The Earl’s Runaway Governess
By Catherine Tinley
Who knew living with an Earl…
…would lead to such temptation?
Marianne Grant’s new identity as a
governess is meant to keep her safe. But then she meets her new employer, Ash,
Earl of Kingswood, and she immediately knows his handsome good looks are a
danger of their own! Brusque on first meeting, Ash quickly shows his
compassionate side. Yet Marianne doesn’t dare reveal the truth! Unless Ash
really could be the safe haven she’s been looking for…
Excerpt
Miss Marianne Grant has run away from home out of fear
of her stepbrother, Henry. She has been offered a post as a governess. She is
using a false name ‘Anne Bolton’ and is about to meet her employer, the Earl.
The interior of the inn was dark, cosy, and
well-maintained. A fire burned in the grate, for the January day was chilly.
Marianne made her way towards the wooden counter at the far end of the room,
where a woman who must be the landlady was busy pouring ale. As she walked,
Marianne found herself warily assessing the strangers in the room. Since the
day and hour she had left home she had not felt truly safe, for even a minute.
She had no experience with which to assess where danger might lurk, so she
found herself constantly on edge.
Her fellow passengers were already seating themselves
in various parts of the taproom, and there were also two men who looked like
they might be farmers, each with a mug of beer in front of him.
Then she saw him. Her heart briefly thumped furiously
in her chest, and the hairs at the back of her neck stood to attention.
He was seated with his back to her, at the table
closest to the counter. She could see his dark hair, swept forward in a
fashionable style. He wore a driving cloak with numerous capes. She could also
see long legs encased in tight-fitting pantaloons and gleaming black boots. He
looked like any one of a dozen London bucks. Except this time, she reminded herself, you have no reason to fear him.
She kept walking, soothing herself with calm thoughts.
As she reached his table, she turned her head, compelled to confirm it was no
one she knew.
This man was a few years older than Henry – perhaps in
his late twenties or early thirties. His hair was similar – thick, dark, and
luxuriant. But the face was totally different. This man was handsome – or at
least, he would be if he were not scowling so fiercely. His strong bones and
lean features contrasted with Henry’s slight pudginess and rather weak jawline.
And, now that she could see all of him, she realised that his body shape was
totally different to Henry’s. He was lean and muscular, with no sign of a
paunch. The clothing was similar to that favoured by Henry – and indeed, by all
the young bucks of London. There the resemblance ended.
Sensing her there, he looked up from his mug and their
eyes met. Stormy blue eyes bore into hers and Marianne felt a slow flush rise.
My, but he was attractive! – and, she realised, his gaze was doing strange
things to her. Breaking away from that endless, compelling contact, she bit her
lip and took the final four steps to the counter.
‘Yes, Miss?’
Marianne summoned a polite smile. She felt slightly
lost and shaky, and she could feel the
man’s gaze boring into her back. Still, she managed to reply to the
landlady. ‘I am expecting someone to
meet me here. I have travelled from London on the mail coach.’
‘Who is it you are expecting, miss?’
Marianne’s brow creased. ‘I am not exactly sure.’ Inside, panic was rising. What if there has been some mistake? What if
there is no governess position? ‘I am to take up a position as governess at
a place called Ledbury House. I was told to travel here by mail coach today.’
‘Ledbury House? This gentleman –’ she indicated the
fashionable buck ‘– is also travelling there. Perhaps you are expected to
travel with him?’
Heart sinking, Marianne swung round to face him. His
scowl had deepened as he listened to their exchange, and he now raised a
quizzical eyebrow. ‘Curious’ he mused. ‘And to think I was unaware of the
delights this day would hold.’
Marianne was taken aback. She was unsure how to take
this. The man’s words were perfectly polite, but something about the tone
suggested the possibility that he was not, in fact, delighted. Accustomed as
she was to straightforward politeness, his words and tone felt disconcerting.
Something of what she was feeling must have shown on her face because, as she
watched him, his expression changed to one of chagrin.
‘I have no doubt,’ he murmured cryptically, ‘that this
is a mess of Fanny’s making, and I am expected to fix it. Well, I shall do so
this one time, but no more.’ With this enigmatic statement, he drained his mug,
then stood. ‘You’d best come with me.’
Not waiting for her reply, he swung away towards the
door.
Marianne stood rooted to the spot, uncertainty
bedevilling her. Should she go with him? A stranger, and she was to travel with
him unaccompanied. Miss Marianne Grant, a lady, would never have done so. Miss
Anne Bolton, governess, could.
Conscious that all eyes were all on her, Marianne was
surprised to find determination rising within her. Surprised, because she did
not often need to be brave. She was normally a placid, timid creature, most at
home with a book in her hand and harmony and peace all around.
This unknown gentleman was expecting her to simply
climb into a carriage beside him – without any chaperone, maid, or footman
accompanying them. Perhaps he had a groom? Well, even if he didn’t, it was
clear that everyone expected the governess to go with him and be grateful for
the ride.
Although he was handsome and strangely compelling, she
was almost relieved to be wary of him – being guarded would be much, much safer
than being attracted to him.
Torn between the surprising temptation to sit down
somewhere safe and wait for an unknown rescuer, and the (even stronger)
temptation to run, to get as far away as she could from the danger inherent in
being alone in a carriage with a man, Marianne recognised that instead, her
best option was simply to get into the carriage and hope she would be safe with
him.
Giveaway
*Giveaway is now closed.
*Giveaway is now closed.
Catherine Tinley is giving
away one eBook copy
of
“The Earl’s Runaway Governess”
All you need to do answer this question
If
you were suddenly expected to be a governess, or schoolteacher, how would you
manage and what subject would you be good at teaching?
Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Giveaway Rules
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at the bottom of this post.
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm BST on May 16th.
You must be 18 or older to enter.
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blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our
discretion.
•Winners will be announced in the
comments.
Pick up your copy of
The Earl’s Runaway
Governess
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Catherine
Tinley
Catherine Tinley is an award winning author who writes witty, heartwarming, Regency love stories. Her first book, Waltzing with the Earl, won the prestigious Rita® Award for Best Historical Romance.
She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, NHS management, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now works in Sure Start.
She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, cats, and dog and can be reached at www.catherinetinley.com as well as Facebook and twitter
Other books by Catherine Tinley:
The Chadcombe Marriages:
Coming soon: A Lady of Courage – part of the Second Chance Love Regency set.
If I was suddenly expected to be a governess, I would teach the children music, and be like Maria in The Sound of Music! I could even make some play clothes out the drapes! LOL!
ReplyDeleteHeh, as I used to be a science teacher, it has to be science! But that would be quite an unconventional thing to teach young ladies in those days, so I might stir up a bit of trouble!
ReplyDeleteI'd probably cry, to be honest. I'm not sure I have the patience to be a teacher. But if I HAD to (big sigh), I'd teach them the joy of reading and writing.
ReplyDeleteAfter coming out of shock, I would teach History along with reading which is my absolute passion.
ReplyDeleteI would have to teach science and healthcare since I'm a nurse.
ReplyDeleteWow I would not make it as a teacher or Governess but if I was I would teach reading and probably a little self defense. Lol
ReplyDeleteI would probably make a terrible teacher but I think I would teach basic reading and writing but also how to run a home, like how to iron, sew, cook and do household budgeting. We don’t need to learn algebra well not all of us lol....
ReplyDeleteGiveaway is now closed!
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner is... Jayne Davis!
ReplyDelete