How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,51

don't have to do what you say. She is my ward legally, and I will not consent to remove her from my house. If you attempt to take her, I will take legal action against you. Do you really want that splattering the socialite pages across London?"

"You are not in a position to be giving orders, or need I remind you I control your fortune."

"And do you intend to break your word? Will you go against our agreement if I don't give into you here and now?" Lord John asked, raising his brow.

He knew the answer. The duke would never go back on his word. If there was one thing that had been beaten into him time and time again by their mother, it was that a gentleman’s word was everything, and more so the word of a duke.

"I can make it very difficult for you," the duke threatened.

"I don't know what you think you can do to hurt me," Lord John sighed. "Do what you will. I don't care. I will still overcome your obstacles. I will win the bet in the end, and Betsy will stay with me."

"I'm warning you. If you refuse to give her over to Mother now, I will not allow it later. You will be penniless and forced to keep her. I won't take pity on your plight."

"I will take that chance, and I can assure you there will be no plight. This is what Frank wished, and I will not go against it, damn the consequences."

The duke blew through his nose like a raging bull.

"Fine!"

There was no more to say. He turned on his heels and marched right out of the room and out of the house. Lord John followed him enough to see through the open door that his horse had been left waiting. He was glad that at least the duke had never planned to stay in the house longer than necessary.

He let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. He had no idea what his brother could do to thwart his chances, but he knew the duke to be a ruthless and determined man. He didn't make promises he had no intention of keeping.

Chapter 17

Bridget let out a long sigh. She hadn’t meant to make her feelings so verbal, but even Betsy paused on the park path and looked back at her governess. Bridget quickly replaced her forlorn face with an encouraging smile that reassured the little girl.

It was mid-afternoon, and Bridget had taken Betsy to the park for what was becoming a daily walk to the fountain. There Betsy would play with the other children. Often little boys would be pushing boats along the edges of the water while little girls skipped and played house with dolls they brought along.

Betsy now had her own two dolls clutched in her hands as she made her way ahead of the governess. Bridget was glad that though this had been a constant trip for the last week and a half, Betsy had not yet grown tired of it.

With the trees lining either side of the path opening up to the broad promenade centred by the enormous fountain, Betsy no longer kept her pace within arm’s reach of Bridget. Instead, she ran forward, waving to a particular friend she played with every day since they started the routine. Around the edge of the promenade were various benches. Bridget took her usual spot just off the path she had walked on. She tilted her head back, letting the sun reach her cheeks past the rim of her simple bonnet.

She knew that there was the possibility of producing sunspots by her action, but she didn’t care. Her spirits had been so low since the duke’s sudden arrival that she needed the added warmth on her face to attempt to raise them.

Since the duke’s unexpected arrival and sudden leave, they hadn’t seen him again. At least Bridget hadn’t, at the house or on her subsequent walks in the park. She had been rather glad of that fact. Though Lord John had said nothing on the matter of their argument after Bridget took Betsy out of the study.

She knew that Lord John didn’t need to explain or tell her anything on the matter, and part of herself disliked that she had expected him to do so. But everything else that had transpired since Bridget’s arrival in London had been shared between the two of them. It made her very uneasy that suddenly Lord John didn’t