The Wayward Governess by Joanna Fulford

Author:Joanna Fulford [Fulford, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-06-29T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Claire strolled along the river bank while Lucy ran on ahead collecting brightly coloured leaves. From time to time she would run back and show Claire a particularly prized specimen, which was duly admired. The afternoon was cool but fine and, feeling the need to escape the confines of the house, Claire had not hesitated to take her young charge out for a walk. Besides, the place was peaceful and pleasant, affording plenty of opportunity for private reflection.

After that last momentous encounter with Marcus she had not set eyes on him, and correctly surmised it was deliberate policy. In many ways she was glad of it. He had the good sense to avoid temptation. She smiled sadly. The temptation was not all one-sided as she knew full well. She had come to care for him more deeply than she could ever have dreamed possible. It was a passion that could never be realised for to do so would render her position here untenable. She must not jeopardise that. It wasn’t going to be easy to keep a cool head. In spite of good intentions they would be thrown together, and each time would make it harder for both of them. Somehow she must find the strength of mind to resist the attraction he represented, even though every part of her longed to succumb. He could never be for her. Eventually, he would marry a lady from among the ton and bring her here to be mistress of Netherclough. His wife would be a fortunate woman, she thought.

Claire’s twenty-first birthday was drawing near. In a little over four weeks she would be a free agent. Uncle Hector would have no authority over her and it wouldn’t matter if he did find out where she was. No doubt there would still be an unpleasant scene in which he would castigate her for ingratitude, but she could bear it. Besides, she was under the Viscount’s protection. Even her uncle would think twice before crossing such a powerful man. She just hoped that Ellen would not be subjected to any disagreeable scenes for her part in all of this.

*

By a strange coincidence it seemed that her friend had also been thinking of her, for the following morning brought an unexpected communication:

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