Page 15 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
Looking down, he was about to apologise when he noticed her flushed cheeks. Her hands were held against his chest as she’d brought them up to protect herself when they’d collided. Pressing his hands on hers, he helped her to balance as she wavered.
“My dear Miss Alice, I do most sincerely apologise,” he uttered with surprise. “Thank goodness I didn’t cause you any harm.”
“Oh, goodness me,” she said, making no attempt to pull her hands away. “I had no idea someone was coming the other way. I do hope I have not hurt you either?”
“Do not worry about me, Miss Alice. I am a sturdy fellow,” he remarked, lending her a half smile. He was pleased to be standing so close to her. “I only hope I have not shocked you too much?”
With a gasp, she pulled her hands away and took a step backwards.
“I … I have been helping Betsy get the children ready for a bath,” she replied as she re-entered the nursery room.
“May I take this quiet time to speak with you in private?” he asked.
Miss Alice was not one to refuse a request from her employer, and she went to light a candle lamp standing on her desk.
“How may I help you, Lord Phillip?” she asked, going to take a seat in one of the easy chairs.
“Well, it seems I keep coming up here to catch the children, and every time I miss them,” he said, taking the chair opposite. “It seems I must ask your advice on the best time to visit them.”
“That would depend, Lord Phillip, on whether you wish to see them in their lessons or at play,” she replied, her tone flat.
He could see she was keeping the meeting formal, whereas he would have preferred it to be more relaxed. The thought of them alone again gave him a tingling sensation of pleasure, but on her part, she looked a little worried. That was the last thing he wanted, for her to dread being with him.
“Does my presence bother you, Miss Alice?” he asked, thinking he’d misunderstood her the last time they’d been alone.
“Not at all, Lord Phillip,” she replied, still looking a little nervous. “I am here to answer any questions you may have concerning the children’s education.”
It concerned him that she trembled, so he moved his chair closer to assure her of his intentions. “I do not wish our meetings to be so formal,” he said, hoping it might help her to relax. “I do think highly of you, Miss Alice,” he added, reaching over to squeeze her hand.
It was only meant as a gesture of reassurance, but he found the touch of her soft skin delightful. But again, she flushed, and he worried he might be pushing things too far.
“My apologies, Miss Alice.” He smiled at her, and her eyes widened at his touch. “I seem to be making a terrible nuisance of myself of late.”
“No, no, not at all, Lord Phillip,” she said. “The collision, it ... it was my fault entirely. I was rushing around assuming that …”
“Please, Miss Alice, do not blame yourself,” he interrupted. “You know that I value you very much, and if ever I do anything that causes you discomfort, you must let me know. But first, I would like to put something to you. I have a reason for this visit, though it is always delightful to be in your company.”
He watched as she attempted to smile but knew he had made her ill at ease.
“I, too, enjoy your company, but we must keep our minds on the children, for they are our priority,” she told him.
“Indeed, they are, and that is what I wish to discuss with you,” he said, hoping that what he was about to suggest would be acceptable. She looked at him expectantly, and so he continued, putting his proposal to her. “Do you think the children might enjoy a trip to the seaside sometime?”
“Goodness me, they would be delighted,” she said, smiling as she began to relax at his kind gesture. “Certainly, Lady Beatrice would benefit from such a trip. She misses her father so much. The sea air will also be good for Lord Jacob, for I fear he has a little cough developing.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?” he asked with concern for the young boy.
“Such young children are prone to little coughs,” she replied. “I am not worried about him, but the sea air is pure and may help rid him of any ailment that might be lingering.”
“Then it is agreed,” Phillip said with a huge grin. “We will choose a day and hope the weather will be in our favour. Though I also have another request I would like to ask.”
“If I can be of help, I will gladly comply,” she said, awaiting his request.
“I would like you to take dinner in the dining room with the family,” he told her. “As I have said, I value your services. It would be another opportunity for catching up and discussing the day’s activities with the children.”
“Very well, but you know you are welcome to visit the nursery anytime at your convenience,” she said.
“Finally,” he said with a nod of his head, “I wish to apologise to you once again, Miss Alice. Only this time, I refer to my indiscretion on my last visit.”
