Seducing the Governess by Margo Maguire

Author:Margo Maguire
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins US

Chapter 16

Mercy did not know how long Lord Ashby had been standing in the doorway observing the interchange, but when he walked into the room, Bassett retreated a pace or two. Clearly, the former sergeant had not been aware of his presence, either.

“I’m a soldier, sir,” he said. “Not a housemaid.”

“And what you will be—is without a place to rest your head if you ever again speak to Miss Franklin in that tone.”

Bassett’s face twisted harshly. “But sir—”

“You all know the importance of making the house ready,” the earl said, his tone unyielding. “Miss Franklin is our best resource for accomplishing that task. I expect you and the others to do as she instructs. Without question.”

Mercy pressed a hand against her chest and walked over to Emmaline. She took the little girl’s hand and led her from the room. “I believe it’s time for our lessons, Emmy.”

Nash had never felt such a virulent anger. If not for the fact that Bassett had dragged him out from under the burning beams at Hougoumont Farm after the explosion, he’d have tossed him out of Ashby Hall on his arse without a second thought.

But Nash owed him.

“I’ve already spoken to you once about Miss Franklin, Bassett. You know what I expect of you. I don’t want to find you giving her any trouble again.”

Clearly agitated by Nash’s dressing-down, Bassett looked away, smoothing down his thick mustache. He turned back and pinned Nash with his fierce, dark gaze. “I don’t take orders from a woman, sir.”

“Miss Franklin did not order you, Bassett, she made a request. A very reasonable request that I was able to hear quite distinctly from the entrance hall.”

Bassett grumbled something under his breath.

Nash ignored it. “I need this house put to rights, and I need you and the rest of the men to do whatever it takes to accomplish that. If it means taking direction from a woman, then so be it. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, sir.” Bassett grumbled his agreement, and Nash knew the man still wasn’t happy about the situation. But he refrained from reminding him that he owed Nash, too. Because the conclusion of the war meant there was very little employment available for a former sergeant with no skills but those he’d learned in the army.

Before returning to Arthur’s ledgers, Nash took the stairs and walked down the hallway toward the schoolroom, where he assumed he would find his niece and her governess. He needed to reassure himself that Mercy was unscathed by her clash with Bassett.

He stopped at his niece’s open door and saw Miss Franklin and Emmaline sitting together on the divan, discussing the confrontation. Mercy had her arm about Emmaline’s shoulders, and was twirling a lock of the girl’s hair in her fingers. On the table nearby, he noticed a bookmarked volume of Robinson Crusoe that had been read and reread by Nash and his brothers years ago.

No wilting violet was this governess—she’d borrowed from his library one of the most daring, adventurous stories ever written, to share with his niece.

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