice her alphabet, but quite frankly, she is way beyond that,” Miss Alice began. “We continue with the menial task because it is useful in helping her concentration skills.”
When Phillip heard the wordconcentration, he shook his head a little. His own concentration had wavered a little because all he could focus on was the beautiful governess before him. A thought came to mind as he watched her continue with her report.
He and his brother had always had a male teacher before being sent off to boarding school at an early age. That was not something he wished upon his brother’s children; it would mean their separation. As such decisions were a long way off yet, he pushed the thought aside and continued his observations of Miss Alice as she updated him on their progress.
“She excels in mathematics, even at such a young age,” Miss Alice’s voice came through his distracted mind.
The woman before him was a most beautiful creature, her skin so silky that he had the urge to brush his fingers over her cheek. He also felt a strong desire to let loose her light blonde hair, which was tied back with pins. No doubt she would look alluring with her hair flowing down over her naked breasts.
“… although she’s not that keen on sewing. I believe we need to work on her finger skills, especially when learning the pianoforte, which …”
Her voice sang out in his mind, and he hoped he was nodding and smiling in all the right places. It wasn’t that he didn’t wish to know of the children’s progress but more that he was so captivated by the charming female before him.
“Did you hear me, Lord Phillip?” Miss Alice asked him, and the puzzled look on her face told him he’d missed something.
Fortunately, for him, he was saved by a stack of boxes that tumbled over.
“Oh dear,” Miss Alice said as she stood up. “I have not stacked those very well, have I?”
His eyes followed what she was looking at, and a few items had tumbled from an open wooden box, spilling onto the floor.
“Please let me help you,” he offered.
As he jumped up to join her, she kneeled on the floor to collect the brightly coloured sewing beads and bobs of cotton reels rolling around.
“Thank you, Lord Phillip, but that is not necessary,” she said, not looking up as she placed them back into a woven basket. “It is my fault; I had placed the sewing basket on top of the toy boxes and …”
She paused as he kneeled by her side to assist her.
“It is most kind of you, Lord Phillip,” she said, averting her eyes from his as if embarrassed.
“I take part of the blame. I was the one who disturbed you from your deliberations,” he replied as he assisted her.
As the fallen pieces were quickly gathered, they both went to pick up the last item, a wooden toy. Alice had reached out to take hold of the item first, only to find her hand covered by the duke’s. Looking at one another in surprise, Phillip didn’t move his hand from hers, and they soon found themselves staring into one another’s eyes.
“Miss Alice, you are an English rose in my eyes,” he said softly, finally stroking the softness of her cheek. “Forgive me my forwardness, but I have longed to touch the perfection of your beauty.”
He knew that she was entranced by the moment, too when she showed no resistance. Following his yearnings, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on her alluring red lips. She tasted like honey, and he watched as she closed her eyes, accepting his daring move.
And so, he closed his eyes too, relishing the sensation by touch alone. Her breath as sweet as honey, with a freshness of mint, and her lips warm. The anticipation of where a kiss might lead was overwhelming; he wanted her nakedness to touch his so very, very much.
