Sacked (To Love a Governess Regency Short) (2 page)

“Miss Fairfield, wait,” he called after her.

She didn’t turn around. She had to get out of there, away from him. Away from what she had allowed him to do.
 
Tears nearly blinded her as she flew down the stairs. She didn’t pause at the landing but ran into the small room off of the entry, grabbed her cloak and was out the door.
 
Elizabeth didn’t stop running until the manor was no longer in sight. She sank down at the side of the road as the sobs engulfed her.

What had she done?
 
Why had she allowed such liberties?
 
What must he think of her?
 

* * *

Jared grabbed the shirt off of the chair and shoved his arms into the sleeves as he called after Elizabeth.
 
Had he ruined everything because he could not control himself? He raced after her when he heard the front door slam.
 
By the time he opened it she was already down the drive, her cloak flying behind her and running as if the hounds of hell were on her heels.
 
He took a step to go after her but stopped when his bare foot sank into the icy wetness of snow and a cold wind slapped against his chest.
 

He stood there and watched until she disappeared. Her auburn hair came loose from the confines of the tight bun at the back of her head, a few long tendrils flying in the wind. He would love to see all of her hair loose one day so that he could comb his fingers through the russet curls.
 
He just hoped he still had the opportunity.
 

The moment he saw her standing in the hall, watching him, he couldn’t control his desires. The very ones that kept him awake at night, and plagued him when she was in the room. He didn’t stop to think but acted on instinct to get her into his room, close to his bed. Had Julia not interrupted him, who knew what might have transpired. He hoped he would have had enough control not to bed Elizabeth, but knew in his gut that is exactly what would have happened, and with the door open for the world to see. Where had his mind gone?

He knew the answer as he asked the question.
 
All proper thoughts disappeared at her perusal of his body. Her eyes, darkened with passion, face heated to a lovely, rosy glow, and her full lips parted as if in anticipation.
 
Her appearance was a stark contrast when she ran from his room with a pale face and tear-rimmed eyes.
 
He could only guess at what she was thinking and feeling.

Snow came down heavier than it had when he first woke. Surely she would be back shortly because it was too cold to be out in the elements.

It was best to let her have a few moments to herself Jared reasoned and made his way back up the stairs.
 
Julia stood at the top pulling on her braid, a worried frown marred her brow. The sadness pulled at his heart. The child, all of the children, had been through so much already, with losing both of their parents almost a year ago and he had tried to do the best he could. But, he had also been a bachelor when he inherited the title and five little girls.
 
Elizabeth had been the perfect answer and he always saw her as a more permanent part of the family. More permanent than governess.
 
Had he moved to quick? Not quick enough?

Jared raked his fingers through his hair as he settled on the top step and pulled Julia onto his lap. “Don’t worry.
 
Miss Claywell will be back in a moment.”

“She was terribly upset.”
 
Tears pooled in the little girls eyes.

“Maybe she didn’t like being hugged?”
 
There was certainly no way to explain to a six-year-old what was the true cause of her governess’ distress.
 

“But she loves hugs. She tells me so every time I hug her.”

What could he say to that? “Maybe she doesn’t like my hugs.”

Julia’s arms wound around his neck and she squeezed hard before placing a peck on his cheek.
 
“I like your hugs, Uncle Jared.”

An involuntary smile pulled at his lips.
 
To think that a year ago the last thing he wanted in his life was children. But, his five nieces had wormed their way into his heart and he knew that he was wrapped around each of their little fingers.
 
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
 
And life would be perfect as soon as Miss Claywell returned and they settle matters between them.

Jared lifted Julia from his lap and stood.
 
“Go find your nurse and eat breakfast. I am sure Miss Claywell will be back in plenty of time for lessons.”

Without a backward glance, Julia was running back toward the stairs leading to the nursery.
 
He only wished things were that simple and made his way to his own chamber to finish dressing for the day.
 
There were serious matters that needed to be discussed with his governess and it was best to do so fully clothed.

* * *

Dampness seeped through her cloak and dress and onto her skin before Elizabeth finally looked up. Where had all this snow come from?
 
She searched her pockets for a handkerchief. There were none and she used a sleeve wipe her eyes and nose. She was too miserable to care that she was doing the very thing she admonished Julia for doing the other day. With a sniff, Elizabeth picked herself up off the ground and trotted toward town.

The flakes of snow had thickened and the ground was now covered.
 
She looked up at the sky and even though she knew very little about clouds, Elizabeth sensed it would not let up for some time.
 
She reached the town of Willanton and stood in the middle of the road.
 
What do I do now?

She scanned the stores along either side of the road and chose the modiste.
 
At least there she could pretend to look at fabric, or designs, or something.
 
The others didn’t offer the same options for wasting time while she decided what to do next.

Hand on the door, she stomped the snow off of her shoes before she entered the shop. Her toes were frozen, which she realized now that she had overcome being so upset.
 
Even though more tears threatened, she forced them away.
 
Her slippered shoes were ruined and she dreaded the thought of walking back to the manor in this snow without boots. Not that she would be returning there for a few hours. At least not until lesson time and she prayed Lord Fairfield was locked in the library working.
 
