An Untamed Governess For The Rogue (Steamy Historical Regency)

by Olivia Bennet

  “Forgive me,” he whispered, as he walked to the window. “Edmund, forgive me. Teresa, forgive me. Mother, Father, forgive me. I thought I could fix this myself, but I cannot see a way to repair what is done. I have thought long and hard, and still nothing comes to me. I should have listened. My goodness, I should have listened.”

  He knew he could have gone to his father with this, but he had wanted to take matters into his own hands. He supposed, in a way, he had wanted to prove that he was not as useless and blasé as his family thought him to be. To admit that he had acted rashly would only increase that perception of him, and he did not want to see his father’s disappointment or allow his father to fix his problems. No, he had started this, and he would finish it. Then, he would show his true worth.

  Perhaps I should be cold, to reduce Teresa’s pain in leaving us. Perhaps I should create a falsehood that sees her cast out. However, he knew he would not be able to do that, once he laid eyes upon her again. Instead, he would be more inclined to beg her forgiveness, then beg her to remain.

  “Once I have spoken with Teresa,” he said aloud, “I will do the decent thing, and I will find somewhere safe for her to escape to. And then, I will contend with whatever the Sphinx throws at me. I will not drag anyone else down with me. And if this man should catch up with me… then I will pay the price for what I have done.”

  * * *

  The following morning, he found Teresa in the gardens. She was walking in a state of tangible anxiety, her face drawn, as if she had not slept well. Luke felt a twist of guilt, knowing he was likely responsible for her bout of insomnia.

  She looked to him with a degree of relief as he approached. “My Lord Luke, there you are,” she said softly. “I worried that you had not discovered my note. Indeed, you returned late last night, did you not?”

  He nodded. “I rode to Manchester and back.”

  “I heard you return, but I thought it too late to disturb you,” she confessed.

  “What did you wish to speak with me about?” he prompted. “Is something the matter?” He worried for her wellbeing, given the haunted expression that shadowed her features. It was as though she held a dark secret within her—one she did not wish to reveal. Ordinarily, he found her mystique intriguing, but this new facet to her character simply made him concerned.

  “You must not be angry with me,” she said quietly, dropping her gaze.

  “What reason would I have to be angry with you?” He was quite baffled by her.

  She looked up nervously. “I know you said that you would contend with the Sphinx’s threat yourself, but I felt helpless, leaving you to deal with it alone,” she began. “And you were so stubborn in your resolve that I knew I would never be able to get you to change your mind on the matter.”

  “What have you done?” Luke interjected, his eyes widening in horror.

  “I went to visit with Mr. Bollands last night, to see what I could discover about this Sphinx. He told me everything we could ever need to know, in order to prevent the Sphinx from causing us further suffering. I know you will be cross, that I took matters into my own hands, but I was worried for you. I did not want you to have to endure this alone, not when there was a way to fix the situation.”

  Luke stared at her in disbelief. “This is a cruel joke, yes? Tell me this is some sort of tomfoolery.”

  “It is not, My Lord. I did what was necessary.” She paused. “As you did.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you went to Salford, Luke. Lord Harpinton and I looked for you, but you were nowhere to be found. We spoke with the stable master and he said you had departed earlier in the day—I knew there was only one place you could have gone, and I knew you would not be able to resist going there. You went because you care. You went because you want to rescue everyone, but, sometimes, it is easier to have help, if only to share the weight.”

  He shook his head. “But this is madness, Teresa. You put yourself in untold danger, going to visit with that scum. Bollands is a dangerous, unpredictable, awful man. There is a reason that he is incarcerated—and none of those reasons are good.” His heart clenched as he thought of the risk she had taken for him. Anything might have happened to her, alone with that cretin. He could not even bring himself to contemplate the terrible possibilities.

  “As did you—you put yourself in far worse danger,” she replied quietly. “I realize I should have spoken with you first, but you would only have tried to dissuade me. I had to go to him, whilst I still had the courage to do it. And it resulted in a great deal of information.”

  “You put yourself in harm’s way, Teresa,” he said, feeling the weight of his actions more keenly. Had he agreed with her request to refrain from pursuing the Sphinx, then she would not put herself on a dangerous path. She had done it for him, and that pained him deeply.

  She nodded. “For you, Luke… and your family.”

  “You should not have done so.”

  “I had no choice.” A small smile graced her lips, though fear prompted it to tremble. He could not understand why—why was she so scared?

  “What did you discover?” he asked, wondering if that held the secret to her hidden terror.

  She folded her hands behind her back and told him everything that the highwayman had revealed to her about the Sphinx. She visibly flinched as she mentioned the warning he had given her, whilst the repeated knowledge of it made Luke’s skin crawl. So… she already knows that she is a target.

