How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,61

no mind,” the duke waved off. “She is just the child’s governess.”

Bridget watched as red began to rise above Lord John’s neatly tied cravat and up to the tips of his ears. She thought he was going to explode with rage right there at the rude slight. She half wondered why it affected him so. Indeed, it was she who was being dismissed and not him. She had been dismissed most of her life and had developed a well-maintained thick skin against it.

She was about to excuse herself and Betsy to continue their walk away from the gentleman when Lord John reached out for her hand. She hesitated for a moment.

Lord John had taken her hand on several occasions over the last several months. In almost all of those situations, her bare hand touched his instead of her now gloved one. She had enjoyed it beyond words when he would hold her hand in his and softly caress it with his thumb to bring her comfort. Now she hesitated with witnesses around.

Despite her reservations, she placed her hand in his. Taking it, he tucked it securely in the crook of his arm. They had been walking this way before the encounter, so it was no wonder that the mysterious gentleman had considered her a lady and not just a servant, but now knowing the truth, Lord John’s actions had a deeper meaning.

“Miss Thatcher, this is my brother’s close friend Viscount Hensley. Hensley, this is my dear friend and my ward’s caretaker, Miss Bridget Thatcher.”

There was no possibility that the viscount didn’t understand the meaning of Lord John’s actions to go against the duke’s suggestion to write Bridget off. Still, he smiled at Bridget with beautiful white teeth and greeted her as a proper lady.

“And this little miss must be Miss Betsy Smelting that I have heard so much about,” he added, catching Betsy’s eye between folds of skirts.

Bridget squeezed Betsy’s hand in soft encouragement. Betsy stepped out and greeted him back in like fashion. The duke could say what he wanted about Betsy’s behaviour. Still, Bridget was confident he could make no comment on her ability to properly greet the company with a perfect curtsy.

Bridget let her eyes lift to the duke’s for only a fleeting second. If it were possible for smoke to billow from one’s ears, she was sure they would have come out of the duke’s at this moment.

“Shouldn’t you be busy at work, brother, instead of walking the streets of town flaunting your impropriety.”

“I would think you would prefer I waste my time?”

“I would prefer you to get in line and do what you’re told like the rest of us,” the duke spat back.

“No matter,” the duke had a sudden shift in mood. His whole frame seemed to relax, and he stood toe to toe with John. “Do what you want. I don’t have time to deal with you today. If you would excuse us, I have business to attend to.”

Lord Hensley gave Bridget an apologetic glance for his companion’s behaviour, before retreating with the duke down the path they had just walked.

“He is scheming something, but I know not what,” Lord John said with his eyes narrowed on his brother’s retreating figure.

“What do you mean?” Bridget asked.

“The day he came to the house. Before he left, it was clear he was going to make plans to thwart me, though I haven’t figured out how just yet. Just now has all but proven the fact to me. He would never just back down and walk away like that. It wouldn’t matter if the prince regent himself was waiting on my brother’s presence. He always has to have the last word. Something is going on if he is so willing to walk away from a confrontation.”

Bridget followed Lord John’s watchful eyes and studied the powerful man retreating from them. She, too, feared what he could possibly have in mind to dismantle Lord John’s dreams and, in effect, jeopardise Betsy’s happiness.

Chapter 20

Lord John did his best to put his encounter with his brother behind him to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with his two favourite people. They continued down the path through the park, only stopping for half an hour at Betsy’s favourite fountain.

“I have a surprise for you at the other end of the park,” he explained to Betsy. “Today is our celebration day, and I think I found the perfect place to start our party.”

Even Bridget was curious where he was leading them as they