Would it be possible to avoid him from now until eternity?

“Goodness, what are you doing out in this weather?”

Elizabeth glanced up when Monique, the seamstress and proprietor of the shop, came forward.

“I wasn’t really paying all that much attention when I left the manor.”

Monique closed the door behind Elizabeth.
 
“I should say not. I was just about to close up as I didn’t expect any customers on a day like today.

Elizabeth couldn’t look Monique in the eye.
 
She wasn’t exactly a customer, but maybe she could order a gown. A simple one so her time was justified and Monique’s wasn’t wasted.

“Well, come inside and warm yourself.”

Elizabeth was ushered to the center of the room before a stove.
 

“Tell me what you are looking for.”
 
Monique studied her, a frown on her face.
 
Envy pulled at Elizabeth’s heart. Monique was so beautiful, with flawless skin, long elegant nose, full lips and high cheek bones.
 
Why this woman was single was beyond Elizabeth. If Monique were to show herself in London, she could probably land a duke, regardless of lower status.
 

Elizabeth pulled her eyes away and glanced around the shop.
 
There was a small case containing gloves, books of patterns set on a table, and stacks of cloth in a back corner away from the light of the windows, not that they need worry about sunlight today.
 
The snow seemed to become thicker by the moment.
 
“Um, I think, yes, I think I would like a new dress.”

Monique arched a brow as if she didn’t believe her.
 
“Very well, shall we look at some patterns?”

Elizabeth sat in the chair and picked the first book up off of the table.
 
It held plates of different ball gowns.
 
Would she ever wear one again?
 
No, she shook the thought from her head. Not as long as her uncle lived and he was insistent she marry one of his friends. Just the thought of those hands, wrinkled and riddled with liver spots, made her stomach roll.
 
Though she was quickly approaching being placed on the shelf at the age of three and twenty, she refused to marry anyone for the sake of being married.
 
Perhaps she should have given her suitors more consideration during those three short seasons then she wouldn’t be in this predicament, but none had actually interested her.
 

A vague recollection of Lord Fairfield flitted across her mind. She remembered him from two years ago, often at the same functions as she.
 
They shared a dance, twice, before her last season ended but she doubted he remembered her. He certainly never made mention of the fact, for which she was grateful.
 
She didn’t want to explain why she was on a public coach, on her way to Scotland, and without a chaperone.
 

Elizabeth had recognized him the first moment she saw him, however.
 
She had been smitten in London and the emotion had never disappeared.

“Is Lord Fairfield planning a ball and you need a gown.”

Elizabeth jerked at Monique’s voice. “No. Even if he were, I am only his governess and wouldn’t be invited.”

“You’ve only been looking at ball gowns,” Monique pointed out.

Flustered, Elizabeth put the book back on the table and searched for one more suitable for her station in life, one that contained simple, modest (yes, very modest) day dresses.

“Wool?”

“Yes. Wool,” Elizabeth answered absently. She probably should specify dull grey wool, along with a design that covered her from her chin to the floor, with long sleeves.
 
She needed to remember she was a governess, a very proper governess, and not a wanton woman.
 

Her face heated again at the recollection of her actions this morning, the unfamiliar heat that had possessed her, tingles along her skin, especially her thighs where he had touched and the dampness in the more private area of her body.

Possession! Yes, that was it. She was possessed by the very devil and she needed to eradicate him from her being before she returned to the manor.

Monique reached forward and took the book from her hands and began thumbing through the pages, offering suggestions. Elizabeth did her best to pay attention and in the end agreed to go with what Monique thought best. She was the expert in these matters.

“Now, to pick out the perfect material,” Monique stood.

Elizabeth did the same and followed her to the room just off of the entrance where bolts were stacked in several piles upon tables. Every color imaginable from the finest silks to the lightest wool.
 
She fingered the pale yellow satin, remembering the ball gown she once owned during her last season, before her mother passed away.

She shook the thoughts from her mind. It did no good to remember what was gone and could never be again.

“What about this one?”

Monique held up wool of pale blue, very serviceable for her position, but the color was too pretty.
 
“I think something duller would be more appropriate.”

Monique arched an eyebrow but said nothing as she continued to look through the fabrics.

Chapter 3

Jared glanced up from his desk at the sound of the front door opening.
 
Had Elizabeth finally returned? She left well over four hours ago.
 
When she was gone half an hour he sent one of the footmen into town with the carriage to look for her.
 
He returned to report she was in a dress shop. Not that the servant went inside, he was only to locate and report back. The news had removed any worry for her safety and Jared sent one of the carriages to wait for her to emerge from the shop so she would not need to walk back.
 

In the hours that she had been gone, the snow had thickened to the point that the roads would soon be impassable.
 

Jared rose from his desk and walked out into the hall.
 
The library door had been left open today so he could hear the door and hoped to intercept Elizabeth before she disappeared upstairs to be with the children. He doubted she would seek him out and probably hoped to avoid him. He really couldn't blame her. He was a cad and ashamed of his behavior.