The Honorable Governess (False Rumors #4)

Chapter Five

S ara stopped at the display of ribbons as she waited for Marian to finish with the details of Sara’s new wardrobe. She trusted the lady with her decisions on what was best. Soon, Sara must make those decisions herself once she became accustomed to the lifestyle her title expected. For now, she would accept Marian and her friends’ guidance.

Marian had worn her down throughout the day not to address her as Lady Whetham. From each kind word she expressed to her friends and the simple gestures of affection, Sara had grown more comfortable around the lady. Marian made Sara feel like she was one of her own. The ladies she introduced Sara to had been more than welcoming and accepted Sara without judgment. She allowed herself to relax around them, the danger behind her marriage to Somerville forgotten.

She had yet to bring herself to address him as Ian, even in her thoughts. Because if she so much as allowed herself to, her thoughts turned most wicked. However, the brush of his lips across her cheek this morning and the intimate way he’d held her hand under the table consumed her thoughts, often distracting her from the surrounding conversations. However, luck prevailed during those moments when the conversation didn’t focus on her but on other topics.

She sifted through the ribbons and marveled at their delicacy. As with the other garments presented to her while shopping, Sara marveled at the difference in clothing for a commoner versus a member of society. Soon the fabrics would adorn her body and alter her appearance. However, they wouldn’t change her attitude about how she presented herself. Except they would give her the confidence she lacked.

She wished her grandmother were alive to offer her wisdom on the changes occurring in Sara’s life. Her words would help ground her as they always did. Sara had never had a mother and father to guide her through life, but her grandmother had more than offered her the love and affection she’d needed to thrive. Because of her grandmother’s influence, she’d become the lady she was today. After spending the day with Lady Whetham, Sara realized the words mother and father were only titles. It was the attention a person paid you that held an impact on how special they were to you.

The bell over the door rang as another customer walked inside. Sara raised her head to see Mairi skipping toward her and Somerville following behind with a smile. Sara brightened at their appearance. A perfect ending to her outing with Marian.

Sara bent down. “Did you enjoy your visit to the park?”

“We want you to come too, Momma.”

“Is that so?” Sara peeked at Somerville and noticed a sparkle of mischief twinkling in his gaze. “Well then, shall we ask if your grandmother would like to join us too?”

“I will ask her.” Mairi skipped across the shoppe toward Marian.

Somerville gripped her elbow to help her rise. “She insisted we find you to join us.”

Sara thought Somerville would release her once she rose. However, he kept his possessive hold by pulling her closer. She pressed her hand against his coat to steady herself. “And I suppose you had no objection to her demands,” Sara teased. She could be mischievous too.

“Not in the slightest, my dear. In truth, I must confess I might have encouraged her demand with a suggestion or two,” Somerville confessed.

She smoothed her hand across the luxurious fabric. “Has anyone ever told you how incorrigible you are, Your Grace?”

Somerville threw back his head, laughing. He found immense pleasure in their teasing. “Why, just this morning, Marian might have mentioned it.”

“I dare not ask what prompted that conversation.”

Somerville pulled Sara deeper into his embrace. “I would be more than pleased to share with you the reason.”

The rest of the world faded away as Somerville held her. She lost herself in the teasing glint in his eyes that reflected his enjoyment of her company. Gossip would spread about their intimacy in such a public setting. However, Sara had not a care for other people’s opinions. Especially since Somerville behaved as if their embrace was the most natural act in the world. She should care, but she’d learned long ago that people would gossip to amuse themselves no matter the innocence of a situation.

When someone cleared their throat behind them, Sara jumped and stepped away from Somerville. The spell between them broke at the interruption. She turned to see Marian and Mairi watching them. Marian smiled as if she had conspired with Mairi to appear at the dress shoppe. Which was ridiculous. Wasn’t it? She glanced between Marian and Somerville, then landed her gaze on Mairi. Each of them held a look of innocence, proving Sara must’ve imagined it all. It was only a coincidence they’d ended their shopping with a park nearby.

“Mairi has informed me they have arrived for a walk in the park. However, I must decline. I have another visit to make,” Marian pleaded her excuse.

“Thank you for inviting me today. I have enjoyed myself, Marian.”

Marian smiled. “As have I, my dear. Enjoy your walk and I will see everyone at home for dinner.”

