His Unusual Governess

by Anne Herries

  ‘Years ago when I was wet behind the ears,’ he said and smiled, his fingers brushing her cheek tenderly. ‘For too long I have felt little inside—transitory lust for a beautiful woman, yes, but true feelings, no, they have eluded me, until you came.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Why did I feel nothing?’ Rupert frowned. ‘My parents were not particularly happy together—an arranged marriage—and I asked a lady to marry me. She laughed and called me a boy, which I was at the time. I joined the army because there was a war …’ His smile faded, his eyes, had he known it, wintry and bleak. ‘I saw too many friends die in terrible circumstances, Sarah. A man can only take so much. I carried my best friend Harry from the field. For two days he lingered in terrible pain and then he died in my arms, begging me not to forget him and to take his things to his family, which of course I did. Some of my friends blamed me for my decision to attack the enemy position that day. Lives were lost, though we gained our objective, but some of my friends blamed me for those lost.

  ‘After that, I shut all feelings out. When I resigned my commission I gave myself up to a life of pleasure, taking a woman if I felt like it, but giving nothing. I think that would not have changed had not a most unusual governess walked into my life.’

  ‘Oh, Rupert, my dearest one,’ Sarah whispered and held out her hand to him. He took it and pressed it to his cheek, then kissed the fingertips. ‘I am sorry about your friends. I know nothing can change what happened or give you back what you lost—but when we have children of our own they may help to fill the empty places inside you.’

  ‘You have already done that,’ he said and bent to kiss her, this time a long, lingering kiss that made her sigh and cling to him. ‘If you cling to me that way, I might just get in that bed with you.’

  Sarah laughed, the laugh that had melted the ice and set warm blood flowing through his veins. ‘If I did not think that everyone was waiting for us to go down to tea, I should invite you to keep your word. You may consider it an open invitation.’

  ‘Shameless hussy,’ he murmured and nibbled at the side of her neck. ‘You taste so good, my love. I can hardly wait for our wedding night.’

  Sarah touched his cheek. ‘I do love you so very much.’

  He caught her hand and kissed the palm. ‘Do you? I was afraid you couldn’t possibly love me as much as I love you. I have not exactly courted you, have I? For a long time I could not trust my feelings. I feared to be hurt or disillusioned and it was not until you were shot the first time that I began to understand how much you meant to me. Even then I was not sure that I could truly give my heart, but then I realised that my life would be nothing without you.’

  Sarah smiled and caught his hand, holding it to her cheek. ‘I have no need of flattery. I want you with all your faults and all your virtues. I do not think that any other man could content me.’

  ‘That is just as well, Miss Hardcastle, because I cannot kill all your unwanted suitors.’ He saw the light fade from her lovely eyes and cursed himself for a fool. ‘Forgive me. It was but a jest. Sir Roger has gone now, Sarah. Nothing can harm you now. I have a special licence in my pocket and we shall marry just as soon as you are ready.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’ Sarah said, laughing up at him. ‘No, no, my aunt is looking forward to the wedding. We must wait the three weeks, I think—but I do not see why we should wait in other ways… .’ Her cheeks turned pink and he laughed in delight.

  ‘Wanton jade. How much I am going to enjoy being married to you, Sarah. You will set all the old tabbies by the ears when I take you to town. They will not know what to make of you.’

  ‘I fear they may cut us.’

  ‘Nonsense. They may be shocked by your story, but their curiosity will bring them flocking and, when they meet you, they cannot fail to appreciate that you are a true lady. Your mother was one after all.’

  ‘I believe her married name was Harlow,’ Sarah said, her brow wrinkling. ‘Her husband was killed in a foolish duel, leaving her penniless—but my uncle must have told you.’

  ‘My agents uncovered the story, dearest. I have many agents working on this business and we knew that Sir Roger had returned to the area.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘I fear I cannot give you the news you would wish for. Your mother died, just as your father was told. However, there is something …’

  She gazed up at him, enquiring. ‘You have discovered something else?’

  ‘You have a brother called Harry. I had the information just this morning and intended to tell you when we had a moment to be private—which has been devilishly few and far of late, my love.’

  ‘A brother?’ Sarah stared at him, some of the pain of her mother’s death draining from her. ‘I truly have a brother?’

  ‘A half-brother to be precise,’ Rupert said. ‘He is an officer in the army. I had thought you might wish him present at our wedding?’

  ‘Oh, yes, I should love that. Does he know about me?’

  ‘I think he is aware he has a sister somewhere, but not the details. I shall leave that to you, Sarah. We can make arrangements for you to meet—or you could invite him here so we might get to know him a bit before we wed.’

  ‘Do you think of everything?’

  ‘I am used to being in command. If I am too authoritative, you must tell me and I shall try to change.’

  ‘I would not change you for the world,’ she said and the sparkle was back. ‘At least … perhaps little things …’

  ‘And what may they be, minx?’

