How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,45

her.

“Just going over all the possible changes, I suppose.”

“I don’t plan on any changes,” Lord John replied frankly.

“Surely, you will become a much busier man. Many more will come to call on you than just the occasional Mr. Higgins. And naturally, you might…” Bridget hesitated to finish her thought, “you might have your own preference on company.”

“Preference?”

“I mean that,” she struggled to find the right way to say it. “Company that would not sit well with a governess present.”

“I don’t think I would take any company who would have qualms with you joining us,” Lord John said.

“Not like that. I mean you might want to spend time in a more intimate setting. You might have cause for, you know, some female company.”

“I can assure you, Miss Thatcher, I am not the sort of man that would seek after female company,” Lord John faked offense.

“I don’t mean like that. I know you're not the sort of man, and why would you have them in your parlour anyway…?” Bridget rambled on before looking up at him.

His face had split into a wide grin. As soon as their eyes met, he broke out in laughter at having teased her.

She fumed a little. It was clearly hard for her to say what she meant, and she suspected he had known her meaning all along. He was enjoying watching her squirm just as she had enjoyed tickling Betsy that afternoon.

“I can assure you, Miss Thatcher, you are all the company I want. That will not change with the coming season, nor do I feel it will ever change,” he added, catching her with his blue eyes dancing in the firelight.

Their conversation filtered out again, and Lord John, picking up his manuscript, resumed his work.

She pondered the meaning of his words. She already knew within herself something was growing for this man that she knew she should stamp out. He was, after all, a gentleman, and the brother of a duke to boot. She was nothing more than a nameless, penniless governess.

Her affection for Lord John made as much sense as a fish loving a bird. Still, she could not help but find moments where she half thought he might too share in her affection.

They had grown closer than she could have ever imagined for a lord and his employee. He treated her as his equal always. Then there were small moments she was sure he was trying to show that he thought more of her.

Since the day she had cried in his office, he had let down clear barriers between them. Often, he found a chance to take her hand or brush her cheek when no one else was around. There were also the times he called her by her Christian name.

Hearing it roll from his mouth with reverence sent her body fluttering with excitement. With every touch, she seemed to physically warm all over. These were sensations she had never experienced before.

However, she had no idea how to gauge if her reactions and notions were all of her own makings. How was she to know that he was not just becoming close on a friendly term with her? He was a good man and cared little for her social standings as others might. His frank and familiar behaviour might have been one he shared with any lady he befriended.

Gentlemen were not in the habit of marrying their governess, Bridget had to remind herself repeatedly.

Still, she couldn’t help but hope that perhaps this gentleman might be willing to break that particular social tradition as well.

Chapter 15

"How dare you even ask such a thing?" the Duke of Ludford exclaimed with bulging blue eyes.

The duke had risen from his seat, staring down hard on his younger brother. Lord John Hughan was only a few years behind Daniel Hughan, Duke of Ludford, but one might have thought the duke was speaking to a child by his tone.

They were almost identical in looks, with matching stature and piercing blue eyes, though the duke’s hair was as black as night. This is where the likeness stopped, however. Lord John was broad of shoulder, taken easy to sports and gentle in speech. Though a strong man, Daniel did not match his brother in muscle composition. The duke was often quick to anger and preferred to use his rank to intimidate others.

"I don't understand why this is a shock to you. It was father's heart that was set on me taking the commission, not mine. I've never wanted a military life. The