Page 40 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
She stayed with his pounding, meeting every one of his plunges as she ground her hips for him. It wasn’t long before he let out a grunt of his own, but he seemed to be able to control himself better than she had.
His movements slowed and soon came to a stop, allowing her to collapse on the bed. Phillip dropped on top of her. Even his heaviness felt good, and she liked it. After a few minutes, she wriggled around so that her naked breasts pushed against his hairy chest. Alice still didn’t have much control over her emotions, and she felt her cheeks dampen as tears escaped her eyes.
“Alice,” he said in a soft voice, wiping her cheek with his palm. “Why the tears? Did you not want me to …”
“No, no, it isn’t that,” she croaked, shaking her head. “You risk so much, Lord Phillip, and I worry for you. If we cause a scandal, it will affect the children too.”
He climbed from her and turned on his side to curl his arm around her waist.
“Let me worry about those things,” he told her. “Because I will find a way for you and me to be together. I can promise you that much.”
She didn’t reply. There was no point. Men didn’t perceive problems the way that women did. For now, she would enjoy his embrace because soon he would be gone from her bed. In truth, she should not encourage their lovemaking, but what could she do? She did indeed love him.
After half an hour of laying in one another’s arms, he began to get dressed again.
“I will leave you for now,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Worry not. I will not let anyone see me. But know this, Miss Alice Evans, you will be mine.”
His words caused her to smile, and she believed him too. But in the depths of her heart, she had half convinced herself that this was a romance that should never be.
Chapter 21
Phillip managed to eat most of his breakfast alone, as he’d risen early from his bed. After sneaking out of Miss Alice’s room, he’d suffered a long, restless night with little sleep. With so much on his mind, the thoughts kept bouncing around in his head.
Becoming the head of the estate and family was not something he’d ever envisaged would happen. Yet here he was, having the role forced upon him. Had someone told him a few months ago that he’d return to England as a duke and find a woman to love, he’d never have believed them. Not that he’d ever been short of women in his bed, on the contrary, but there was something about Miss Alice that had him acting like a young fool.
When he’d left England in his early twenties, he admitted that he’d behaved like an unruly cad. His father had even accused him of being a rake, holding no respect for the rules of society. Little did he know then that his father was to pass away very soon after he’d departed.
Phillip was only meant to go to the family plantation for a year or so to teach him a lesson. After a life of gambling and taking every available lady to his bed in England, the plantation had shocked him. Never had he witnessed so much suffering. For the first time, he learned exactly what slavery meant, and he didn’t like it.
It had taken years of sweat and blood to change the plantation around, but he’d succeeded against all odds. Other plantation owners hated him because he gave his workers so much freedom, but he could live with that.
His plantation was the first to treat its workers with dignity and respect. That was where he’d met Mr Eli, and together they’d fought against their neighbours and ensured their workers lived a much healthier life.
To Phillip, it was the humane thing to do, and he soon learned to appreciate the workers and their culture. But he had to do some serious growing up to improve the plantation.
He’d gone out and worked side by side with his workers, gaining their trust and learning to enjoy another side of life. It changed his attitude and outlook on life. The West Indies had become his new home, and he had no intention of ever leaving.
Even when his brother wrote to him about their father’s death, he hadn’t changed his mind. He’d written back to say that his heart was no longer in England and he would never return. They kept up their correspondence with one another over the years, so he knew of his brother’s marriage and children. Although he did feel a little saddened for his brother when he lost his wife, Phillip still hadn’t returned to England.
But the day he’d received a letter from the family solicitor was the day his heart had shattered. It had informed him of his brother’s death, making him now the head of the Tilbury family and, thus, the new Duke of Haroth. At first, he’d refused to act on it, but his good friend, Mr Eli, had stressed the importance of his actions, especially regarding his brother’s children.
And so, here he was, in what seemed like a strange place. And here he was, falling in love with an English rose. His title meant nothing to him, but he cared very much for Miss Alice and the children.
A voice broke into his thoughts, “Well, I’m happy to report that little Lady Beatrice is much improved this morning,” Mr Lewis announced. The doctor had entered the dining room for his breakfast.
Phillip realised he’d been sitting at the table staring into space as he mulled over his thoughts. He went to wipe his mouth with the serviette on his lap, “That is good to hear, Doctor. Did you manage to look in on Miss Alice too?” he asked watching the doctor as he sat at the breakfast table.
“I most certainly did,” Mr Lewis replied, nodding as he tucked a large, white serviette into the neckline of his shirt. “Both my patients have recovered well. In fact, Miss Alice was partaking in breakfast when I left her.”
“Yes, I arranged for a tray of food to be delivered to her room,” Phillip said, feeling relieved that she was recovering from her ordeal. He thought her such a brave young woman, but also foolish for causing him such a terrible panic. “I will arrange for your carriage to be readied, Mr Lewis. It was a great comfort to know you were here overnight, and I thank you for staying.”
Mr Lewis was enjoying a hearty breakfast he’d requested the maid pile up on his plate. “Not at all. It wasn’t as if I could have gone anywhere else in that storm. Though I’ve had word there’s illness up at the Dale Bank Farm. It’s the Henderson family, and they have ten children. So, I’d better eat well, as it’s going to be a long day.”
“Such is the nature of your life as a physician, I expect,” Phillip said with respect.
Before the physician could reply, Lady Davina hovered into the room in her usual flurry of drama. “Good morning to one and all,” she sang out.
Phillip got a whiff of her strong perfume as she flew by. A hypnotic swirl of opium assailed his nose, and it reminded him of the heavy perfume of Deadly Nightshade, This thought gave him an inner smile, comparing his stepsister with a poisonous plant.
