Excerpt from The Governess -- Chapter 22 continued:
(Sorry...I forgot this part leads into the "Moonlight Kiss".)
All guests were gone, except for the sleeping Mr. Stone and Lord Carter. Creighton and Hayden were alone in the library sharing the port.
“She is a lovely creature, Creighton. How did you find her, if I may ask?”
“You have no need of a governess, so why do you care?” Creighton was wound tight from this evening’s meal next to Lady Margaret and Miss Amelia. He usually left the planning of dinner parties to his mother, but the Pembrooke’s had returned home from London much earlier than expected, and Creighton’s mother had desperately wanted her son’s opinion on how her best friend was faring. And, of course, he had promised Amelia and Felix Hansen an invitation as well.
The constant competition for Huntington Manor sickened him. Did they not realize he knew their intentions? It was most outrageous! One had been his wife’s enemy. The other—her best friend. Both were so different, and yet so annoyingly similar.
“I am only curious as to where one goes to find such an endearing young lady as this.” Grinning with bright, honeyed eyes, Lord Carter showed that he was not intimidated in the least by his friend’s strong bearing.
Creighton sighed, exasperated at having to give any explanation. “No one answered my advertisement in the surrounding area, explaining my need of a governess, which irks me still, I should say,” he added with a loud voice. “So I took out an advertisement in Northamptonshire—far from here—and this is what I acquired,” his hand extended toward the door to the library, as if Lady Blakemore should suddenly materialize.
Hayden raised his eyebrows and nodded his head. “She simply gets under your skin, does she not?” Laughing a kindly, affectionate laugh, he interrupted Creighton’s thoughts by slapping him on the back, projecting him forward. “I am glad to finally see it!” he bellowed excitedly. “You have been brooding for much too long.”
“What on earth are you babbling about?” Creighton growled at him.
“I am simply saying that I know that this girl has affected you and that I am glad of it. Oh, how the mighty fall!” He laughed again, raising his glass of port as if toasting Creighton.
Creighton quickly walked over to the decanter and poured himself more drink. “She is simply my governess, Hayden, nothing more. And I plan to keep it that way.”
“Yes, yes, I see how it is.” Creighton turned and faced Hayden, who seemed amused by this whole conversation. “You are not even aware yet of your tender feelings for her, are you?”
“Tender feelings!” he shouted. Looking at the door, he lowered his voice slightly and continued, “You do not know what you are talking about, Hayden.” Creighton impatiently paced the room.
“Don’t I?”
Exasperated, Creighton exclaimed, “If I have feelings then they are of anger, for she infuriates me! I have argued more with her in the short time that she has been here than I ever did with Janese in our entire marriage! If I touch her, it is to shake her!” Fists balling up, he shook them at Hayden as if he could show him what he had done to the poor girl. “Do you call that tender feelings for her? She has even slapped me across the face!” Pointing to his left cheek, he exaggerated as if he could provide evidence of a red welt.
Unmystified, Hayden replied, “And yet she remains here...”
Will Lord Huntington admit to his feelings for Lady Blakemore?
Ellise
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