  ‘You do not kiss me enough,’ she whispered. ‘I dare say I may find other things—’

  She got no further for he decided to supply the lack immediately.

  ‘So it is all arranged,’ Francesca said and hugged her arm as they walked together in the gardens a few days later. It seemed to Sarah that her life was free of a dark shadow and the sun shone brighter than ever before, the birds singing sweeter than of late. ‘You are to be married in three weeks. When you leave on your honeymoon I shall leave with Grandfather and Freddie to stay with his mama—and when I return you will be here again.’

  ‘Yes, that is what Rupert suggested. I know I promised to come with you, but you have your grandfather and John—and, of course, Sir Freddie, who loves you dearly.’

  ‘I shall still miss you, but you must have your trip to Paris,’ Francesca said. ‘I have all the rest of this year and next spring to be with you, dearest Sarah. It is wonderful that Rupert says you will make your home here with us until I am married. I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.’

  ‘It was a happy chance for us both that I came here,’ Sarah said and squeezed her arm. ‘We have both found happiness—and I have found a brother. I have written to invite him to stay and attend our wedding. Your grandfather is to spend more time with us, and, if he can bear it, may make his home here once more.’

  ‘Freddie says he can live with us if he chooses—or we will live here some of the time. I am sure that there is no need for him to be so lonely again.’

  ‘I believe he knows that,’ Sarah said and bent to smell a rose, picking the delicate pink bud and tucking it into her gown. ‘Everything has turned out so well for us.’

  ‘Everything is perfect.’ Francesca said. ‘Oh, here is Freddie. Shall we join him?’

  Sarah let her go. ‘Go on, dearest. I want to pick one or two more roses.’

  ‘So you are happy, Sarah?’ Rupert asked as they walked in the moonlight that night. He stopped and drew her closer, brushing his lips over hers. ‘Can you look forward to our wedding without any shadows?’

  ‘I shall always be sorry that I never knew my mother, but perhaps my brother will tell me about her.’

  ‘I am certain he will,’ Rupert said and touched her cheek. ‘You have the rest of your lives to get to know one another. We shall begin at the wedding and, if it pleases you, I would like to settle some money on him for the future, for when he retires from the military.’

  ‘Should I not do
that?’

  ‘You will allow me the pleasure,’ Rupert said. ‘Your money is your own, but I shall do what I can to further your brother’s career and set him up with an estate when he is ready.’

  ‘Would you do so much for my sake?’

  ‘I would do more,’ he promised and kissed her.

  ‘I think my mother would be happy that her children were reunited as family.’

  ‘Then you are truly happy?’

  ‘So happy,’ Sarah said and gazed up at him. ‘Of course, one thing could be better. You could kiss me more… .’

  She gurgled with laughter as he crushed her to him and she felt the burn of his urgent desire.

  ‘Shall I take you to bed, Sarah? I am tempted, but with a house filled with friends and relatives I fear it could not remain our secret—and I would not have anyone think less of you.’

  ‘Then take me to the summerhouse,’ Sarah said. ‘There are cushions and blankets and we could make ourselves a bed.’

  ‘You wicked wanton girl,’ he murmured huskily. ‘I might have known you would think of a way.’

  Sarah turned on her side, raising her body to look down at Rupert as he lay with his eyes closed, the moonlight playing over his features. She reached up to trace the proud line of his neck and moved across his sensitive mouth—the mouth that had kissed her nearly senseless. He caught her finger with his white teeth and she laughed.

  ‘I thought you were sleeping?’

  ‘Just content,’ he said and opened his eyes to look at her. ‘You are such a warm, wonderful woman, my Sarah. I do not know what I have done to deserve you.’

  ‘Oh, I can think of a few things,’ she murmured and bent her head to nibble at his neck. ‘Rather a lot of things actually. It might take a long time to tell you—and I think we ought to get back.’

  ‘Not just yet,’ he growled and rolled her beneath him into the bed of cushions and blankets. His hand stroked the satin arch of her back, his hands cupping her neat bottom and pressing her closer. She could feel the burn of his arousal and a spiral of desire curled through her. The hot, sweet liquid ran between her thighs and she knew she was ready for him again, longing to be lost in that wild passion that had overtaken them when they threw off their clothes and loved for the first time.

  ‘I do adore you, Rupert.’

  ‘I adore you, my darling, he whispered. ‘I didn’t believe I could ever love like this, but you captured my heart and refused to let go. You know I want you again, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’ She tangled her hands in his hair. ‘I want you, too. I’m yours—as often and as much as you wish.’

  ‘I mustn’t again yet because you will be so sore,’ he said huskily. ‘But I can pleasure us both in another way—if you wish?’

