Page 41 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“I am glad to see you are in a good mood this morning, Phillip,” she said, taking her seat right by his side, as she always did.
“It is no wonder Lord Phillip is in a good mood, Lady Davina,” Mr Lewis said with humour in his voice. “Would that I breakfasted with such beauty as yours every morning, I too would be in a pleasant disposition every day.”
“That is most gracious of you, Mr Lewis,” she purred back at him.
Phillip imagined that she’d eat the doctor alive for breakfast, and he continued to grin at the notion.
“While you are in such a good mood, Phillip, I thought it a good idea to take the boy out for the day,” Lady Davina suggested. She took a sip of the tea the maid had poured for her. “It will take his mind away from his poorly sister, do you not agree?”
It surprised Phillip that she was thinking of the children. She hadn’t shown much fondness for them since she’d arrived. But he didn’t hold that against her; like him, she most likely knew nothing about children. But Miss Alice did, and she was very good with them, with such a natural, kind personality.
As his mind drifted off again, he thought of Miss Alice and their antics between the sheets the previous night. With such a busy mind, he was only half listening to the conversation around him. Although he nodded here and there to make it appear as if he was listening, all his thoughts were on the woman of his dreams, Miss Alice Evans.
“Very well, Your Grace, that is agreed upon then?” he heard Lady Davina say to him.
“Hmm … what?” he asked, not sure what he’d agreed to.
“We shall set off for a picnic by the lake. That way, we can take a stroll,” Lady Davina repeated her words, standing up to leave. “I’ll go and get the nursemaid to assist us with Lord Jacob, and we will see you in, erm … let us say an hour from now?”
Phillip had no desire to spend time with his stepsister, but the consolation was that he would be with Lord Jacob, so he nodded his agreement.
“Well done, Lady Davina, that is exactly what the boy needs,” Mr Lewis’s jolly voice reached Phillip’s ears. “Fresh air is good for the soul. Far too many of us lock ourselves indoors, and it is not good for the lungs if you ask me. There is much truth in cleanliness and fresh air, believe me.”
“I do not doubt your word, Doctor,” Phillip acknowledged with a nod. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have an outdoor trip to prepare for.”
“So it seems, and I do hope that you all enjoy it,” Mr Lewis answered, tucking into a second serving of breakfast.
Heading upstairs, Phillip looked around to check there were no prying eyes before he made his way to visit Miss Alice’s chamber. Knocking on her door, he opened it without waiting for permission so that he didn’t get seen in the corridor.
“May I come in?” he asked, stepping inside Miss Alice’s room.
“Lord Phillip?” Miss Alice questioned, looking over at him from her bed. “Is it wise to be visiting the governess in her bedroom so often?” she teased.
“Bah!” he said, waving an arm as if to brush off her remark. “Everyone knows I hate rules, so here I am. And I must say, you look much refreshed this morning.”
“All I needed was a good rest,” Miss Alice said, pulling up the covers as she sat up against her pillows. “I am ready to return to my duties, though I am enjoying a late start to my day.”
“I know what delights you hide underneath those blankets,” Phillip said, lending his governess a cheeky grin. “But I promise I will not peek.”
“Lord Phillip! Please do not compromise me,” Miss Alice begged. “Our liaison should not be spoken of. You never know who might be listening.”
“No, I would never do that, Alice,” he answered, annoyed at himself that he’d caused her to worry. “I am here only to check on your health.”
“As you have observed, I am much refreshed,” Miss Alice told him, using a formal tone. “Once I have dressed, I will be going along to visit Lady Beatrice.”
“Excellent, but I insist that you take this as a day of rest,” he said. “Go out and buy some new books or hat or whatever it is that cheers you ladies up.”
He went to sit in a chair a good distance from the bed. Should anyone enter the room, at least it would look as it should, that he was visiting the infirm.
“As it happens, I will be assisting Betsy with Lord Jacob for the rest of the day,” she explained.
“Ah, well, on that task you will not be needed. He is going on an outdoor picnic by the lake,” Phillip said. “And I will be joining him, along with his nanny.”
“Oh, and why, may I ask, can I not join him too?” Miss Alice asked, determined to return to her duties, so it seemed.
“Because I insist that you have some time to yourself,” Phillip told her. “I only wish I could join you, but alas, I have the company of my stepsister too.”
“I see,” Miss Alice sighed, seemingly understanding why he was trying to put her off the outdoor trip. “In this case, I shall indeed take a trip to the nearest town. I thank you, Lord Phillip, for your suggestion.”
