Sacked (To Love a Governess Regency Short) by Jane Charles Read Free Book Online Page B

crowd. Doors to the private dining rooms were open, and filled. With so many people staying at the inn, nobody was allowed privacy to eat, unless they wished to return to their room.   And from the looks of the blankets and pillows stacked on a bench along the back wall, it appeared some patrons didn’t even have a room to hide in.
    John was sitting at a small table at the back and Jared made was way to him and sat down in a vacant chair. “Have you seen Miss Claywell?”
    “She left.”   John picked up his cup of coffee and drank.
    “Left?”   The volume of his voice drew the attention of several people and he quickly lowered it. “Where did she go?”
    John shrugged. “She just left.   Said something about Scotland.”
    “Scotland?” Why . . .?   He stopped the question in mid-thought.   Elizabeth would not have explained to John why she was going to Scotland.
    “She left this.” John slid a sealed piece of paper across the table.
    Jared tore it open and read the contents.
     
    Lord Fairfield,
    I will never forget last night and hold it close as a dear memory.   Cleary it is not possible for me to continue on as your governess after what transpired between us.   Though you did not voice the words, or even if you are considering me for another position, and I don’t wish to be presumptuous, I will not be your mistress either.   Please have my things sent to Monique at her shop. She will see that they are delivered to me.  
    Fondly,
    Miss Elizabeth Claywell.
     
    Jared crumpled the note.   Governess? Mistress? Was the woman mad?   After last night it should be perfectly clear where she belonged in his life.
    Cold dread slid down his spine. He had meant to tell her so many things last night, explain how he felt, ask her to be with him forever. But, he saw her in that damp robe and could think of nothing else besides bedding her.
    Jared raked his fingers through his hair. He hadn’t even told her how much he loved her.
    Where could she have gone? He stood to look out the window. Deep snow covered the roads and wind blew from the north.   She certainly didn’t attempt to walk back to the manor..
    But, he looked up, directly across the street. A person could go to a dress shop.   Jared spun on his heal, marched out of the inn and across the street. He tried the handle on the door but it was locked.
    Elizabeth had to be in here.
    He pounded on the wood and yelled. “Elizabeth, I know you are in there. Monique, open this door right now.”
    There was a scurry of feet from within the shop. A moment later he heard the latch click and Monique through open the door. “What do you want?”   She glared at him.
    “Elizabeth, if you don’t mind.” He stormed around her and into the shop.
    “I mind very much.” She slammed the door and stood to face him, hands on her hips.
    “I don’t see that this is any of your concern.”
    “You don’t?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You lied to me.”
    “I most certainly did not.”
    “Yes, you did.” She poked him in the chest and Jared had to keep backing up. She wielded that fingernail like a knife.   “When you escorted me across the road you led me to believe you were going to offer for her. Not make love to her without even telling her how you feel.”
    “I m m m meant to.”   Jared fell into a chair and she towered over him.
    “Why didn’t you?”  
    “Well, when I got to her room, well, she had just bathed, and, well, her robe was damp. . .”
    Monique let out a loud sigh and rolled her eyes.   “Your brain stopped working but something else took over?”
    His faced heated at the truth and he grew rather uncomfortable. Since when did grown gentlemen blush? Yet, Elizabeth and now Monique had both caused him to.   “I meant to tell her this morning, but she had already gone.”
    “What did you wish to tell me?”
    Jared’s head jerked up. Elizabeth stood in the doorway leading to the back of the building. She looked beautiful, lamplight