They left the shoppe and walked to the park. Once they entered through the gates, Mairi skipped ahead of them, leaving Somerville and Sara alone. He drew her arm through the crook of his elbow. To anyone watching, they would assume he was a husband smitten with his wife, enjoying the time spent with their child. Not a duke who had just married his governess yesterday to protect her from an unknown villain who had yet to mock their sudden marriage. However, the threat loomed nearby. Sara shivered at the very thought.

Somerville stopped them, unwrapped his scarf from around his neck, and draped it around Sara. “You are cold. We should return to the carriage.”

“I am fine, Your Grace.”

Somerville frowned. “How is it that my mother-in-law won the battle to be called Marian but I am still Your Grace?”

Sara cringed at the hurt in Somerville’s voice that she’d honored Marian’s request, but she still hadn’t honored his wish. She had wronged him. “Ian.”

He tugged on the scarf, bringing her flush against him. “Do you have any idea how I hunger to ravish your lips at this exact moment?”

Sara gasped, glancing around to see who was watching them. “You would not dare.”

Somerville cocked his eyebrow. “Would I not?”

The mischievous glint in Somerville’s eyes should’ve been warning enough for Sara not to push him, but uttering his title would be her downfall. “Somerville,” Sara warned.

“I warned you.” Somerville dipped his head to ravish Sara with a kiss that left her speechless.

He stole her breath away with the demand of his lips upon hers. They were the force of a man hungered for the taste of her. Sara had thought their embrace from the evening before was a testament to the desire between them, but it paled compared to the kisses he ravished from her lips. One kiss ended, only for another to begin. Each one more demanding than the last. His tongue stroked his needs against hers with the force of the passion he unleashed on her.

Sara clutched at the lapels of his coat to find an anchor before she floated away from the sheer pleasure of Ian kissing her. Her inexperience left her clueless about how to respond, but she allowed her body’s reaction to guide her to return Ian’s affection with her heart’s desire. Her tongue danced against his with her need to savor Ian’s unique blend of masculinity.

His response to Sara saying his name would leave the gossipmongers tittering from his shameless display of affection for his former governess. But when Sara whispered, “Ian,” he lost all common sense. His erratic behavior left him shocked that he couldn’t care less who might witness his behavior or what they might say. Ever the prim and proper duke. His peers would now view him as a gentleman who didn’t have a concern if he caused a scandal.

But he couldn’t stop from losing himself in her sweetness. He captured each of her sighs in his soul. They helped to heal his heartache and flourish into a love he had never experienced before. He should pull away, but his heart begged him to prolong the kiss for an eternity.

He traced his tongue across her lips before plunging back into her mouth to draw out her moan of desire. His soul had a more powerful reaction to her moan than her soft sighs. He longed to hear her scream his name with the pleasure he wanted to show her.

However, the universe had other plans for him. Or more like his daughter. Mairi tugged on his coat, calling his name and pulling him back to the brink of sanity.

“Poppa! Momma! Look, my wish came true.”

“Ian.” Sara sighed.

Somerville pulled away with reluctance and looked to the sky to watch the smallest of snowflakes drifting down upon them. It would seem it was the day for wishes to come true. His gaze returned to Sara to see her press her fingers against her lips and stare at him with a sense of wonder. Her sigh of his name when he pulled away from their kiss granted him hope that his wish had come true. Soon, he would break through Sara’s defenses to capture her heart as his own. For now, he would continue to show her how special she was to him.

He lifted Mairi in his arms and twirled her around, laughing with her when her giggles grew louder. “A miracle indeed.”

Sara lowered her fingers from her lips and clutched them in front of her to keep from joining their embrace. While Ian’s kiss spoke of his need to claim her, it wasn’t an open invitation to instigate herself into a special moment between father and daughter. However, Ian held a different opinion and swung an arm around her waist, twirling her around with them. Sara couldn’t help but join in their laughter.

“Poppa, stop! You are making me dizzy.” Mairi giggled.

Ian stopped and set Mairi on her feet. Sara tipped her head back to admire the snowflakes falling heavier upon them. Perhaps it was a day for miracles. It all seemed so impossible to believe. However, with each minute that passed, Sara believed all her wishes would come true. Ian’s kiss gave her the confidence to recognize the impossible was within her grasp.

She only had to keep believing.

SOMERVILLE LEANED BACK in the chair behind the desk. Since their return from the park, he’d found it impossible to focus. The kiss he’d shared with Sara dominated his thoughts. Hell, it wasn’t a kiss they shared, when he’d staked his claim and ravished her for all of London to take notice. It was more than obvious that he’d lost his sensible side with how he neglected his daughter, because sampling Sara’s sweetness seemed more pertinent. At least his daughter held the good sense not to wander too far away. He must focus on his duties, but thoughts of Sara snared his attention, an act she didn’t even realize she held the power of. It only made her more enticing.

