Page 30 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
Miss Alice laughed too, and soon Lady Beatrice was giggling when finally, Betsy joined in the merry moment too.
“There, now that we are all happier, I will make you a promise,” Phillip said to Lady Beatrice. “I believe we would all benefit from having lots of trips outdoors in the sunshine. What say you, Beatrice?”
The little girl nodded, but still, she did not speak, and he could see she was still a little traumatised by her aunt’s visit.
“Very well, I will speak with your governess later,” Phillip promised. “Nanny can come too, and we will pack a picnic and see what adventures we can all have.”
“May I take Flossy?” Lady Beatrice’s quiet little voice asked.
“Only if you promise me that you will both smile all day long when we go on our trips,” Phillip said, pleased that the girl was coming around. With the help of Miss Alice, she would soon forget all about the incident.
Phillip went to stand. “If you could all kindly excuse me for now. I do believe I have matters to deal with elsewhere,” he said, looking at Miss Alice, hoping that she trusted him too.
He went down to the small parlour where he knew a seething Lady Davina was awaiting him. But he was not to put up with her temperamental ways much longer, and now was the time to let her know.
“Davina,” he announced as he entered the room. “I know that you and I are not experienced with children’s ways, but I also know they are delicate creatures. Most especially as they have lost their parents.”
“Phillip, my apologies. I agree that I was a little overwrought. In France, a governess’s role is to always be with her charges, especially young ones. Imagine my surprise when I found only the nursemaid on hand. On top of the earlier incident, I thought the governess had let us down again.”
“It was I who insisted that Miss Alice accompany me on a horse ride around the estate …”
“I have already said that I am sorry Phillip.” Lady Davina held up the palm of her hand to stop him from speaking. “I do not mean to speak out of hand, but the children’s education is far more important than your affair with a woman who, in my opinion, is not to be trusted.”
“Miss Alice is a very trustworthy employee, and I will not hear otherwise,” Phillip tried, but the woman was managing to get the better of him.
“I cannot believe that you allow a thief to teach the children,” she accused, raising her voice again as she went to march from the room. Before she arrived at the closed door, she turned around, showing a sob on her lips as she spoke.
“You do not show any appreciation for all the hard work that I do for you. I am not a servant, but still, I am willing to assist you, and you show no respect for all my efforts.”
As if on cue, she opened the door and left him alone and feeling bad. She did have a point; she was working hard to help him adjust to English society and all its quibbles. Lady Davina worked relentlessly on getting him invitations and accompanying him to make sure all went well.
He sat down on the settee and rubbed his hands through his thick, dark hair. All he knew was that he loved Alice, and perhaps he had been a little blind to the hard work of Lady Davina. He would try harder and make it up to her, but first, he wanted to find his friend, Eli, and offload his worries onto him. Women were so hard to understand, and sometimes one simply needed the company of another man to make sense of the world.
Chapter 16
Mr Eli and Phillip were enjoying breakfast together the next day. Phillip had been telling his friend of the incident in the nursery, asking his advice on what to do about Lady Davina.
As they chatted, she entered the dining room. “Good morning to you boys,” she sang out in her dark, husky voice. “I trust we all slept well?”
Phillip watched her as she sat, and one of the maids served her a plate of eggs. He found it hard to apprehend how she acted as if nothing had happened. She’d caused so much uproar in the household lately that he wondered if the woman wasn’t mad. Did she not forget the things she did?
“I never have trouble sleeping, Lady Davina,” Mr Eli replied with his usual smile. “My friend here, however, has much to worry over.”
“Oh?” Lady Davina purred, peering over at the duke. “Has Phillip tossed and turned all night long? Perhaps you would do better with company in your bed?”
Phillip wasn’t amused at her innuendo. “And you, Davina?” he asked. “Do you have anything that keeps you awake at night?”
“Well, you are always on my mind, Phillip,” she answered, licking jam from her finger as she spoke. “I am here only to serve and guide you in the right direction. Whatever you require, ask, and it shall be yours.”
Should he take those words as an opportunity to ask her to stop upsetting all his servants? She was likened to a highly strung dog that one didn’t want to excite too much.Hah! A French dog at that?He chuckled to himself at the thought.
“While you appear to be in such a good mood, Phillip, I have a task for you. It is one that will take up most of your day,” she said, licking her lips at him as she ate her toast. “Are you available today?”
“I could be if it is deemed important,” he replied, wondering what he was letting himself in for.
“Good, good,” she said, licking her fingers suggestively once again. “Then you shall accompany me around a little town called Harrogate. I hear it is quite fashionable, with a theatre and a sulphur spring medicinal wells they call a spa. Perhaps you would like to bathe in it with me?” she said, teasing him as she laughed.
“Is there a reason why you need my company, Davina?” he asked, regretting his offer already.
