Page 10 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
And yet …
He could not.
His grief, awkwardness, and lack of how to talk to his young, orphaned cousin held him back. He would look like a fool. Sometimes he had dined with Florence and spent the whole time eating in a tense silence, but he could not endure that today.
I shall finally ask Miss Gundry later, once I have returned from the hospital.
His mother was out at the modiste, as she had mentioned she would be, so he knew he was safe not to be subjected to her further complaints. It was strange how she enjoyed berating him for his career choices but answered none of his questions.
Ernest walked past quietly, ducking his head, heading upstairs, and calling for his valet to get ready.
***
Just as he was about to duck into the second carriage—thankfully, he had brought his own from their old home and now had use of the previous earl’s carriage—he heard a shout.
“Driver!” He turned around to find Claire rushing out, holding her skirt above her feet not to trip as she hurried down the house’s main steps. Her cloak’s hood slipped off, showing her wayward waves that had been held back loosely, as if she hadbeen in a rush. “Oh—Lord Bannerdown. I apologize; I did not see you.”
She speaks formally for a governess, he thought. While they are often well-educated, they do not have the silver tongue the pompous crowd of the Ton has.
“It is quite all right,” he said. “What is it that has you in a rush?”
“I was wondering if your driver might be troubled to go into town and pick up a package for Lady Florence. It is at the Haberdash Bookshop.”
He knew the place well, and he thought he could pick it up, but … He hesitated. I cannot talk to my cousin, but I believe I can talk to Miss Gundry.
“Miss Gundry, if you are not otherwise busy, you are very welcome to pick it up yourself. As my cousin’s governess, you are not confined to the house.”
Claire stumbled back, her eyes wide as she gaped at him. “I—I couldn’t possibly—” She glanced at the carriage. She worries like a lady of the Ton might, he noted. But she is a working woman. She should not worry about such things.
He was about to retract his offer when she nodded timidly. “That would be most generous, Lord Bannerdown.”
I served in the king’s army as Ernest, he wished to say. Call me Ernest.
But he could not, and he kept his mouth closed and only stepped back to allow Claire to enter the carriage first. She awkwardly moved past him. He moved his hand on the carriage door handle a moment too late, and her fingers found his hand as she stepped in. Her hand pulled back sharply, and she stuttered an apology.
“Forgive me, Miss Gundry,” he said, meeting her gaze for a moment. Claire’s lips parted, and he found his eyes drawn to the movement before they strayed to that mole beneath her right eye, finding it a pretty addition to her face.
“It is not your fault, My Lord,” she whispered.
“Regardless, I should have moved my hand to allow you entry into the carriage.” Her words prompted him to break his gaze.
Before she could answer, the driver motioned them along. “Lord Bannerdown, are we to get moving?”
“We are,” he said, climbing in after Claire. “Let us go into town.”
They settled, and the carriage pulled away from Little Harkwell House. As much as he liked the manor, he felt much lighter and better whenever he left for work. It was as if distance from the house took the weight of the unwanted responsibility from his shoulders. He was indeed grateful for the security for both him and his mother, but why did she dodge his questions about his father?
He wondered if something had happened between them while he was away at war.
Claire cleared her throat, prompting him out of his thoughts. Right, he remembered. I am not alone.
But he could not think of what to say, so he also cleared his throat to buy some time. Claire did it again moments later, and Ernest could not help an awkward laugh as he looked out the window, avoiding meeting her gaze again head on.
“I was wondering—”
“I wanted to—”
They both spoke simultaneously, having spent far too long in silence waiting for the other to talk. Ernest laughed and hesitated while Claire looked wide-eyed at him for a moment as if wondering if it was okay to have interrupted him.