He raked his hand through his hair. He needed to get his emotions under control before he frightened her with the overwhelming desire he felt for her. Somerville never imagined this type of passion existed. He’d watched his fellow peers fall victim to the lust flittering around their society but never believed he would experience the intense desire.

With Claudia, they’d shared a comfortable passion that kept him satisfied. Their companionable love had more than sufficed for their lack of desire for one another. However, with Sara, he craved more than simple lovemaking. He hungered for their souls to merge as one and to explore the passion simmering between them. And from how she returned his kisses, it was without a doubt that Sara wished the same.

With a sigh, he sat forward to sift through the mail that had arrived during his absence. He tossed the invitations to the side. He would sit with Sara to go through them and decide on which events she wished to attend. If she wasn’t ready to venture into the social scene, he would support her decision. If he wasn’t guilt-ridden about extending their visit with the Whethams, he would rush them back to Scotland so she could enter society with her friends by her side instead. However, for now, they would maneuver their way amongst the London ton the best they could.

Distracted with thoughts of Sara dressed in an elegant ballgown while he led her on a waltz across the ballroom floor, he failed to notice the familiar script on the envelope he opened. It wasn’t until he glanced down at the paper that he realized the villain who had terrorized Sara and her friends the past year had struck again. He had been waiting for the threatening letter to arrive since he spoke his vows with Sara yesterday.

Your Grace, the Duke of Somerville,

With someone of your high esteem, I should offer you my congratulations on your joyous union with the lovely Miss Abbott. However, I find nothing but dissatisfaction with the marriage vows you spoke to your governess. You have partaken in the hierarchy’s fall that has withstood years of exclusivity because of a tenderness you believe you feel for someone of the lower class. Do you imagine the title Sara now holds will erase her past?

I fear it will only draw more attention to the poor girl. Especially once everyone learns of her origins. A tragic tale that will only secure you and your new bride to be outcasts among those who used to admire your status in society. Have you told your wife about what you have learned about her parents?

Obviously not by the indecent scene you caused in the park today. And with your daughter present too, no less. For shame, Your Grace. You allowed your cock to rule your actions. Now, when I reveal the truth about your wife’s parents, everyone will shun the duchess and force your return to Scotland. You should have never brought Sara to London. Because of her, your family will live in disgrace. Young Mairi never stood a chance once Miss Sara Abbott entered your lives.

However, by the time I finish with you, you will not even be welcome in your beloved Scotland. Know this, Somerville, ‘tis your fault my vengeance has grown to a higher level. If you had not meddled in Sara’s past, then I might’ve been persuaded to end this injustice. But you delved into issues that were none of your concern. You’ve left me with no other option than to strike until I have ruined you, as you are set to ruin me.

This leaves me to speculate that your sweet governess, now wife, has no clue what you have discovered about her past. Some secrets are meant to be kept hidden. So I can only ask, why are you keeping secrets? Are you ashamed of Sara?

Not a promising start to your marriage.

We shall speak soon.

Somerville gritted his teeth as he crumpled the parchment in his fist. The bastard had struck again, but only with innuendoes, nothing threatening toward Sara. He wanted to leave for Scotland, but trouble would only follow them. He must draw the villain into his trap for them to live in peace. To do so, he would require the Courtlands’ help, along with their other friends from Scotland. The more people showing their support for their union would dissuade any rumors that might strike. Also, Sara needed her friends to surround her more than ever.

He unwrinkled the paper and slid it inside his suit coat. He needed to share it with Courtland. They would devise a plan to draw out the culprits who set out to destroy four ladies whose only crime was falling in love. Somerville couldn’t wait to destroy the evilness that had overtaken their lives the past few months. Falling in love with Sara was the only shining light from the ordeal.

He strode out of the study and requested his carriage. As he waited in the foyer for his coat, Sara’s and Mairi’s laughter drifted from the library. He longed to join them, but arranging for Sara’s friends to join them in London required his attention. He must inform Courtland of the threat so he could assist Somerville with the necessary arrangements. Only once Sara’s friends arrived could he admit the secrets he had withheld from her when he convinced her to marry him. He only hoped she forgave him and saw he’d done so to keep her protected.

Love could not prosper with secrets.