Temptation Of A Governess. Sarah Mallory

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СКАЧАТЬ few unruly red locks had escaped from their pins and he wanted to reach out and tuck a stray curl behind her ear. He would very much like to play games with her, if they were alone... The thought seared him, sending the hot blood pulsing through his body and he had to struggle to concentrate. They had been talking of battledore, not flirtation.

      ‘The honour of the Arrandales is at stake,’ he declared, fighting down his baser instincts.

      He stripped off his coat, revealing an exquisitely embroidered waistcoat, more suited to Bond Street than a country garden, but he did not care for that. ‘Fetch me a racquet, Meggie!’

      A fast and furious thirty minutes ensued. Diana, Alex noted, was at first a little shy of having a gentleman present. She was favouring her left leg and limping badly but Alex ignored it, giving no quarter in his returns. To his satisfaction her competitive spirit soon won through and as she lost herself in the game, running and straining to reach every shot he sent her way he saw no signs of the ungainly limp that affected her walk. The game only ended when Fingle appeared with a tray of refreshments for them all and a gentle reminder that Cook was even now preparing nuncheon for the schoolroom party.

      ‘Then tell Cook to set another place for me,’ declared Alex. ‘That is, if Miss Grensham has no objections?’

      The girls immediately voiced their approval of the idea and Diana spread her hands.

      ‘It will be nursery fare,’ she warned him.

      ‘Then Fingle shall look out a decent claret to sustain me,’ declared Alex, nodding at the butler.

      Fingle bowed and went off to inform Cook of the change. Alex took the tankard of ale from the tray and sat down upon the blanket while Diana poured lemonade for Meggie and Florence. He watched the rise and fall of her breast beneath the low-cut neckline of her gown and again felt that stir of attraction. He dragged his eyes away. This was no part of his plan.

      ‘Is this how you spend every day?’ he asked her.

      ‘Whenever the weather permits. Fresh air and exercise are very beneficial to growing bodies.’

      * * *

      And those already full grown.

      Diana was unable to stop her eyes travelling over the earl’s muscular form as he lounged on the rug, his long legs, encased in their pantaloons and Hessians, stretched out before him. She knew he was considered a Corinthian, a man of fashion but also a sportsman, and it was not difficult to believe it when one observed those powerful thighs, or the broad shoulders, deep chest and flat stomach, accentuated by his close-fitting waistcoat.

      Having served the girls, she picked up her own glass of lemonade and made her way to the only free space upon the rug, acutely aware of the awkward, dragging step caused by her shortened left leg. It was not very pronounced and had never prevented her from excelling at the more energetic games she had played as a child with her sister and cousins, but she could never forget it when she was in company. She could never walk with that smooth gliding elegance that was required of young ladies. Her mother had developed a habit of averting her eyes whenever Diana limped into a room.

      When her sister had suggested that Diana should become governess to little Lady Margaret and Miss Florence, Diana had accepted readily. All talk of a court presentation and a London Season ended and Diana saw the relief in her mother’s face when she knew she would be spared the embarrassment of introducing her crippled daughter to society.

      ‘You look very serious, Miss Grensham.’ The earl’s voice jerked her out of her reverie. ‘Have I said anything amiss?’

      ‘No, not at all.’ She pushed away the unwelcome memories. ‘You asked how we spend our days here. We are always up by seven-thirty and after breakfast we work at our lessons. Then, in the afternoon, there are more lessons or if the weather is fine we might walk, or play games out of doors. Our days are very full, the girls are learning to play the harpsichord, plus all the accomplishments necessary for young ladies, such as sewing, singing and dancing, but at eight years old I think there is time enough for that.’

      ‘I am not questioning your skill as a governess, Miss Grensham.’

      Diana noted that Meggie and Florence had grown tired of sitting down and were playing battledore again, there was no one to overhear them.

      ‘No?’ she challenged him. ‘Yesterday you suggested I might have been given the post because I was a poor relation.’

       And a cripple.

      Diana did not voice the words but they were there, all the same.

      ‘I beg your pardon for that.’ He sat up. ‘Why did you take the post?’

      ‘I have always been interested in book learning,’ she replied, avoiding his eyes. ‘As Meggie’s aunt, I was able to be so much more than a mere governess.’ She explained, to fill the silence. ‘You know how James and Margaret liked to travel, and then there were the house parties to attend and visits they were obliged to make. The children could spend most of their time here, in familiar surroundings, and when their parents were away I was always here with them.’ She plucked at her skirts. ‘In the event, it was fortunate. When the news came, that Margaret and James were drowned, I could comfort the girls.’

      Alex recognised the pain shadowing her eyes. He was not the only one to have lost a sibling when that ship was smashed against the rocks off the Spanish coast.

      ‘And who comforted you, Diana?’

      He was not sure if she shuddered or if it was merely a shake of the head, but she did not answer him.

      ‘We had best go in now.’ She scrambled to her feet and shook out her skirts. ‘Meggie, Florence, bring the racquets, if you please, we must put them away safely. Fingle will send someone to bring in the rug and the tray, my lord, so do, pray, go on ahead with the girls, I will follow in a moment.’

      Alex said nothing, but as he accompanied the children into the house he suspected that she did not wish him to see her walking with that dragging step.

      The schoolroom was on the top floor, as it had been during his own childhood, but it was barely recognisable. It was no longer dark and austere. The walls were painted white and covered with prints and drawings, many of them clearly the work of childish hands. The girls carried the racquets to the corner cupboard and he strode ahead to open it for them. As he did so his eyes fell upon an object in one corner and with a laugh he pulled out a small cricket bat.

      ‘I remember this,’ he declared. ‘Old Wilshire, the estate carpenter, made it.’ He grinned down at Meggie. ‘Your father and I used it when we were here.’

      ‘We still use it, Uncle Alex,’ said Florence, coming up. ‘Diana taught us how to play.’

      ‘Well, well,’ he said, grinning. ‘Then you must show me just how good you are.’

      ‘Perhaps another day,’ put in Diana, following them into the room. ‘This afternoon we have work to do.’

      ‘Then I shall join you, if I may!’

      * * *

      If anyone had told Alex that he would enjoy spending the day with two eight-year-old girls, eating bread and butter in the schoolroom, listening to them reading their books СКАЧАТЬ