When the Marquess Claims a Governess by Beatrice Hill

Author:Beatrice Hill [Hill, Beatrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Starfall Publications

Chapter 13

Later that evening, Margaret found herself in the kitchen. It wasn’t her job to be here, but she felt uncomfortable about what had happened at dinner the previous night and was hoping for a fresh start with the other members of the staff.

“It wasn’t your fault,” the man who had fixed last night’s cold stew situation told her quietly, as they worked together to tidy the counter area. “Lord Robert is…”

“Lord Robert,” Margaret finished for him, punctuating their shared commentary with a knowing look.

As they cleaned, however, Margaret found herself thinking neither of Robert nor Edward, but of the Duke himself. He had seemed stern yet kind. But above all, if she was being honest, frightened.

It must be difficult, to have had such control throughout one’s life, only to lose it so suddenly in old age.

Margaret wished she understood more of what Edward had meant about the Duke favoring Robert. The Duke had seemed more than reasonable throughout their discussion.

Was there something Margaret didn’t know?

She was so deep in thought that when the rest of the kitchen staff dwindled off to their own sleeping quarters, Margaret continued on, oblivious, scrubbing at a particularly troublesome pot that absolutely refused to get clean.

“Well,” came a deep voice behind her. “You’re finally alone.”

It was close.

Much, much too close.

Margaret’s hands stopped scrubbing. Her body was frozen yet buzzing to run away all at once.

“Can I help you?” She asked, using all her might just to turn around.

Robert stood over her. His shirt was askew, and his cheeks were red with alcohol flush. He smiled and set the brandy glass he carried down on the counter Margaret had just cleaned. A splash of the liquid spilled out.

It would dry and go sticky within minutes.

“In more ways than one, I hope,” Robert said, looming over her further. Margaret expected him to step closer, to close the space between them, but he didn’t, not right away. “My brother favors you I see. That… upsets me.”

Margaret’s voice was a flat monotone. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, I think you do, Miss Andrews.” Robert’s faux jovial tone went cold. “I know you think him the kindly twin. Or perhaps he’s more like an injured dog you’ve taken a liking to. But you’re a governess now. That means you’re supposed to be intelligent.”

He paused, as if offering a space for Margaret to respond.

Margaret, however, had been slowly inching her hand backwards on the counter, towards the knife rack. She halted the motion under Robert’s returned scrutiny.

Thankfully, he hadn’t picked up on what she was doing, and instead huffed a laugh. “You really can’t see what’s right in front of you?”

“What, exactly, is right in front of me, my Lord? Other than your brandy-reeking breath, of course.”

Robert jolted at Margaret’s words, perhaps not expecting her to be so blunt.

The double-standard was infuriating.

But Robert continued on. “I saw you first,” he hissed. “At that oyster bar. I know it, you know it, and my dear crippled brother knows it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.