The Governess Was Wanton by Julia Kelly Read Free Book Online

all right.” She stepped gingerly around him, but stopped when she reached the door and cast a look back over her shoulder. “I will send Lady Eleanora to your study if you still wish to see her this morning.”
    He couldn’t help his disappointment that this was why she’d stopped. “Of course, thank you.”
    She screwed up her lips as though to say something else, but shook her head instead. Then she was gone.

Chapter Four
    Mary sat with her head against the tufted back of a sofa and a cup of tea in her hand. It had been just six days since she’d taken her new position in Lord Asten’s home and she was absolutely worn out.
    â€œIs your new family working you too hard?”
    She glanced over at Mrs. Edward Fellows—formerly Miss Elizabeth Porter—upon whose furniture she was currently sprawled. Lazing about a woman’s drawing room like a six-year-old boy was the height of indecency right up there with being caught kissing on a balcony, losing the rhythm of a waltz, and eating one’s salad with a fish fork, but they’d been friends for so long it hardly mattered.
    â€œIt’s been exhausting, thank you for asking,” she said.
    â€œMore tea?” her friend asked, holding up a white china teapot painted with swooping swallows.
    â€œPlease.” She raised her cup without bothering to sit up.
    â€œYou’re never this tired,” said the third woman in the room, Jane Ephram. The pretty blonde was curled up on a wide chair as best as a woman wearing a corset could curl. “Is Lady Eleanora particularly difficult?”
    She shook her head, happy that they’d taken to alternating their teas between Mrs. Salver’s Tea Shop in Pimlico and Elizabeth’s drawing room. The house offered them more privacy.
    â€œLady Eleanora hasn’t been problematic at all. In fact, we seem to be getting along well since I dispatched a rather pesky family friend on my first day. The way Lady Eleanora talks about it, you’d think I slayed a dragon.”
    â€œYou could give Saint George some competition,” said Elizabeth with a grin.
    She lifted her teacup in a salute. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
    â€œAnd there’s been nothing else wearing you out?” Jane asked with a frown.
    She shrugged. “Not that I can think of.”
    Except that was a bald-faced lie. Mary knew exactly what the matter was. How could she not be exhausted after spending six days on edge, doing her very best to avoid the man under whose roof she was living? At least the sentiment seemed to be mutual. Lord Asten had been home so little, his daughter wondered which bills before the House of Lords required this much of his attention.
    When they did meet, Mary and the earl spent most of their days dancing around one another with a perfect imitation of curtsies, bows, and trite words. And yet there was no denying the tension that was spread as thin as new ice between them.
    She’d been certain that he’d wanted to kiss her right after she’d shared her theory about Lady Laughlin being the source of Lady Eleanora’s troubles. He’d grabbed her wrist, his touch gentle yet firm, and stopped her from leaving the drawing room. The mere feel of his ungloved fingers on her exposed skin had sent heat blooming through her chest until it settled hot and heavy between her thighs. Her lips had parted almost wantonly as she peered up at him, losing herself in the depths of his moss-green eyes. Her breath had become shallow and more urgent as the promise of a kiss—or perhaps more—stretched before her.
    But nothing.
    Lord Asten had done nothing. Not pull her to him. Not kiss her. He hadn’t even increased the pressure on her wrist to give her any sign that he shared the desire that overwhelmed her. He didn’t want her and she shouldn’t want him, so she stepped away to break free from the insanity that momentarily