Read Online The Governess Club: Louisa by Ellie Macdonald - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellie Macdonald
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that.”
She eyed the shingles uneasily and glanced down at her green dress. She would have to be careful if she did not want it ruined. She hunched down beside him and took four nails from the nearby bag. He handed her a shingle, which she adjusted to overlap as he had. Nailing it in was challenging, as she did not want to hit her fingers. But when it was done, she looked up at him with a smile. “Easy as that.”
They continued that way, John handing her the shingles to nail in. Their progress was slower than it had been with Robbie and Joe, but he did not mind the view of her crouching on the roof and swinging a hammer.
It was oddly arousing, watching her confidence with the task increase. He gave a brief prayer of thanks that she hadn’t helped them during the day; it would have been difficult to explain the allure of a hammer.
Their pace picked up. “Not so hard, is it?” he said after several minutes.
“So easy even a woman could do it, is that what you are saying?”
“Easy, don’t get all prickly.” He spread more tar around. “It was just a comment. I happen to like conversation.”
“We can converse about the inn. I had some thoughts about the drink selection.”
“What about it?”
“We could purchase a variety of alcohols and different qualities as well.”
He glanced at her and checked her placement of the new shingle. “Make sure you cover as much of the laid shingle as possible. Don’t leave any spaces. What would having different drinks accomplish?”
She fixed the mistakes he indicated. “It would create an exclusivity. We could charge more for the higher-quality drinks. The color of money is all the same, so anyone with coin could purchase it, but the chances of a farmer being able to afford a dram of fine-quality Scotch is rare. It would cater to a higher class of client and keep the inn from being a gin-and-ale-only establishment.”
“You have thought this through.”
Louisa turned her head so he wouldn’t see her blush with pleasure at his comment. “Yes. We could even do the same with the gin and ale. Have different brands and qualities, charging more for the good stuff.”
The bare wood was now out of reach. John moved the nail bag and some shingles over and Louisa followed, hobbling over in her hunched position.
“You might be more comfortable if you kneel.” He indicated his stance.
She shot him a look that said Don’t be foolish. “I have no wish to ruin my dress.”
John threw his head back and laughed. “That is such a womanly thing to say.”
She glared at him. “I am a woman, in case you have failed to notice.”
“Aye, that is one thing I noticed about you straightaway.” His voice dropped and when she looked up at him, his eyes had that smolder in them again. Of course her body responded with an ache between her thighs accompanied by a rush of wet heat. He continued. “Getting a little dirty can be pleasurable.”
She turned her attention back to the tar. “There is no excuse for not taking care of one’s clothing, be they male or female. A little caution is a more affordable expense than new clothing.” She deliberately misunderstood his innuendo.
“I would buy you a new dress.”
“No, you would not.”
He fell silent at her quick response and Louisa could feel him looking at her. She kept her attention on the task. When he resumed his painting and spoke, it was something she was not expecting. “Did your husband refuse you new clothes?”
She froze, panic rising up in her. Dammit. She had never fully developed the story of her marriage, having never stayed in one place long enough for people to inquire about it. Her mind raced, trying to construct a plausible story.
At her silence, he continued speaking. “I did not mean to distress you by mentioning him. You have never mentioned him, so I am curious. But I would buy you new clothes; I don’t think I would be able to refuse you, were you mine.”
She cleared her throat, focusing on
She eyed the shingles uneasily and glanced down at her green dress. She would have to be careful if she did not want it ruined. She hunched down beside him and took four nails from the nearby bag. He handed her a shingle, which she adjusted to overlap as he had. Nailing it in was challenging, as she did not want to hit her fingers. But when it was done, she looked up at him with a smile. “Easy as that.”
They continued that way, John handing her the shingles to nail in. Their progress was slower than it had been with Robbie and Joe, but he did not mind the view of her crouching on the roof and swinging a hammer.
It was oddly arousing, watching her confidence with the task increase. He gave a brief prayer of thanks that she hadn’t helped them during the day; it would have been difficult to explain the allure of a hammer.
Their pace picked up. “Not so hard, is it?” he said after several minutes.
“So easy even a woman could do it, is that what you are saying?”
“Easy, don’t get all prickly.” He spread more tar around. “It was just a comment. I happen to like conversation.”
“We can converse about the inn. I had some thoughts about the drink selection.”
“What about it?”
“We could purchase a variety of alcohols and different qualities as well.”
He glanced at her and checked her placement of the new shingle. “Make sure you cover as much of the laid shingle as possible. Don’t leave any spaces. What would having different drinks accomplish?”
She fixed the mistakes he indicated. “It would create an exclusivity. We could charge more for the higher-quality drinks. The color of money is all the same, so anyone with coin could purchase it, but the chances of a farmer being able to afford a dram of fine-quality Scotch is rare. It would cater to a higher class of client and keep the inn from being a gin-and-ale-only establishment.”
“You have thought this through.”
Louisa turned her head so he wouldn’t see her blush with pleasure at his comment. “Yes. We could even do the same with the gin and ale. Have different brands and qualities, charging more for the good stuff.”
The bare wood was now out of reach. John moved the nail bag and some shingles over and Louisa followed, hobbling over in her hunched position.
“You might be more comfortable if you kneel.” He indicated his stance.
She shot him a look that said Don’t be foolish. “I have no wish to ruin my dress.”
John threw his head back and laughed. “That is such a womanly thing to say.”
She glared at him. “I am a woman, in case you have failed to notice.”
“Aye, that is one thing I noticed about you straightaway.” His voice dropped and when she looked up at him, his eyes had that smolder in them again. Of course her body responded with an ache between her thighs accompanied by a rush of wet heat. He continued. “Getting a little dirty can be pleasurable.”
She turned her attention back to the tar. “There is no excuse for not taking care of one’s clothing, be they male or female. A little caution is a more affordable expense than new clothing.” She deliberately misunderstood his innuendo.
“I would buy you a new dress.”
“No, you would not.”
He fell silent at her quick response and Louisa could feel him looking at her. She kept her attention on the task. When he resumed his painting and spoke, it was something she was not expecting. “Did your husband refuse you new clothes?”
She froze, panic rising up in her. Dammit. She had never fully developed the story of her marriage, having never stayed in one place long enough for people to inquire about it. Her mind raced, trying to construct a plausible story.
At her silence, he continued speaking. “I did not mean to distress you by mentioning him. You have never mentioned him, so I am curious. But I would buy you new clothes; I don’t think I would be able to refuse you, were you mine.”
She cleared her throat, focusing on
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