Read Online The Governess Club: Claire by Ellie Macdonald - Free Book Online

abdomen as he finished stripping off his shirt. Light curly hair carpeted his chest, tapering down until it disappeared beneath his . . .
    Heavens, was he going to remove his pantaloons as well? Claire felt faint but could not move, could not swallow, could not breathe. All she could do was stare and silently beg him to not stop at his pantaloons.
    “Are you going to swim?” His repeated question jerked her out of her trance. Claire felt her face burn with embarrassment at her thoughts.
    “Miss Bannister.” Claire was grateful for young Allison’s interruption. Not only did it keep her from having to speak to Jacob before she had composed herself, it gave her something to look at other than his magnificent chest. A chest that would put Michelangelo’s David to shame, a chest that all the gods on Olympus would envy, a chest that . . .
    Dear heavens, there she went again, writing a book about the man.
    “Yes, Miss Allison?” she asked.
    “I don’t want to swim no more.”
    “I suppose that answers my question,” Jacob said. He gave her a half-smile and let his gaze linger appreciatively on her legs before heading to the water to join the other children.
    Claire watched as he walked away, knowing she should feel ashamed for taking such pleasure in the sight, but she felt no such thing. Heavens, but his backside was glorious.
    L ucy had a secretive smile on her face as she slid into her seat for tea. Claire looked at her with a raised brow as she handed Jacob his cup. “Don’t you look like a cat that has been in the cream,” she teased. “What is it?” She poured the maid a tea, adding the extras she liked.
    Lucy just grinned some more. “Somethin’ I know yer gonna like,” she said in a singsong voice.
    Claire smiled back, the maid’s excitement infectious. “What is it?” she asked again.
    Lucy took a generous sip of her tea. “What is something’ ye enjoy mightily but canna do very often?”
    Claire let out a laugh. “There are many things that fall into that category, Lucy.” She stole a look at Jacob sitting back in his chair, watching the two friends. And many new things that fall into that category as well. Jacob glanced her way, and the look he gave her made Claire think he could read her very thoughts. A flush of heat stole across her face, and she turned her attention back to Lucy.
    “But this is somethin’ that none of us gets to do lots, not if yer not part of the toffs. You’ve told me lots of stories about these.”
    Suspicious comprehension blossomed in her mind. Claire studied her friend’s excitement, difficult to suppress. “You mean . . .”
    “Yes,” Lucy burst out, unable to contain herself anymore. She slipped a parchment from her bosom where it had been folded up and handed it to Claire. She unfolded it and read it. “A servant’s assembly, in just three days’ time,” the maid practically sang. “It took some sweet talkin’, but Mr. Fosters and Mrs. Morrison finally said the younger staff can go. That includes you two,” she finished, with a smiling nod toward Jacob.
    Jacob straightened in his chair, interest plain on his face. “An assembly? With dancing and such?”
    Claire smiled at him. “Yes, we do know how to dance here in the country,” she teased.
    He smiled back, leaning toward her. “I never assumed otherwise, my lady. I am merely overcome with the thought of seeing you traipse across the floor.”
    Claire couldn’t stop the flush from covering her face. She watched as Jacob followed the flush as it disappeared below her neckline, causing the blush to deepen even more. He chuckled deeply.
    Claire looked back at Lucy, noticing the maid watching them with barely concealed interest. She cleared her throat and sat up straighter. “Have you heard of any other households attending, Lucy?”
    With a knowing smile, Lucy replied, “Not yet, Miss, but I’m sure there’s lots of excitement. I’m to the market tomorrow, and I’ll see what I can pick