How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,69
her eyes, he kissed it ever so gently. Her breath caught in her throat. Lord John threw all caution to the wind and let his feelings out for her into the open.
“I will find some fairies to help us along our journey. That is if you would travel the forest to Athens with me as Helena followed Lysander. Our way may be turned around from time to time. We may get mixed up and switched. But if you would walk the path with me, I know it will open up to a happy ending.”
“Are you asking me something in particular, Lord John?” Bridget whispered. “I thought you were going to wait to do that.”
“I am. But I want you to know my intentions are true and unchanging. Nothing will stay my resolve. Not my mother, not the opinion of the Ton, nothing.”
“Then,” Bridget said slowly, “when the time comes that you are ready to ask me such a question, I can assure you my whole heart will answer you.”
Lord John’s mouth split into a wide grin. He had walked the stairs and hallways to her room so heavy with bitter feelings, now he was sure he could float if he tried.
He kissed her hand one more time before reluctantly releasing it and bidding her goodnight.
A week later, Lord John entered the front door of the townhouse, feeling utterly defeated. He had no words to express what he was experiencing. None of it seemed to make any sense at all.
He left his gloves, hat and jacket by the front door for the butler to retrieve. It had been an unusually hot day and he had opted to walk home from his last appointment to clear his thoughts.
Rolling up his white shirt sleeves, he lifted his head to listen for and locate the other members of the household. The sounds of laughter wafting from the library told him where he wanted to stop first.
Opening the door, he found Miss Thatcher seated on the floor with Betsy. The governess held the boy doll while singing in a deep voice and making him dance a silly dance. Betsy was clapping and laughing with delight with every phrase she sang.
Lord John couldn’t help but feel his spirits lift. Though Miss Thatcher wore her usual grey dress, the sun shining through the window landed around her like a halo giving her a heavenly glow.
“Lord John, you’re home,” Miss Thatcher said, struggling to return her voice back to normal. She cleared her throat and started to stand.
“Don’t get up on my account,” Lord John stated. He made his way around their little play area and took a seat on the window bench.
He loved sitting in this library, the smell of books warmed and wafting with the incoming light. He would have been happy to sit here all day and watch the two play with Betsy’s toys.
“How did it go?” Miss Thatcher asked expectantly.
“Just as the other two went,” Lord John replied, feeling the defeat re-enter his body.
“I don’t understand,” Miss Thatcher set the doll aside and turned in her place on the floor to face him fully. “How could they reject such a good book? I have never seen the like of it.”
“I doubt they have even read it. I am often rejected so quickly I doubt they had time to read even the first chapter.”
“How can they reject a book they haven’t even read?” Miss Thatcher asked with a deep wrinkle to her brow.
“Already taken on too much for the year, far too busy to consider the submission, always the same excuse. I’m not entirely sure what I will do if I can’t even get a publisher to look at the thing,” Lord John vented in frustration. “Perhaps this has all been a waste of time,” he grumbled in defeat.
“Don’t say that,” Miss Thatcher said in a calm but firm tone. “I read your book. I couldn’t put it down it was so good. I may not be a professional judge of novels, but as someone who reads plenty, I can assure you, you have talent.”
“Talent will do me little good if everyone is too busy to even look at it.”
“You will find another, I am sure of it,” Miss Thatcher stated firmly.
“I am running out of options. Only two more firms left. I just delivered my manuscript to one of them and have an appointment to see them again tomorrow. I am not hopeful of better results, however.”