How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,56

took up so much space in his heart.

“Does that mean you can play with me again?” Betsy asked as she stifled a yawn.

“I should be glad if you will have me as a play companion again.”

“Of course,” Betsy replied.

“Your reading sounded so much better than before. I feel like I have missed so much in such a short time,” Lord John commented as he gently tugged on one of her golden curls.

“She moved up to the next reading book too,” Miss Thatcher commented.

“You have?” Lord John looked down on Betsy with pride.

She blushed at her achievement.

“And she has learned a new song in French. Perhaps we can show you her new accomplishments tomorrow, but I believe, for now, I must take her up to bed,” Miss Thatcher said as Betsy stifled another yawn.

It was already past Betsy’s regular bedtime. Lord John guessed that Miss Thatcher had let her stay up to show her skills to the housekeeper before bed.

“I’d be happy to take Miss Betsy up,” Mrs. Smith suggested.

She came to a stand and reached out a hand for Betsy, who took it reluctantly. She wasn’t very excited to leave now that Lord John was finally joining them. She couldn’t deny how tired she was after the busy day at the park.

Lord John was thankful for Mrs. Smith’s offer. He was sure that she sensed he was glad to have an evening with Miss Thatcher again as they used to.

“How is it that she has grown so in such a short time?” Lord John asked Miss Thatcher while he watched Betsy’s exiting form.

“Children often grow in spurts. Perhaps she has started her next one, and that is what you’re noticing now,” Miss Thatcher commented.

Miss Thatcher set the reading book to the side. He studied her too. He couldn’t believe how much he had missed being with her. Her eyes were glowing emeralds against the firelight, and her checks where slightly flushed. He took note that she was wearing her spencer again. He wondered if she feared the duke’s sudden arrival repeated.

There was something else to her countenance. Lord John wasn’t sure if he hadn’t noticed it before, or if it was a new development. Either way, he was sure her brow was slightly furrowed with worry, even when she smiled. She seemed to have an added weight about her. It was something he noticed right away as he had just relived his own. He knew what it was like to carry that invisible pressure.

“Is everything all right, Miss Thatcher?” he asked after taking all of her in.

“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Lord John hesitated. He didn’t want to explicitly say that she looked worn down by an unknown enemy. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders, trusting that if something bothered the lady, she would share it with him when she was ready.

“You said you completed your manuscript? How exciting! Are you to take it to the publisher tomorrow?”

“Well, actually, I was going to wait for a few days,” Lord John replied a little sheepishly.

“Whatever for?”

“I was wondering if you might read it first?”

Lord John tried hard not to show he was nervous at asking such a favour of her. He supposed she didn’t know how greatly he valued her opinion. Though he considered his work done, he wouldn’t feel genuinely complete until she agreed that it was the best it could be.

“You do me a great honour, sir. But please don’t waste time on my account.”

“It’s not like that. I just…I really want to know what you think of it.”

Lord John stared into the fire instead of meeting Miss Thatcher’s gaze. He couldn’t believe he was behaving like a schoolboy. His nerves were racing at the prospect of being rejected by this lady.

“I am happy to read it then.”

“And when you are done – and perhaps given me some criticism – I thought we might have a celebratory dinner. I know I am not contracted to a publishing company yet, but I thought this might be a big enough step worth celebrating.”

“I should say it is a big enough step,” Miss Thatcher agreed. “I would be happy to tend to the arrangements with Mrs. Smith. Perhaps we could invite Mr. Higgins as well,” Miss Thatcher suggested. “That is if you think it is right?” she amended quickly with a deep blush. “I didn’t mean to overstep my place.”

“Not at all. You could never overstep,” Lord John assured her.

Lord John’s smile could have split his face in two if it were