The Hidden Governess: A Regency Romance: Ladies on their Own: Governesses and Companions by Pearson Rose

Author:Pearson, Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Landon Hill Media
Published: 2022-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Albina could not sleep. Every sound, every scuffle from the rats made her believe that Lord Kingston would, at any moment, suddenly appear at her door, storm inside, and demand to know what she was doing at Lord Addenbrook’s home. When Jean had first come to her, Albina had been resting with a cool cloth over her eyes, struggling with the lingering headache which had hit her from the very first moment she had woken. But when Jean had told her that Henry had run from her, Albina had not had any thought for her painful head. Instead, she had risen and begun to help Jean search. The dread which had come with the realization that she would have to go downstairs to look for the boy had been almost paralyzing. The fear that she would walk directly into Lord Kingston had made her heart explode with panic, but yet the fear in Jean’s eyes had been all the greater. Indeed, the maid had been almost frantic with upset, terrified that Lord Addenbrook would remove her from her position for her failure – an upset that Albina had done her best to remove from the maid’s shoulders. With no other choice but to go downstairs, Albina had curled her fingers tightly into her palms, straightened her shoulders, and with ragged breathing, had quietly tiptoed down the stairs.

Her eyes closed but not from tiredness. Recalling her fear and her then bountiful relief when another maid told her where Henry had gone and that the guests were in the library, Albina had gone with a good deal more confidence to find him – only to walk out into the very space where Lord Kingston had been standing.

A swirl of fear forced Albina to breathe deeply, turning over onto her side as she fought back the panic that threatened to overwhelm her once more. The shock of seeing him had driven her backward, back into the shadows of the doorway whilst Henry had immediately dragged Lord Addenbrook towards her. With Lord Addenbrook standing in front of her, Albina had been able to hide from Lord Kingston but when he had begun meandering towards them all, she had practically fled from them both with Henry in tow.

She had to pray that he had not recognized her, but could not be fully convinced of it.

Another scuffle had her pulling the blankets closer around her. The rats were very busy indeed this evening and Albina squeezed her eyes closed tightly, disgust shivering down her back.

And then she heard it.

A creak.

Her eyes flew open, staring out into the darkness as she held her breath.

There it was again. Another creak, followed shortly after by another – as if someone were walking along the hallway outside her bedchamber – and outside Henry’s bedchamber.

Henry.

Albina froze in place, her mind filled with thoughts of Henry. Whoever it was, she had a duty to protect Henry from them. Pushing herself up, Albina silently swung her legs down, her toes touching the cold floor.

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