Handfasted (To Love a Governess Novella) (7 page)

Katrina closed them just for a second, only one second and then she would open them again.
 
Her head jerked and she sat up. This was no good at all.
  
She glanced over at Timothy.
 
His head rested back against the squabs, his eyes closed.
 
If he were taking a nap then it was safe for her to do so.
 
Katrina gave up the fight and leaned against the side of the carriage and closed her eyes.

Her rest lasted all of a minute because the frame was too hard.
 
Lifting her head she looked over at her husband. He still slept and seemed quite content.
 
She glanced along the back bench where she sat. It was a rather comfortable, cushioned seat.
 
With another yawn she stretched out, folded her arms beneath her head and closed her eyes.

* * *

Katrina enjoyed the most wonderful nap but when she looked to see if Timothy still slept, panic set in. He was reading one of the books.
 
The bag was open and two books sat on the seat beside him and one was in his hand. The rest remained in the open bag.
 
Oh, she could just die of mortification.
 
She squeezed her eyes shut and pretended to sleep. What was she to do? What would he think?

She cracked one eye. He was rather engrossed in what he was reading, or perhaps looking at. He hadn’t even noticed she had awakened.
 
He turned the book to the side and studied further.

It must be one of the picture books.
 
There were a few that she had a hard time understanding and was fairly certain a body could not contort into such strange positions.

He righted the book and turned the page.
 
Maybe he needed to read it as much as she.
 
What if he didn’t know what to do and that was why he didn’t want to consummate the marriage?
 
Maybe by reading these he would get an idea and be more confident.

Katrina fought the smile that came to her lips. It wouldn’t do to let him know she was awake.
 
He may be embarrassed caught reading such material. But, hope bloomed in her breast that maybe now she would have a wedding night and they could learn everything together.

The carriage rocked to a stop suddenly and she almost toppled off of the seat.
 
She reached out to gain purchase when Timothy’s hand came to rest on her arm, bracing her to keep her from falling.
 
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” There was a slight tilt to his lips and his eyes held an odd gleam. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.
 
She sat up and straightened her skirts. There was no use in pretending to sleep any longer.

He closed the book and placed it on the bench. “I went searching for a horrid novel.” He indicated to the bag of books.
 
Her face heated. “I haven’t found one yet, but the ones so far have been rather interesting.”

Katrina peered down and picked at her skirts. “Well, they . . .” How did one explain such reading material?
 
“I didn’t think it would be proper to sell them.”

He arched an eyebrow.
 
“You didn’t think I would have been interested in these along with the others.”

Her face was going to burst into flames if it got any hotter.
 
She shrugged and glanced out the window. There was no way she could look at him.
 

The coach door opened and she breathed a sigh of relief.
 
She needed to get out of here now and hastened to the opening where the driver waited to assist her.
 
Once her feet were firmly on the ground outside of the carriage she breathed deeply.
 
At least in public they could not discuss the topic any further.

Timothy followed behind and took her arm in his.
 
“Shall we?”
 
He indicated to the coaching inn they had stopped before.

Katrina allowed him to lead her inside.
 
They dined in silence amongst the others stopping for their midday meal. The two private rooms were already in use, thank goodness.
 
She took as much time as she possibly could to finish her servings.
 

“Do you always eat so slowly?”
 
Timothy finally asked.

“Sometimes,” she hedged.
 
Half of the food remained on her plate and had gotten cold in her attempt to stall for time.

“Please hurry.
 
We want to make Earlston before nightfall.
 
I have no desire to spend the night on the road and I don’t know if there are any lodgings between here and there.”

Katrina spooned a last bite into her mouth, no longer hungry.
 
In fact, she hadn’t been all that eager to eat once her stomach began tightening with nerves.

“Are you sure you are finished?” He glanced down at the plate.

“Yes.”
 
She gulped down some water and stood.

Timothy offered his arm and escorted her back outside.
 
Katrina took her seat but instead of Timothy facing her, he settled beside her.
 

* * *

The carriage lurched forward and Timothy looked down at his temporary bride.
 
He needed to know why she chose to carry those books, of all books, with her. Why weren’t they sold with the collection?
 
Did she even know what damage could be done to her reputation if anyone found them?
 
What of her new employer? He certainly would not approve of his governess possessing such reading material.

Katrina stared out the window and he studied her profile. She was a beautiful young woman. It was a shame she was going to lock herself away on some estate to teach children.
 