  “And that is all, though it is considerable,” she said, coming to the end of what she had learned. It made him feel all the more foolish, for had he waited, he would never have had to encounter that disgusting little toad in Salford. And he would not have made matters worse by suggesting terms be made.

  Luke frowned. “Did Bollands ask you to pay a price for this information? If he did, you must allow me to remunerate you. This information is valuable indeed, but it was hazardously gained. If I could turn back the clock, I would have sought to stop you.”

  “As would I,” she replied, with a sad look. “As for the price I am to pay, that depends on the progress we make with apprehending the Sphinx. Lord Harpington has pledged to protect me, and I know you wish the same thing.”

  “My brother said that?” Luke was stunned by the revelation. That did not seem like Edmund at all. Indeed, Luke wondered what his brother’s intentions were, in promising such a thing. Was this his way of keeping close to Teresa, to make sure Luke did not behave in a way that might embarrass the family? It was the only conclusion he could come to, but at least it meant Teresa would be safer.

  “He found me after I had visited with Mr. Bollands. I confess, I was rather distressed.”

  “I am so sorry, Teresa. You must forgive me.”

  She smiled. “There is nothing to forgive. Although, I should like to know what you discovered in your endeavors?”

  He paled. “Much the same thing. However, it would appear that your actions were more successful than my own. I have been told to await correspondence from the Sphinx, but that is all.”

  “Was the same threat made against me?”

  Luke nodded. “It was. It seems the Sphinx knows more of our family than we think.” He paused. “In truth, until I saw you, I was going to urge you to run, as you were instructed.”

  “What stopped you?” A small smile played upon her lips.

  “Selfish reasons,” he replied. “I cannot be without you, Teresa. Wherever you go, I wish only to follow. I love you. I love you, and I cannot bear the thought of losing you, in any capacity.”

  She chuckled softly. “And I love you, which is why I cannot comprehend the idea of running from the Rowfex Estate. I will stay so that I may help you and bring this Sphinx to justice. He has hurt so many, myself included, and I will not rest until he is defeated.”

  “You are truly remarkable, Teresa,” he said.

  “How so?”

  “Your strength is formidable. Any other lady in your position wo
uld have taken the first carriage to security, and yet you insist upon remaining.” He took her hand and kissed it, wishing he could do more. “And, of course, I will do everything within my power to protect you, alongside my brother.”

  “I am grateful for that,” she murmured.

  He lowered his gaze. “You have not lost your faith in me?”

  “Why would I have done so?”

  “Because I did not listen to your excellent advice and may have incited the wrath of the Sphinx.”

  She chuckled. “That would make me something of a hypocrite, would it not?”

  “You did not take action out of pride,” he replied miserably. “You acted in the best interests of the family. I pursued the Sphinx because I wished to be the one to apprehend him, and it resulted in naught but a threat.”

  “You are too hard on yourself.” She held his hand tighter. “You wanted to protect your household. There is honor in that. And, no, I have not lost faith in you. I was scared for you, that is all.”

  “I will try not to act, in the future, without involving you in my thoughts, I promise you that,” he said. “And, together, we will destroy this Sphinx.”

  “Then let us begin,” she urged. “I believe Lord Harpington is awaiting us in the drawing room, so that we may start our list of suspects.”

  He kissed her hand again. “Lead the way, my love.”

  “Say that again.”

  “My love.” Making sure nobody was looking, he leaned in and kissed her desperately, his mouth moving in perfect unison with hers. He pulled her close, relishing the sensation of having her back in his arms, and knew, in that moment, that he would never be able to let her go. This was everything he had ever wanted, and he would fight the Sphinx to the death, if only he could keep her here, in his embrace.

  Chapter 21

  Teresa settled beside Luke on the settee, ensuring she kept a proper distance between them. Now and again, her arm brushed against his, a flush rising to her cheeks. With her life at stake, her love for Luke no longer seemed like a vast problem, looming over her. Indeed, being the target of a known criminal had put many things into perspective.

  “This is the book I spoke of.” Edmund heaved a large tome out onto the table between them and began to flip through the pages. “Miss Dowels, if you could make notations of any potential suspects that I find.”

  She nodded. “Of course, My Lord.”

  Opening the inkwell and taking up a sharp quill, she smoothed out a sheet of crisp paper and waited for the candidates to emerge. Luke had been uncharacteristically quiet, though she understood why. The poor gentleman was evidently warring with some guilt over his failed mission the previous day. Both Teresa and Lord Harpington had tried to warn him against pursuing it, but he had done so regardless.

  She let her arm brush against his once more, casting him a shy glance whilst Lord Harpington was busy reading. He jolted unexpectedly, settling back down as he saw her arm resting against his. A smile spread across his lips, making her think of their bodies entwined in a private embrace, and those lips kissing her with such fervency.

