Sacked (To Love a Governess Regency Short) (3 page)

The cool air hit him before Jenkins, his man of business closed the door.

“I didn’t expect to see you today.”
 
Jared stepped back so Jenkins could come into the library. He hoped not to have seen the man because the last thing on his mind was business.
 
But, if Jenkins made the trip from town in this weather, he should do him the courtesy of meeting with him.

“Oh, it is a cold one.”
 
The man shook off his coat since the butler had vacated his post by the front door.
 

Jared pulled the rope to summon a servant. If he knew Jenkins, the man would want a cup of coffee, possible laced with whiskey to warm him.

“I’ve come about the sheep and mill. If you want to grow, you need investors. You are tapped out at the moment.”

Jared sank into the chair behind his desk. He knew things were getting tight and it wasn’t an unfamiliar conversation.
 
“What do you suggest?”
 
He glanced at the clock. Perhaps by the time he and Jenkins were finished she would be back in the manor, safe and warm where she belonged.

* * *

“Now, let me get your measurements.”
 
Monique lifted the dark grey bolt of wool and walked back into the front of the shop and placed the fabric on the counter.

Elizabeth followed without the excitement she experienced in the past when being fitted for dresses.
 
She was sure it was the due to the events of the day and not the drab gown she would have in the end.
 

She turned into the small fitting room and Monique came in from behind, ready to undo the buttons at the back of her dress.
 
When she stopped, Elizabeth looked over her shoulder.

“Do you want to tell me what really brought you into my shop on such a day? Nobody in their right mind should be out in this weather.”

“I don’t know what you mean?”
 
Elizabeth hoped the woman didn’t press further.
 

Monique stood back, arms crossed over her chest.
 
“You are in slippers, not walking boots.” She pointed out. “You had been crying before you arrived, the last five buttons on your dress are already undone, and.” She lifted a finger to her neck. “There is love mark, just under your ear.”

Elizabeth brought her hand up to cover it, wondering if she had cosmetics at home to hide the mark until it disappeared.
 
She knew Fairfield nipped her, but she didn’t expect any marks to be left.
 
Mentally she shrugged. Why shouldn’t there be marks on her skin, there certainly were on her heart and soul.
 
The tears began to pool again, but Elizabeth refused to let them fall.
 
“I would rather not discuss it, if you don’t mind.”

Thankfully, Monique said nothing and went about helping her remove her dress before she proceeded to take Elizabeth’s measurements.
 
When she was finished, Monique helped her back into the serviceable gown and as she was buttoning the dress once again, she voiced her concern.
 
“Did Fairfield attack you?”

Elizabeth whipped around. “No, why would you say such a thing?”

The woman arched an eyebrow. “Seduced, perhaps?”

Elizabeth’s face grew hot.
 
She wished she could deny what happened but Monique was too perceptive. “It was my own fault.”

* * *

“Lord Fairview, might I have a word?”
 

Jared glanced up from the books he was reviewing with Jenkins to find Mrs. Wilton standing in the door.
 
“Of course, please excuse me, Jenkins.”
 
He followed the nurse into the parlor.
 
“Yes?’

The woman’s stern face and stance, hands on hips, took him back to his childhood and he instinctively believed himself in trouble.

 
“Is Miss Claywell coming back?”

“Of course she is.
 
Whatever gave you the idea she wasn’t?”

The woman actually harrumphed.
 
“Perhaps the fact you were
hugging
her in your chamber and the next moment she was running from this house.”
 
She glanced to the clock on the table by the fireplace. “That was six hours ago. Lessons should have started four hours ago.”

He should have
 
realized Julia would tell the nurse and her sisters about the hugging and wished he would have said something first.
 
Even if Miss Claywell came back, her reputation in the house would be ruined.

He shook the thought from his mind. Not if, but when Miss Claywell came back he would set everyone straight.
 
The lady would be respected despite his ill-treatment of her this morning.
 

Did she say six hours
?
 
Jared glanced out the window.
 
Any tracks in the snow Jenkins carriage had made when it arrived were long gone. The snow would soon be a foot deep at this rate. He needed to get Elizabeth back here before it was impossible for her to get back or for him to get to her. No doubt she would hop the next coach to Scotland if he didn’t come after her.
 
“It isn’t what you think, Mrs. Wilton.”

“What was it then?”
 
Her eyebrows rose, daring him to tell her a lie.
 

“I promise to explain when we return.
 
Right now I am off to town to retrieve Miss Claywell.”
 
He glanced out the window again.
 
Once there, he may not be able to return.
 
“Don’t expect me tonight. I am sure the snow will keep us in Willanton.”

She snorted.
 
“They have a lovely inn there, I’ve been told.”

This time he was angry.
 
“Again, you misunderstand and I will explain if and when I feel it is necessary.”
 
He turned on his heel and marched out the door and back to the library.

“Jenkins, might I catch a ride into town. I believe my governess is stranded.”

Jenkins gathered up his documents. “Didn’t she take a carriage?”

It was better not to explain. “There is a carriage but I expected her back hours ago. I would like to ensure nothing has happened to her to prevent her from returning.”

