How to Claim a Governess’s Heart - Bridget Barton Page 0,96
moment the two of them entered.
“I am sure you mean to say you rather hoped I didn’t make it. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“I would be lying if I didn’t say I was beginning to get used to you disappointing me.”
“So perhaps we can settle this bet and be rid of each other for the rest of our lives,” Lord John suggested.
He was standing up to his brother at his full height. Both were large in stature coming eye-to-eye with each other.
“Are you sure you still have a publishing contract? You’ve been gone for some time. Perhaps the company decided to move on without you.”
Lord John opened his mouth to speak and then realised he didn’t have a response to that. Luckily Bridget stepped forward to save him.
“Actually, the book is in the process of being printed as we speak. I have the proof copy here if you would like to examine it,” she walked over to the hearth and removed a book sitting on the mantel.
Handing the book over to the duke for his inspection, she met Lord John’s eyes for the first time. While she seemed to be nothing but a ball of nerves for a reason she couldn’t fathom, Lord John exuded gratitude to this woman.
“I see everything is in order then,” the duke said with an edge to his tone.
He only flipped the book over a few times, not really caring to study it before passing it back to Bridget.
“Still going to use a woman’s name?” the duke asked, eyeing Lord John sceptically.
“Yes, I think I will at first. I don’t want any association with the Duke of Ludford to interfere with building my author following,” Lord John said spitefully.
“At least something we can finally agree on. I will have my solicitor arrange to have your sum transferred to your personal holdings.”
“Just like that? No fight?” Lord John asked with a raise of one of his golden brows.
“I am a man of my word, am I not?”
Lord John huffed but gave no opinion in return.
“There is the matter of this house and the child,” the duke spoke with a narrowing of his intentions.
“Obviously, I expected I would need to find my own lodgings. I have found sufficient lodgings in Somerset. It will take a few days, a week at the most, to arrange our transportation, and then we will be taking up our new residence.”
Lord John made a point to emphasise the ‘we’.
“The child will be staying with me. She will be in our mother’s care, she was most insistent on this fact. Miss Thatcher, your services will no longer be needed, and I will wait for her belongings to be collected.”
“And if I say no?” Lord John asked in a surprisingly calm tone.
“Then I will have your governess-lover thrown in jail for stealing. This is something I will not bend on, John. You will give the girl over to me today!” the duke ordered.
Bridget felt her legs want to give out under her. This was the moment she had expected. She would never want Betsy to be given over to such cruel people, but she would not escape the consequences of her own mistakes at her expense.
“You may call for the constable if you like, though it will only serve to embarrass you more,” Lord John spoke coolly taking a seat.
“And why is that?” the duke scoffed. “It will be you alone that will be dragged through the mud if you insist, I take the legal route. Yes, there will be some gossip by association, but Mother and I are prepared to completely detach ourselves from your acquaintance if the need arises.”
Lord John didn’t speak. Instead, he rifled through one of the pockets of the saddlebag he had kept by his side all this time.
“You will see here,” Lord John spoke as he handed his brother some paperwork, “a copy of Frank Smelting’s will. I am clearly stated as the guardian of Betsy. If you attempt to take her, I will take you to court, and they will side with me. Do you really want that messy public scene?”
“I care little for what the damned document says,” the duke began to raise his voice. “I will see this matter set right or your tart will be behind bars.”
While he spoke, Lord John continued to rifle through his belongings.
“You see, that would be an embarrassing mistake on your part as I have a signed letter from both parties that inherited Frank’s estate, giving me permission to purchase