Read Online The Governess Club: Bonnie by Ellie Macdonald - Free Book Online Page B

Several of them, if not the entire batch. Mrs. Dabbs has rid the kitchen of all her baking supplies as a precaution.”
    God help her, she almost died. Again. She squeezed her eyes shut, but couldn’t stop the tears. They leaked out and streaked down her cheeks, leaving hot, heavy trails.
    “Och, dinna cry, lass.” His thumbs brushed away the tears.
    She couldn’t help it. It had always been a failing of hers to laugh at inappropriate moments. The giggles bubbled up and escaped with her helpless to do anything to stop them.
    “Now lass, I promise ye, I will find this bastard and see tha’ he niver hurts ye or the bairns agin.”
    His speech made her laugh even harder.
    “Lass, are ye well?”
    Bonnie waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m sorry,” she gasped.
    “Och lass, niver apologize fer bein’ scarrit. ’Taint a weakness.”
    “No, it’s not that.”
    “Then wha’ ’tis it? I’ll do whate’er ye ask of me.”
    She gained control of herself and looked at him. He looked tired and haggard, dark whiskers shadowing his jawline. His dark hair, usually well kept, was scattered and mussed, falling over his brow and around his ears. Bonnie’s fingers ached to run through his hair, to learn the texture of it.
    She smiled at him. “Did you know that your accent becomes more obvious when you’re upset?”
    Sir Stephen sat up and cleared his throat. “I am not upset.” His accent was once more under control.
    “When was the last time you ate? Or slept?”
    “Do not concern yourself with me. You are the one who suffered poisoning.”
    “And you are the one who looks like he suffered poisoning.”
    “Have you looked in a mirror, lass?”
    “Have you?”
    Stephen stared at her. Just as their first tea in the kitchen, her laughter took him by surprise. It was inconceivable to him that she was teasing him so soon after such a brush with danger, that she was laughing while looking like Death itself. He sincerely hoped she didn’t ask for the mirror he just mentioned.
    She was going to be fine. Relief flooded through him. It would take a few days for her to be up on her feet again, but she was going to be fine. This feeling of complete assurance that she would recover so overwhelmed him that he felt he could not be held accountable for his next actions.
    Without a thought, he cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers. He swallowed her startled gasp and just kissed her.
    There was no finesse. No seduction. Nothing more than a meeting of lips. But it was a kiss that shook him like no other.
    Her lips were warm beneath his, their bow shape cushioning his. He could smell her, his nose nestled beside hers, smell the mixture of sleep, sweat, and sweet biscuits that he associated with her.
    She didn’t pull away. She didn’t break the kiss and rebuke him with a slap or otherwise. What she did do was remain still, not breathing for a few moments before releasing a small sigh and leaning into him.
    Blood began pumping through his veins with the enthusiasm of a victorious military drum. Stephen moved his lips and felt hers pucker and follow, sending thrills racing through him.
    The small hairs on his arms stood up and awareness of her settled over his skin, enveloping him in a blanket of yearning for the solace this meager kiss promised.
    Sweet Mary and Joseph, it was better than he had imagined.
    A small moan reached his ears. It didn’t quite register that it didn’t come either of them until he heard it again accompanied by a shift on the mattress.
    They broke the kiss and looked down to see Arthur raising his head, his hair in disarray. He blinked at them several times before rolling on his side and resuming his sleep.
    Stephen dropped his hands from Miss Hodges’ face as if he was holding them too close to a fire. He stared at her, hard, for several heartbeats before standing and leaving the room without a word.

 

C HAPTER T HIRTEEN
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    “T ry again, Henry.” Bonnie smiled at his long-suffering