The Duke and The Governess by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online Page A

Fine for whom?’ she blurted. She took a deep breath to calm herself. ‘ I don’t want to marry David Carruthers , he’s going to Portugal.’ She said calmly, knowing petulance wouldn’t get her anywhere. She had to be an adult in her father’s eyes, instead of the little girl he ’d always tried to keep her.
    ‘Then maybe you should have kept your skirts down around your ankles!’ her father snapped. His emotions ranged from shame to rage at the behaviour of his youngest daughter. He was disgusted that she was like the rest and couldn’t stop herself from shaming her family.
    ‘But I didn’t do what’s being bantered about!’ Jessica shouted, the frustration and anger overflowing.
    ‘I don’t care.’ Her father shouted back. ‘I should have tanned your hide at the time, instead of trying to apologise for a little harlot!’
    Jessica sat back after that response from her beloved father. She looked out of the window and again saw David Carruthers in the bushes with Lady Jane Saddleworth. I wonder what they’ll think when I don’t produce a child seven or eight months from now? She thought and decided that she’d finally had enough of her family. She had gone from worshipped to vilified in the space of an hour, just for being alone in the garden and weeping because somebody had told her about the death of the Duchess of Warwick. She had cried softly for the handsome Duke, knowing he would be distraught at the death of his wife. She had seen David Carruthers emerge from the shrubbery just after Lady Saddleworth, who was married to Lord Saddleworth; the Baron of Rochdale, had vanished back into the ballroom. David had stared at her in horror, but Jessica wasn’t really paying attention, she just wiped her eyes and turned away. Eventually she returned to the ballroom, to be dragged from the room and questioned by her father about her behaviour and since that day nobody had believed she wa s innocent .
    The coach pulled up outside the l ittle church of St. Mary-le-Bow. Her father yanked her out of the carriage and frog marched her into the church, rushing her up the aisle until they were stood before the altar, with his hand still tight about her upper arm. Of David Carruthers and his family there was no sign.
    ‘I think we must be early.’ Jessica muttered and tried to prise her arm from her father grip, but he wouldn’t let go. He was terrified his wayward daughter would run from the church if he let her go. He full remembered how much of a virago she could be and was well capable of bolting from the church.
    There was a rattle of livery and then the sound of running feet and David Carruthers burst into the chapel. He was dressed in his Household Brigade uniform, the britches hugging his well muscled thighs and the shiny boots flaring up past his knees. His brightly plumed golden helmet clasped under his arm and his sabre bouncing against his hip. He looked the epitome of a Cavalry Officer. His almost white, platinum hair shone in the sun streaming through the doorway and as he arrived at the altar the light from the stained glass window gave him a satanic appearance. She was astonished to see an almost cruel look of glee on his face.
    ‘Sorry we’re late.’ David said. ‘I was getting my things together for departure.’
    Jessica slumped in defeat. Up until that point she’d hoped that David Carruthers would admit the truth, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to. Behind him was another man, she hadn’t taken any notice of him up until this point, but he was the image of David, except his hair was golden, rather than white. They are probably twins , she thought and as she appraised them both, she was surprised by their compact forms. Both men had impressive shoulders, well enhanced by the cut of their jackets, but neither of them was excessively tall. But, where David looked cruel, his twin looked kind. His eyes had a soft expression and he smiled beautifully at Jessica, trying to put her at ease.