A woman like her deserved to be loved and to know passion.
 

“You have brought along an interesting library.”

She shrugged.
 

“Most young ladies, especially unmarried ones, aren’t in possession of such books.”
 
He tugged on the edge of her sleeve to get her attention.

Katrina sighed. “If you must know, I found them one day while cleaning.”

“That doesn’t explain why you have them now.”

She turned to him, shoulders rigid and jaw set. “I am curious.”

“Most young ladies ignore their curiosity until marriage.”

“Other than this handfasting, I don’t plan on ever marrying.”

Didn’t most women want marriage? It couldn’t be her dream to become a governess.

“If you went to London you would probably have your pick of potential husbands.”
 
Timothy could just imagine Katrina entering a ballroom, dressed in the latest fashion, her hair curled around her head.
 
Every type of eligible gentleman would flock to her side.

“And how would I have a Season, if that is what you are suggesting. My father was a bookseller, if you have forgotten.”

“Your grandfather is an earl and your uncle is a baron.
 
It is practically your duty to present yourself.”

She snorted and he kept the chuckle inside.

“As I explained, my uncle could not afford to give me a season and I am fairly certain my grandfather doesn’t even know I exist.”

“Oh, I am sure he knows and am surprised he hasn’t sent for you.”

“Neither of my parents had contact with him after they married. He has probably even forgotten he has a daughter.”

Timothy found that very hard to believe but would not argue with her.
 
“There are other places you could meet gentlemen.”

“Please don’t.”

He closed his mouth and waited for her to speak. He had to wait a few moments.

“I moved from Bristol to Edinburgh after my mother died and later to Blackrig.
 
I have met several unmarried gentlemen in town, on visits to Edinburgh and while I worked as a governess for Lord and Lady McGowan.”

“McGowan?”
 
He knew Lord McGowan.
 
The man was a notorious rake before he married as were his friends.
 
From what he had heard, nothing changed with his marriage and children, nor had his friends matured.
 
She may have met a number of gentlemen but very few, if any, were interested in a wife in their bed.
 
Willing young lady, yes.
Just not a wife unless one was in need of an heir.

“Yes.
 
I was their governess and he used to hold regular weekend and week-long parties.”

“And none of them were interested?”
 
He was curious as to how she was treated.

“Oh, they were very interested, but nothing as permanent as marriage.”

Anger raged inside Timothy. Had one of those rogues seduced her?
 
Was that why she couldn’t marry and why she was so willing for a handfasting and not concerned with her own reputation?
 
If she were no longer a virgin it certainly changed what level in intimachey could enjoy, if she were even interested.
 
How could she not be?
 
A lady does not find interest in books such as those without wanting to experience something.

“Did any of them . . .”

“No!” She cut him off before he could finish the question.
 
“A few tried, but I am not some featherbrain who would mistake their attention for anything more than an opportunity to throw up my skirts, have their fun, and be gone.”

Timothy barked out laughter. No lady of his acquaintance had ever spoken so bluntly before.
 
“I know McGowan and his set and you are exactly right about them.”

Katrina looked down and picked at her gloves. “That doesn’t mean I am not curious.”

“It is only natural, I suppose.”

“Yes, but I want it on my terms, since marriage is not an option.”

She was back to the idea of not getting married, but he would ignore it for now. Heaven knew he was not in a position to marry and he certainly didn’t know her well enough to suggest such a thing, regardless of their current handfasted state. But pleasure on her terms was a tempting option.

“Are you saying you wish to explore intimacy without marriage?” His cock jumped at the possibility. He hoped he had not been wrong in assuming she wished for more than a ride to her destination.

“Yes. With the person of my choosing but he doesn’t seem interested.”

Who the hell wouldn’t be interested?
 
Did she mean him?

“I find that hard to believe, Katrina.”

She looked up at him and sighed.
 
“Why do you think I wanted you to take me to Willanton? I could have taken a coach, borrowed a carriage, any number of things if I had searched hard enough, but I wanted you.”

His pants grew tighter.

“I never considered a handfasting until Mr. Wallace suggested it, but it was perfect for my plans.”

“Plans?font>
 
Did you mean to seduce me on this trip?”

She shrugged and looked down.
 
“If you must know, yes.
 
You are the one I wanted to experience those things with.” She gestured toward the book.
 
“I’ve been attracted to you since the moment you walked into my father’s store. But you have no interest.”