Mr. Gardiner and the Governess - Sally Britton Page 0,65

and dismiss her. They always did.

“The governess? How fortunate for His Grace’s children. All my tutors were middle-aged men with scowls and foul breath. You are quite pretty.”

He stepped closer. “I am Mr. Briant.”

It was not like when she met Rupert. The weight of this man’s gaze was far heavier and unwanted.

“Miss Sharpe.” She ought to have worn her spectacles. Perhaps that would have put him off. “If you will excuse me, I should return to my post.” She started to walk around him, keeping several feet of empty air between them.

“I will walk with you.” He matched her steps, coming closer than necessary. “I came with Lord Farleigh from London. He promised sport in the country.”

Ah, a friend of the heir. That explained his presence. But not the way he cast his gaze upon her.

Alice nodded tightly. “I hope you enjoy your time here, sir.”

His words took on a sly tone. “Between the pretty maid who lit the hearth in my room this morning, and someone as unexpected as you, I am certain I will.”

Her cheeks warmed. “I am the governess, sir.”

“And I am certain someone as lovely as you could teach me a few things.”

They had reached the archway which led to the carriage house. Alice had turned their steps in that direction, all too aware of how empty the entry to the castle had been moments before.

She needed people. Witnesses. Because as strict as her family had been with her, several of her female relations had impressed upon Alice her reticence to be near some men was as important to Alice’s well-being as it was to her cousins’ prospects.

But the covered path to the carriage house, a place which allowed guests to exit vehicles and be certain of keeping dry no matter the weather, appeared as abandoned as the foyer.

And Mr. Briant stepped closer to her. “Last time I stayed at a country house, a most beautiful companion to the eldest daughter made it her responsibility to see to my...entertainment.” The quiet emphasis on the final word as he spoke it, the shadow that appeared in his eyes, did not prepare her for his next move.

Mr. Briant grabbed her wrist and pulled Alice to a stop, then forced her back a step into a pillar. Where they stood, only someone entering either end of the covered path would see her—would see whatever Mr. Briant meant to do.

Alice’s voice shook. “Sir, I cannot allow this. Let me go at once. I am under the duke’s protection—”

The darkness in the man’s eyes deepened and his lips curled sideways in a knowing smile. “Has His Grace claimed you for himself? Is that why he hired such a pretty little thing to cluck over his children in the nursery?” He bent low and kept her wrist in his bruising grip. “He is a very good host, you know. I doubt he will mind sharing—”

Alice cut off his words with a sharp slap. Which startled him enough that the horrid man released her wrist.

With only moments to use, Alice twisted away and ran for the entrance they had passed through. It was closer, and there were windows facing that way. Someone might see, someone might come—

She stumbled into the daylight, and into a broad chest, at the same moment Mr. Briant’s hand closed on the back of her gown.

Alice looked up, hoping a groom or footman had appeared—

But she looked into the face of the Duke of Montfort himself.

“Miss Sharpe,” he said, tone crisp. “Mr. Briant.”

The man’s steps skidded backward, and Alice stumbled into a curtsy likely every bit as muddled as she felt. The duke had caught her fleeing a man. A man who had implied horrid things about her. A man, given the way he had acted, rather used to getting his way.

Alice’s heart thudded with painful force against her ribs. “Your Grace.”

“Good morning, Your Grace.” Mr. Briant sounded not at all penitent or upset.

Alice raised her eyes to the duke again, her lips parted to speak, but what would she say? Could she tell him of the attack against her, of the man—the duke’s own guest—implying such vial things about her person and his expectations? A woman’s voice against a man’s was difficult enough—but an employed woman’s testimony against a gentleman’s?

Her throat closed up, she closed her mouth, and she remained in her deep curtsy.

“Miss Sharpe, it is fortunate that I found you.” The duke’s tone remained neutral but ignoring the greeting of his guest had to mean something.