  “This may be one.” Lord Harpington’s voice brought her focus back to the task at hand. “Lord Isaac Flaxton, of Egremont House. Eldest son of John Flaxton, the Earl of Egremont. Judging by his date of birth, he would be in two-and-thirty years of age. According to my mother’s notations, he was spurned by his family after an unfortunate engagement with a dairy maid.”

  “Did he wed the dairy maid?” Luke asked, a curious look in his eyes. Teresa understood immediately—if an earl’s eldest son could wed a dairy maid, then surely there could be no dispute with the second son of a duke wedding a governess. It made her smile despite herself. See, he does not mean to break my heart, Lord Harpington. She had not forgotten Lord Harpington’s words, though Luke had done a great deal to dispel her concerns.

  Lord Harpington paused as he read the page. “Yes… yes, I believe he did.”

  “Then he cannot be our Sphinx,” Teresa replied. “We are likely looking for a gentleman who is unwed, given the nature of his dismissal from society. Nobody would allow their daughter to marry him, if his reputation were in tatters.”

  “I think you may be right,” Lord Harpington agreed. He flipped through a few more pages, settling on another name. “Lord Edward Elmleigh, eldest son of the Viscount of Garforth. He is four-and-thirty years, and appears to have been dismissed from society after a scandal with the daughter of the Earl of Firswood.”

  “What sort of scandal?” Luke chimed in.

  “He was engaged to another and indulged in an affair with the Earl’s daughter.” Lord Harpington tapped his chin thoughtfully.

  “That may not be dire enough for the gentleman we seek,” Teresa said. She felt, in the very heart of her, that the individual they were looking for would stand out as the devil he was. His actions would be so despicable that they would know, instantly, that he was the gentleman they were after.

  An hour ticked by, and still they had not settled on any suitable ne’er-do-wells. There were affairs and scandals and illegitimate children aplenty, but none that appeared wretched enough to be the Sphinx. Teresa could tell that the brothers were starting to grow weary of this endeavor, their expressions listless. Luke had taken over the reading of the book, whilst Lord Harpington lounged against the back of the opposite settee.

  Just then, the Duchess entered the room, taking everyone by surprise. “Where on earth have you all been? I have been searching all over for you.” She glanced at Teresa. “Should you not be with the children? That is why you are in our employ, is it not?”

  “Mrs. Dolan is taking care of them,” Luke cut in. “We require Miss Dowels’ assistance with something of grave importance, otherwise we would never have distracted her from her duties.”

  The Duchess narrowed her eyes. “What could be more important than her duties?”

  Taking a breath, Luke quickly gave her vague details of what had occurred over the past day, whilst Teresa dropped her chin to her chest and tried to avoid the Duchess’ harsh glare. In all her haste to progress with this mission, she had almost forgotten her main purpose for being here at the Rowfex Estate, even if arrangements had been made for the children.

  The Duchess gasped in abject horror. “That is terrible news!”

  “So, you may now understand why Miss Dowels is aiding us,” Luke said. “Her life is at risk, and we are endeavoring to do all we can to make sure nothing befalls her or our household.”

  “I am sorry for this, Miss Dowels. I assure you, I did not know, or I would not have been so callous towards you.” She paused. “Tell me, does your father know of this?”

  Lord Harpington nodded. “I told him of it this morning, before he left with Lord Howick to join the militia in a local undertaking.”

  “And he still departed?” The Duchess sounded horrified.

  “He had to, Mother, as it is his duty,” Lord Harpington said. “We have this problem in hand. Besides, he wants us to prove that we are able to run the dukedom without him, and now we have this opportunity, to do just that.”

  The Duchess shook her head. “This is terrible, indeed. Should you not enlist the aid of the local constables?”

  “We will do so, in due course, but we must find the culprit first,” Lord Harpington replied.

  “Actually, Your Grace, perhaps you may be able to assist us.” An idea leapt into Teresa’s mind. “You know much about the peerage, do you not?”

  She frowned. “I do, Miss Dowels.”

  “Might you remember any atrocious scandals in recent years, involving the son of a lord of some kind? He would be thirty-or-so years, at present, so he may have been slightly younger when it occurred.” Teresa waited with bated breath, both Luke and Lord Harpington leaning closer as the Duchess began to think.

  A moment later, her eyes widened. “Why, yes, now that you mention it. There was a foul ordeal about three years ago, involving poor Lady Broxbourne, the daughter of the Mar
quess of Holden. She was married to another—the Earl of Broxbourne—and a despicable wretch had her kidnapped. He besmirched her, though there was fortunately no child, and she was rescued much too late for anything to be done. She died perhaps two years ago, by her own hand. I do not believe she could live with the shame, the poor creature.”

  Teresa smiled. This must be him. “Can you remember the gentleman’s name? The one who kidnapped Lady Broxbourne?”

  “As though it were yesterday, Miss Dowels. His name was Lord Gabriel Fontaine, the eldest son of the Baron of Lidderdale.”