Page 64 of The Governess and the Brooding Duke
And thrilled her in a way that nothing had ever before in her memory.
Chapter Thirteen
Their every meeting for the rest of the week felt tense, as if a thread stretched between them that was likely to snap.
West was no stranger to attraction. He understood what it was to desire someone sexually.
He desiredher.
But there was something else that mingled with his desire for her. The taste of the forbidden, perhaps, because he was a man who always kept himself in control.
He did not dally with staff. He had not visited his more raw sexual urges upon his wife.
And he did not engage harlots in conversation.
There was something dangerous about this.
It was why he found himself wandering the halls now. He couldn’t sleep. Visions of her assaulted him.
Many men would think it prudent and acceptable to satisfy their desires with a member of staff, though the governess was frowned upon. If only because she had such a close association to children.
It was acceptable for a man of his status to have affairs. But usurping the position of your wife was not so easily accepted.
He had opted for fidelity because he had decided it was best to keep himself in line.
But the fact was, Jane was gone. He did not envision himself living the life of a celibate.
He needed to make his way to London soon, needed to find a harlot who enjoyed sucking cock and being used hard.
If he was going to return to that way of things, then he would have his needs met.
But when he thought of a woman on her knees before him, opening her delicate lips, it was only Mary that he could see. She dressed demurely. She did not dress to attract male attention, that was certain, and yet it was as if his need took it as a challenge.
To try and gather visions of the shape of her. The way that her creamy skin would look uncovered.
The infant began to wail.
It felt like a puncture wound. For once his mind had been turned towards pleasant things, and the infant was intruding.
He waited. Waited and listened, for the rest of the household to rouse, but he could hear no one.
He needed to get a different wet nurse. This was a far too common occurrence. It was her job, before it was Mary’s. And he should never have to...
He couldn’t stand it.
With gritted teeth he strode through the hall, making his way to the infant’s room.
And, right as he did, a vision in white appeared in the darkened corridor.
Her red hair was down, and with the light of the candle she was holding he could see that her eyes were round.
‘Your Grace,’ she said. ‘I am terribly sorry. I...’
‘I... It is not ideal, but it is not your fault.’
‘I... I should have been faster.’
‘It is fine.’ He walked into the bedroom, and she came in behind him. He was well aware that by the standards of society this was shocking.