  ‘I am yours… .’ She looked up at him with such trust and love that he moaned low in his throat, then bent his head and began to kiss her. His tongue stroked and caressed her, licking delicately at the hollow in her throat. His hand stroked as he cupped her breasts, gently kneading and caressing until she was arching and moaning beneath him, begging him to enter her again. Instead he bent his head lower, his tongue travelling down her navel to that soft, moist centre of herself that he had pleasured earlier. As his tongue began to weave its magic, she screamed and cried his name. Her fingers dug into his shoulder as the sensation became almost too much to bear before she exploded into flames and lay quivering in his arms as he stroked her until she came back from the heavens. ‘Rupert … oh, Rupert …’ she whispered and the tears ran down her cheeks.

  ‘My hair has come down,’ Sarah said and buried her face in his shoulder. ‘I must hope I can escape to my room without being seen.’ She laughed and sat up as he rolled away. ‘I do not care. I do not care if everyone knows. I am not ashamed to let them see how much we love each other. Besides, I do not think they will care—except that it may set a bad example for Francesca.’

  ‘I dare say that young lady has ideas of her own,’ Rupert said. ‘It may be as well if Merrivale allows an engagement now and a wedding at Christmas. I shall see what I can do for them. She can still go to London after all.’

  ‘I know she is impatient and wishes her wedding was sooner,’ Sarah said. ‘Perhaps when we return from Paris …’

  ‘Yes.’ Rupert stood and began to dress. ‘Allow me to act as your maid, my love. I dare say we can make you look respectable if we try.’

  ‘I suppose you are proficient as a lady’s maid.’

  He arched his brow. ‘Jealous? There is no need. None of my former ladies meant anything to me.’

  ‘I know,’ she said and smiled. ‘You’ve told me. I but tease you, dearest, as you tease me.’

  ‘Then continue, my lady,’ he replied. ‘I would not have you change.’

  ‘I do not think I can put my hair back up without my combs and brushes,’ she said. ‘It will have to hang loose and everyone must make of it what they will.’

  ‘Come,’ he said and took her by the hand. ‘We must go in or I shall want you again.’

  Sarah had once thought her wedding day would never happen, but suddenly it was upon them. The sun was shining and she rose that morning feeling on top of the world. She smiled throughout the church ceremony and the reception. It was wonderful, graced by the presence of so many friends and relatives that Sarah lost count. She could not remember all their names, but would know their faces. Some of them had come down before the wedding and so she’d had a chance to meet the most intimate members of Rupert’s family and some of his close friends—all of them soldiers who had served with him and experienced the same hardships.

  Now at last they were alone, not at the Merrivale estate, but at a small house that had belonged to one of Rupert’s aunts and was quite close by. He had not wanted to take her away from her friends too soon, but in the end they had dashed for their carriage and been showered with rose petals and dried violets for the second time that day. Sarah could see some in her hair as she looked in the dressing mirror. She was trying to pick them out when the door opened and Rupert entered from the dressing room.

  ‘Tired?’ he asked as he came to stand behind her and look down at her reflection in the exquisite marquetry mirror. ‘Let me do that for you.’ He took her hairbrush and began to stroke it over her long hair, untangling the long silken strands. ‘I think the knots all gone now.’

  ‘That was lovely,’ she said and then stood up, turning to face him. She lifted her face for his kiss. ‘I believe it all went well, did it not? Everyone was amazingly kind.’

  ‘Why shouldn’t they be? You’ve made me happy. I’m a changed man, Sarah. My family and friends would love you for that—and my sister is dying to have you stay with her so she can wheedle all the little details out of you.’

  Sarah laughed. ‘You wrong her. I thought her sweet.’

  ‘Don’t be fooled. She’ll twist you round her finger if she can—as she does me. Jane has been trying to find me a bride for years, but I was not of much help, because I kept refusing to meet her candidates.’

  ‘Fortunately for me,’ Sarah said and leaned forwards to kiss him. ‘It would have been terrible had you been taken.’

  ‘There was never any chance of it. I was waiting for you, my love.’

  He lowered his head and kissed her, then bent to sweep her up in his arms and carry her to their bed. She lay looking up at him, a smile on her mouth.

  ‘I am so very glad,’ she murmured. ‘For otherwise I should have had to be your mistress.’

  ‘Now she tells me,’ he said in a mocking tone. ‘I might have been spared all the expense of the reception. I thought they would never stop eating and drinking.’

  ‘Oh, Rupert …’ Sarah laughed as he threw off his robe and revealed that he was wearing nothing and was fully aroused ‘… never stop loving me.’

  ‘Never,’ he vowed and then he joined her on the bed. They moved together as one, lips meeting in a burning kiss. Flesh to flesh they held one another, looking into each other
’s faces, and for a long, long time there was no need of words.

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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  First published in Great Britain 2013 by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited. Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  © Anne Herries 2013

  eISBN: 978-1-472-00372-0

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Author Note

  About the Author

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven