“The governess then proceeded to undress while Lord Melcombe slumbered.”
“What did the maid do?”
“She stood there dumbstruck, not certain what to do as she’d never witnessed anything so bold in all of her life.”
They would have seen it a second time if anyone would have wandered by Melcombe’s chamber this morning, but at least he had been the one undressing her.
Mortification swept through Althea at the very idea that someone may have witnessed her behavior.
“Mrs. Wilson happened to walk by and demanded to know why the maid was not at her duties. The maid simply pointed into Melcombe’s chamber.”
Althea could just imagine the housekeeper’s reaction.
“Mrs. Wilson stormed into the chamber, gave Miss Halton a dressing down, which resulted in waking Lord Melcombe, who was quite shocked to waken and find a half-naked governess in his room, and the housekeeper. According to the maid, Mrs. Wilson railed against Miss Halton for her continued attempts at seducing Lord Melcombe and that she’d stepped over the line and was sacked on the spot.”
“She’d attempted it before?” Althea asked.
“Apparently, she was always looking for ways to come upon him when he was alone, and even attempted to kiss him on a few occasions and he discouraged her.”
“Why didn’t he let her go?” Althea asked.
“She’d been with the girls for a year. They’d already lost too much, and he didn’t wish to disrupt their lives more than they had already been.”
Althea could understand his reasoning.
“From what I understand, Melcombe was so angry that he slammed his chamber door after Miss Halton and Mrs. Wilson had left and he broke the latch further and splintered the frame.”
That explained why the door was broken, but not why it hadn’t been fixed in all these months.
“If the maid saw everything, why didn’t she tell the others the truth instead of allowing some servants to believe the worst of Lord Melcombe?”
“Mrs. Wilson said that anyone who ever spoke of that morning would be sacked instantly and without reference.”
The bell tinkled above the door and Monique jumped to her feet. “Who else is out in this weather?”
Althea stood and followed Monique into the shop, and her breath caught to see Lord Melcombe standing just inside the door. Heavy snow dusted his dark hair and wide shoulders.
“I’ve come for my governess,” he announced.
Althea’s stomach plummeted. She wasn’t ready to face Melcombe again. She wasn’t sure she could ever face him.
And despite what had occurred this morning, he still thought of her as only a governess.
Monique took a step between the two.
“You don’t need to protect my governess from me,” he informed her.
Althea tried to gauge if he was angry with her. He must be if he came out in this weather to get her.
“I simply wished to speak with her. I promise not to bite.”
Instinctively Althea’s hand went to her neck where he had left his mark.
Monique snorted but didn’t move from her spot.
Melcombe looked past Monique. “Please, Althea. Hear me out.”
Monique turned toward her. “I can go to the kitchen and leave you two alone or I can remain here.”