Chapter 4

“I don’t see how any of this is your fault,” Monique insisted after Elizabeth was through telling her story. “He should not have left his chamber door open.”

“I should not have stared.”

“He should not have asked you to come inside.”

“I should not have gone.”

Exacerbated, Monique threw up her hands and marched to the stove.

Elizabeth pulled on her cloak and walked to the front door.
 
She was furious at her behavior this morning, furious for running away like a child and furious for letting the girls down by not returning in time for their lessons.
 
She hoped they weren’t worried and she prayed Fairfield didn’t know she was missing.
 

She grabbed at the door handle, furious with the weather as well.
 
She should have never left without permission but she had to get away from the manor. Had to get away from him.
 

Heat flooded her face and she placed her forehead against the welcoming cold of the glass.
 
It probably didn’t matter that she hadn’t returned in time for lessons or not. After this morning, Fairfield would probably turn her out without reference or worse, expect her to become his mistress, something she would never do.
 
She would just move on.
 
After all, she was to have originally gone to live with family in Scotland, but her funds and belongings were back at the manor. At the very least she needed to return to retrieve her items.
 

“You should wait until the snow stops,” Monique insisted

Elizabeth glanced back at her, bit her lower lip then turned to look out the window again.
 
I should just turn the handle and go.
 
I wasn’t so far from the manor.
 
But the wind!
 
It was blowing the snow almost sideways.
 

“We’ll have a nice cup of tea while we wait,” Monique offered in a cheery tone.

With reluctance, Elizabeth stepped back into the shop. Only a fool would try to walk the half mile from town in this weather.
 

She settled onto a wooden chair in front of the warm stove while Monique hurried back to what Elizabeth assumed was a kitchen.

How could she ever face Lord Fairfield again?
 
What must he think of her?

 
“Thank you.” Elizabeth took the steaming cup of tea from Monique.
 
 

“You are welcome.”
 
She smiled and settled into the seat next to her.

“I should enjoy this little luxury before I am landed on my bum, out in the streets.”

“I doubt he will dismiss you.”

“I doubt he will retain me as his governess.”

Monique sat forward. “If he has a mind to retain you as something else, you come right back here and stay with me.”

Elizabeth smiled, grateful for the offer. She may just need to do that until the next mail coach came through town.

The bell tinkled above the door and Monique jumped to her feet.
 
“Who else is out in this blizzard?”

Elizabeth glanced to the door.

Lord Fairfield stepped inside and her breath caught.
 
The heavy snow dusted his blonde hair and wide shoulders.
 

“I’ve come for my governess,” he announced.

Elizabeth’s stomach plummeted and she looked to Monique for help. She wasn’t ready to face Fairfield again. She wasn’t sure she could ever face him.

The modiste took a step between the two.

“You don’t need to protect my governess from me,” he informed her.

Elizabeth tried to gauge if he was angry with her. He must be if he came out in this weather to get.

“I simply wished to speak with her. I promise not to bite.”

Instinctively Elizabeth’s hand went to her neck where he had left his mark.

Monique snorted, but didn’t move from her spot.

Fairfield looked past Monique.
 
“Please, Elizabeth.
 
Hear me out.”

“I can go to the kitchen, and leave you two alone.”

Elizabeth felt safer with Monique close by. If he tried to seduce her again, she would at least be able to keep her wits about her.

Who was she kidding?
 
Those very wits abandoned her this morning when she allowed Lord Fairfield to do unmentionable things to her person in the middle of the chamber with the door wide open for anyone to see.

“I would rather go across to the inn and arrange for rooms tonight.”

Her pulse quickened at this suggestion. Surely he didn’t expect them to carry on where they left off? But, why should he think any differently? She wasn’t objecting this morning.

“We cannot make it back to the manor. I barely made it here with this storm and I want to make sure we have lodgings for the night.”

Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she were relieved he was being practical or that he gave no indication of wanting to be intimate.

“And, I am famished. I missed my dinner and I assume my governess did as well.”

He kept referring to her as his governess. Perhaps he realized this morning was a mistake, not to be repeated, but forgotten.
 
Why did the thought disappoint her?

“Please, Elizabeth.” He held out his hand to her, just like in her dream.
 
Until this morning he was her safety, her comfort, but what did he want her for now? Governess or lover?

“Go.”
 
Monique took her arm and gently pulled her to the door.
 
“I am here if you need me. I live right above the shop.”

Elizabeth went to him and allowed Fairfield to tuck her hand in his arm.
 
They exited the store and crossed the street as quickly as one could against the strong winds and snow and entered the inn.
 

“Lord Fairfield, I can’t believe you are out in this.”

He grinned at Mrs. McConnell.
 
“I came to retrieve my governess. When she didn’t return from her errand I feared she was lost in a snow drift.”
 
He placed his hand over Elizabeth’s and squeezed.
 
“Now neither of us can get back to the manor.
 
Do you have two rooms?”

Inwardly she sighed. He wanted to go back to employer and governess.
 
Maybe in a decade or two, when the girls were gone and she was no longer needed, she would be able to forget about this morning. He apparently was going to put it from his mind.