Mr. Grier and the Governess by Sophie Barnes

Author:Sophie Barnes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sophie Barnes

24

For two days Olivia worried Mr. Grier might send for her, that he might demand a meeting in his study so he could quiz her on what she’d seen and persuade her not to speak of it to anyone. When he didn’t, it occurred to her he might not know she’d been passing his bedchamber while he’d been pressing attentions upon Mrs. Newhurst.

Pressing attentions?

Olivia stifled a miserable laugh while recalling the woman’s state of undress at the time. No, she might as well think of the incident in correct terms. Mrs. Newhurst had clearly delighted in Mr. Grier’s embrace. Her eyes had sparkled while her scantily clad body pressed into his with enthusiastic fervor.

The two were obviously more than acquaintances. They were lovers. Mrs. Newhurst was Mr. Grier’s mistress, and while it bothered Olivia that he allowed such a shameful woman to stay beneath the same roof as his ward, she had no right to demand he send her packing.

Her desire to have Mrs. Newhurst gone had nothing to do with the sharp pang of envy that pierced her heart the moment she’d seen them together. What a fool she’d been, imagining some sort of romance between herself and Mr. Grier of all people. It was clear now that the only reason he’d shown some interest was because she was a woman and she’d been available, should he choose to cross the boundary between master and servant.

But Mrs. Newhurst was here now, and it was a great deal easier for him to lure a seasoned widow into his bed.

Idiot.

She had to put Mr. Grier from her mind. She had to stop craving his notice and wishing for more than what was proper. She would not allow herself to remember the way he’d looked at her in the stables or how his hand had lingered upon her leg. None of that mattered. Not when he was having relations with Mrs. Newhurst. And maybe she wasn’t the only one. Maybe Mr. Grier was the sort of philanderer who prided himself on his numerous conquests.

Mama had warned her of such men once. They spoke pretty words and could coax the most pious woman into submission, but at the end of the day, they only wanted one thing. And it wasn’t forever.

Stomach tight with the sort of disappointment that made no logical sense, Olivia straightened her spine and squared her shoulders. She was here to work, not to embroil herself in affairs of the heart. There were lessons to be taught. It was high time she stopped acting the coward by hiding up here in her room.

“You can do this. You can bury your feelings and be the governess Juliana needs.”

Bolstered by her own firm voice, Olivia left her room and went to find Mr. Dover. She would request his help instead of involving Mr. Grier, whom she planned on steering clear of to the best of her ability.

“Do you know of a suitable dance instructor whose services we might enlist?”

Mr. Dover raised his chin and seemed to consider.

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