Read The Governess Club: Claire for Free Online

poor winners are abhorrent.”
    “What’s abhorrent?” Sophie asked.
    “Extremely hateful,” Claire supplied. “Such behavior calls for an apology.” The girls muttered their apologies. “Now, I believe we are all finished here. Up and to your rooms. It’s been a long day, so quiet time before bed is called for.”
    Despite their protests, the children were herded into their respective rooms. Jacob sat back in his chair and watched the sway of Claire’s bottom as she brought up the rear of the line.
    She looked over her shoulder before leaving the room. “What was the penalty for losing?”
    He grinned. “Giving my sweaty, stinky feet a foot rub before going to bed.”
    Her laughter filled the room and lingered after she left, putting a smile on Jacob’s face.

 

C HAPTER F OUR
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    Y et another surprise awaited Claire after the children had been put down, Mr. Knightly was crouching in front of the fire, stirring the embers. Cushions had been piled up around the hearth, and Claire noticed a tray bearing bread, cheese, ham, and sweetmeats nearby along with a decanter of wine and two glasses. A familiar toasting fork was propped up against the fireplace.
    Hearing her enter, Jacob turned and stood, the fire poker hanging from his hand. He made a bow worthy of a courtier. “Good evening, Miss Bannister.”
    God in heaven, he was a beautiful man. Especially reflected in the firelight. Some candles remained lit, but the glow from the fireplace provided most of the illumination. Standing as he was, his features were covered in orange light, the shadows making his aristocratic features more prominent, more beautiful. Claire knew that beautiful was not a word usually associated with the males of the species, but nothing seemed more appropriate at the moment. The one regret was that the reflection of light on his spectacles distorted her view of his gentle blue eyes.
    She cleared her throat. “What is all this?”
    He smiled. “You did not eat much at dinner. I thought you might still be hungry.”
    His smile eased away some of her initial wariness, and Claire moved toward the setup. “How did you manage to get the tray?” she asked, settling down on the cushions. “Cook doesn’t like preparing anything extra after the children have eaten. Even the tea tray is not a guarantee.”
    “Cook might not appreciate the extra work, but the undercook—now she’s a different matter.”
    Claire sniffed. “All you have to do is smile at a lady and she does your bidding.”
    Jacob grinned. “It has worked so far.”
    “I give you fair warning, sir, that it will not work with me.”
    “But it already has.” At her questioning look, he elaborated. “You’re sitting on the cushions, are you not?”
    Claire pursed her lips in response, but could not maintain the righteous indignation. Her lips eased and she shared a tentatively amused smile with him.
    “There it is,” Jacob said softly. His heart beat a bit harder at the sight of her smile. “You really shouldn’t scrimp on your smiles. They have the power to make men do foolish things.”
    Heat flooded Claire’s cheeks; she was sure her face was bright red and knew that it wasn’t from sitting too close to the fire. “Foolish things like what?” she asked.
    “Fishing for compliments?” he teased. “It can make a man requisition a tray for toasties and spread cushions on the floor just for the promise of seeing that smile.”
    “I never asked—”
    “I know.”
    Claire couldn’t seem to break away from his gaze. The dratted firelight still prevented a clear view of his eyes, but she could feel their power settling over her. “Do you need your spectacles?” she blurted without thought. “I beg your pardon. Of course you need them; you wear them all the time.”
    “Actually, I don’t need them.” Jacob slid them off his face and folded them up, sliding them into his shirt pocket. “They’re made of glass. I wear them so others will take me seriously