How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,87

gentleman to refuse a lady seeking his company.

Though she had no wish for it, she suspected sitting in the shadows would also be more conducive to satisfying her mystery blackmailer should they also be somewhere in the audience.

“I must regrettably decline your invitation,” Lord John responded. “I am afraid that it would be an offense to the rest of our party if we deserted them.”

“Your party? What party is that exactly?” The duke’s voice boomed from behind his brother. “Shouldn’t you be at home working? I am surprised to see that you have time at all for social gatherings,” he finished his words with a snide glimmer in his eyes.

The glimmer turned into pure rage as they fell upon Bridget. Unlike his mother, who was willing to speak her disdain for her son having a governess on his arm in a public setting, the duke painstakingly swallowed his opinion.

“We are meeting my friend, I believe you know him, Roger Higgins. It’s his family’s box that we were heading for when Lady Temperance spotted us. I would expect his older sister and her husband are joining us as well, as they are in town.”

Bridget studied Lord John as he spoke. She was unsure if he was telling a tale or not, but he spoke with such an ease that it had to be believed.

“And I can assure you, dear brother, that I have my business affairs well in hand,” he finished.

Bidding the lady and his family good evening, Lord John motioned for Bridget to enter the box that was just beyond the curtains. She heard the duke suggest that his mother and Lady Temperance likewise make their way to their seats.

“A moment if you please, John,” the duke said, grabbing his brother’s arm. “Alone, if you would be so kind,” he finished to Bridget in a sickly polite voice as another party passed by them at that very moment.

Bridget almost wondered if the brothers would enter into another screaming match right there in the theatre. No matter, it would be none of her business, so she slipped between the curtains leaving John to finish his conversation with his brother.

A few moments later, Lord John took his seat next to Bridget. She studied him again. He still looked in high spirits despite whatever transpired between him and the duke.

“He was cautioning me,” Lord John leaned over and explained to Bridget's unasked question.

“Cautioning you about what?”

“The impropriety of being seen with a governess. People may talk, you know?” he finished with a sarcastic intonation.

“And what did you say?” Bridget asked with colour draining from her cheeks

She knew well enough that the duke didn’t like her and was never happy when his younger brother stepped out of line, but it was still embarrassing to see that she was the topic of conversation between them.

Lord John narrowed his eyes and studied her before his lips peeled into a heart-skipping smile. He took her gloved hand and kissed it right there and then for all the theatre to see.

Bridget’s mouth dropped open, and she took the hand, which had always been so freely given to Lord John, back. She was bright red with colour now as her large eyes scanned the crowd. Of course, the auditorium was not even half full, and there was no reason for someone to be looking up at them at that very moment. But still, she was shocked.

“John, you can’t do that,” Bridget whispered.

It was precisely what Lord John had wanted. He laughed heartily and settled back in his own seat.

“You were looking a little peaky around the ears. I thought I would help you get your colour back.”

Bridget put a hand to her cheeks, trying to cool them down.

“I like it when you call me John,” he said in a softer tone.

Heat rose again at her own slip of propriety.

“You’ll never hear it again if you keep behaving like a rake in public,” Bridget teased. “Now, tell me what you told your brother.”

“Only in private, then?”

Bridget tutted at him with a roll of her eyes. She instantly thought it was something that Lady Temperance would have done to tease a gentleman. She gave a long sigh of impatience when he still didn’t answer her.

“I told him,” Lord John gave in to her fluttering ladylike pouts, “I’m already shockingly loose in the head in his mind, so I was surprised he even noticed.”

“You are a villain,” Bridget gasped. “I had no idea when I fell in love with you that you