The Governess Club: Sara

She fell silent again. He was learning to wait them out, understanding that she would talk when she was ready. When she did, her question had Primordial Nathan doing a little jig. “Will we still share a bed? Without the martial intimacies?”

“If that is what you want.”

She nodded. “I enjoyed sleeping with you.”

“Then we shall continue. What else would you like to do this week?”

Sara shook her head. “I cannot think of anything worthwhile.”

He took her hand in his. “Let me be the judge of that. If it is something you have never done, then it will be worthwhile this week.”

“You will think me foolish.”

“I vow upon my grandmother’s grave that I will not.” He placed his other hand over his heart for emphasis.

“Your grandmother’s grave?” she asked. “You were close to her?”

Nathan refused to be drawn into that conversation. “This week is about you, Sara. Tell me, what is something you have always wanted to do?”

She shook her head again. “I truly cannot think of anything beyond traveling.”

“It does not need to be anything significant or monumental. For instance, have you ever rolled down a hill?”

“Rolled down a hill?” she echoed.

He nodded. “You know, lie on your back at the top and then roll down.”

“Never. I have never done that.”

Nathan blinked. He hadn’t actually expected that to be her answer. “Truly?”

She shook her head.

“Then I suppose you have never walked with bare feet through the grass.”

She looked momentarily appalled before swallowing and lifting her chin. “I have not. Anyone might happen upon me and see something they should not. It is not proper to tempt others into sin.”

“Well, I believe I am already doomed to spend eternity in damnation; I was a politician after all.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. Since when did he wiggle his eyebrows at a woman? “I am the best candidate to view your bare feet. There is no risk to my immortal soul. We shall roll down the hill and then we shall walk with bare feet back for luncheon.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly.”

“Sara, you are going roll down that hill if I have to push you myself. Then, if you do not take off your shoes and stockings, I will chase you down and tear them off myself. Is that clear?”

Sara ate luncheon that day with the dirtiest dress she had ever worn. And she couldn’t stop smiling.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

* * *

“We just lie here?”

“And wait for the tray to arrive.” Having seen to the bell pull, Nathan settled back into the bed, immediately returning his body beside Sara’s. It only took a moment for her to lay her head against his shoulder, nestling against his side. His arm came around her, his hand settling on her arm and tracing a light pattern. He could feel her warm breath tickling his skin and her cheek move as it tightened into a smile.

“Breakfast in bed,” she repeated her earlier words. “I am going to have breakfast in bed.”

“Why haven’t you had this before?” he asked.

“My father was a vicar and his living was hardly enough to pay for someone to come do our laundry. My mother and I managed most of the house on our own. There was no time or servant for such an indulgence.”

“But then you lived at a country estate.”

“Yes, as a governess. Servants are not inclined to serve other servants; they are much too busy attending to the family. Besides, I was to eat with the children, mainly. A tray was out of the question.”

“But at Ridgestone?”

He felt her shrug. Her hand moved from her side to rest on his abdomen. Nathan’s muscles clenched under the contact and he willed his reaction to remain innocuous. “We still don’t employ many servants; to be financially secure we must be frugal. And I am in the habit of rising early and eating in the morning room anyway.”

He smiled down at her head, a shaft of light penetrating the bed curtains allowing him to see the mass of red curls surrounding her crown. “I am becoming very educated about governesses. At least one particular governess.”

Her head tilted so she could look at him. “And you speak as one who has always had servants to attend to him. Not everyone is so fortunate.”