Page 4 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“No. I am going to the study where I will pour myself something a little stronger,” Phillip replied, knowing he needed a wee dram of courage to get through this.
Sitting at the desk he’d always looked upon as his father’s throne, he swilled the dark liquid in his glass. His father had always had a drinks cabinet in this room, and his brother seemed to have kept up the tradition.
On the desk was a copy of his brother’s last Will and Testament, which he’d asked the solicitor to send him. Reading it through, it was clear that his brother never expected to die so soon. His last will had been drawn just after his wife had passed away in childbirth.
The law dictated that Jacob was far too young to be given the dukedom, so it had gone to Phillip, the next in line.
Phillip thought of the funeral, seeing the coffin going into the ground and knowing it contained his brother’s body. No one had ever been found for his murder. A robber had shot him on a lonely stretch of the highway to London.
Phillip suspected that his brother had been targeted because highway robbery was not as common as it used to be. It was no doubt a premeditated robbery, and his brother would not have given in easily.
As brothers, they were both stubborn, inheriting that from their father. It was a good trait for most of their lives, but not in a robbery. Phillip was sure his brother’s stubbornness would have led to his downfall. Had he given in, he would likely not have been shot. There had been signs of a struggle, and all the bruising on his brother’s face showed that he’d fought his assailant.
“Why could you not just have given in, Robert, damn you!” Phillip called out, annoyed at his brother for fighting off his attacker.
But he knew he would have done the same. The brothers might have inherited their mother’s kindly heart, but they’d also learned their father’s shrewd business ways. One must fight to defend one’s rightful place in the world, but it would not have helped his brother’s cause.
A knock on the door brought in William, informing him that dinner was served. Phillip hadn’t realised how hungry he was and went to the dining room. There, he ate alone at the end of a very long, highly polished wooden table. As he finished his meal, he instructed William to set up a smaller table for future meals by the window.
Leaving the dining room, he headed towards the small parlour room when he bumped into the governess coming down the dark, wooden stairway. She lit up against the darkened background, glowing like an angel with her pretty face and light blonde hair. Though her dress was dark, to him, she looked beautiful.
“Ah … Miss Alice, how fortuitous that we meet again,” he said, bowing his head in greeting.
She remained on the steps, standing above him and looking down.
“Lord Phillip, I do hope I am not in your way?” she asked.
“Nonsense, I do not see how you could ever be in my way,” he replied. “In fact, if it is convenient for you, we shall have that talk now.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, raising her brows in surprise.
“Unless you are too busy, of course?” he added, not wanting to disturb her routine.
“The children are eating with Nanny,” she explained. “So, I am free.”
“That is good,” he replied, trying his best not to show how much her presence affected him. “Shall we go to the smaller parlour room? I was making my way there.”
She continued down the staircase until she was standing by his side. He led the way towards the room where his mother did her sewing. Opening the door, he entered and continued to hold the door open for the governess to enter too. Purposely, he left the door ajar, knowing the lady wouldn’t like being alone with a gentleman. But this was more of a business meeting than anything else, as they needed to discuss the children.
Phillip sensed the sweet aroma of oranges as she passed him by, and he felt his loins stir at the thought of being alone with her. Of course, he would keep things formal, but he couldn’t help noticing the way her dark-green gown hugged the curves of her hips.
Chapter 3
Alice made her way down the staircase, heading for the kitchens. The last thing she expected was to bump into the new Lord of the manor. When she did, it took her surprise and she was completely enthralled by his presence, so much so, that she was unable to take another step.
She found herself loitering above him and unable to say much, so enamoured by the handsome man standing before her. After a brief conversation, she followed him into the smaller parlour room.
At first, she thought nothing of it; she’d had many a meeting with the late duke to discuss his children’s education. Yet being alone with Lord Phillip felt different, almost daring. A single lady should never be seen alone with a gentleman, but she was not a lady of theton,so the rules were more flexible.
But being alone with him gave her a sense of excitement because she couldn’t help finding him attractive. Never had a man affected her this way before. Her stomach flipped whenever he looked her way with those smouldering eyes, and her heartbeat thumped speedily. She could even feel a cold sweat on her brow, so uncontrollable were her emotions.
“Please, Miss Alice, let us take a seat and relax so that we may discuss my niece and nephew,” he began, offering her a seat with an outstretched arm. “Shall we take tea?”
“It is a little late for me to take tea, Lord Phillip, but do not let me stop you,” she replied. Alice found herself making an effort to stop her voice from quivering. She wanted to appear confident in nature, not like the weakened wreck she was.
“A little Madeira then?” he suggested, standing up to ring the bell for the servants’ attention down in the kitchens.
Alice thought Madeira might be a good idea to calm her nerves and didn’t disagree. As they waited for one of the maids to attend to them, the duke paced the floor with his hands behind his back.
