Virtue of a Governess Read Online Free PDF Page B

was calculated. She shivered again.
    He raised an inquiring dark eyebrow. “Well?”
    Nicola blinked. “Pardon?” She glanced away at Meg, who laughed loudly at the patronising Mr Lombard.
    A waiter came with an offer of wine. Nathaniel nodded without taking his gaze off her. “Miss?”
    She straightened in her chair. “I am not what you think I am, nor is Meg, despite her behaviour tonight.” She rubbed her bare arms, naked without her shawl. “She is young and-”
    “You are not?” he mocked her. The corner of his lips moved slightly as if a smile was something new to him.
    “Meg is merely twenty-”
    “You live in a lodging house. Have you no family?”
    “That is my own affair and I will thank-”
    “Are you newly arrived or were you born in this accursed country or, perhaps, you came in chains as a youngster?”
    Nicola shot to her feet, scraping back her chair. Her action drew stares but she cared little. Placing her hands flat on the table, she leaned towards the horrid man. “You, sir, are no gentleman.” She squashed the intense desire to scratch his eyes out. Her ferocious look must have jerked some sense into Meg, as the younger woman hurriedly got to her feet, her laughter dying. Nicola pulled her away from the table and out of the room. Not once did she look back.
    Out on the street they drew whistles from drunk sailors loitering under a lamppost. Nicola jerked Meg closer to her side. “I should never have come to this damnable uncouth country! What does it have to offer me!”

Chapter Four

     
    Sullen, Meg slouched on the sofa, picking at the cushions. Nicola ignored her and read the newspaper. Rain lashed the windows and the fire did little to warm the main sitting room. The door opened and the draught made smoke billow out from the fireplace.
    Mrs Eldersley bustled in, giving Nicola the thought that the woman never did anything slow, and frowned at the wispy cloud. “I’ll need the chimney sweep brought in shortly.” She paused to look at Meg. “What’s up with you, Miss Robinson, have you not heard from your last advertisement?”
    “No, I haven’t.” Meg tidied her skirts and glanced at Nicola. “Although, I am certain Miss Douglas thinks I have advertised for the wrong position.”
    “Oh?” Mrs Eldersley smiled at Nicola. “Whatever does she mean, Miss Douglas?”
    “I have no idea, Mrs Eldersley.” She folded the newspaper and raised her eyebrow at Meg. Since their unfortunate outing the previous week, they had quarrelled incessantly about the foolishness of Meg accepting the gentleman’s offer.
    Donald Eldersley, a quiet man who hardly spoke, entered, carrying a crate of chopped firewood. He nodded to them as he crossed the room and set the crate down. His barking cough made him the centre of attention as his wife hurried to attend him.
    “Nay, husband, tell me you haven’t been out in the rain?” Mrs Eldersley threw her hands up in despair. “I told you we have enough wood down in the cellar to last the day, without you needing to venture out in this weather.”
    He wiped his mouth with his handkerchief and then slowly smiled. “Don’t fuss, woman.” He coughed again and, hunched over, stumbled out of the room.
    “What am I to do with him?” Mrs Eldersley cried before running after him.
    Meg rose and sidled over to Nicola. “Promise me you won’t stay mad forever.” She ran her fingers over the sofa’s material, drawing an invisible pattern. “It’s no fun only talking to Miss Downing for she is always crying and Miss Burstall is a hard faced-”
    Nicola held up her hand, stopping her. “I promise not to stay mad forever, if you promise not to behave in such a way again.”
    Meg flounced away to the hearth. “Oh, all right, I promise, but really, it was all harmless.”
    “To start with, perhaps, but I am certain Mr Lombard thought of you as some sort of sport.”
    “He was fun though.” Meg shrugged. “And far more entertaining than his sour friend