The Governess Club: Claire by Ellie Macdonald Page A

at the sound and saw Lucy sticking her head out of the servants’ stairs. At her wild gesturing, he moved over closer to her.
    “Ye can’t be here no more,” she warned him in a whisper. “Fosters has heard about it and ain’t happy. He says yer spyin’ on the guests. If he catches ye here—”
    “I can’t leave Claire alone in there,” Jacob said.
    “Ye must. Ye can’t go in there yerself, so ye ain’t doing nobody any good.”
    “But—”
    “I’ll ask William ta keep an eye on her,” Lucy promised. “He’s been in and out of there all night. He’s first footman tonight on account of Ben bein’ ill.”
    Jacob felt a modicum of relief. She wouldn’t be entirely alone. With a nod of thanks to Lucy, he returned to the nursery to await Claire.
    C laire stifled a yawn behind her hand.
    “Never say we are boring you,” a voice said at her elbow. She looked at Mr. Blatherly, a young man with puffy blond hair and kind brown eyes. He had been most solicitous to her since the first night, ensuring that she had partners for cards, charades, and the informal dancing. He did not appear to be so high in the instep that her position as a governess hindered his socializing with her.
    Despite his kind attention, Claire often found herself wishing to be in the nursery with Jacob or he here with her. It made her uncomfortable to be parted from him for such a length of time. Since the house party began, they had barely any time alone together. Of course, Jacob came to her bed every night when she retired, but they didn’t leave much time for talking. She missed hearing his voice.
    She smiled politely at Mr. Blatherly. “Of course not, sir. It is merely my governess duties coupled with these recent late nights. I am unused to sleeping so little.”
    He smiled back. “That is a relief. Only we can find ourselves boring, whether it be real or practiced ennui. Heaven forbid someone not of the ton find us so. How lowering that would be to have the truth so pointed out to us.”
    Claire laughed. “Surely you are too hard on yourself.”
    “I disagree.” Mr. Blatherly leaned closer to her on the sofa to whisper conspiratorially. “See Lady Tusset with her fan in the corner? I daresay she has naughty lines written on that fan just to keep herself from dying of boredom. And Lord Whittle looks about ready to expire if he has to hear one more fishing story from Lord Haggerty.”
    Claire looked at the people he pointed out. Sure enough, they were exactly as he described.
    “But take Lord Percival and Lady Montgomery. See how bored they look with each other? I have it on good authority that when he visits her bedchamber tonight, both of them will be far from bored. One can even hear the sounds of their entertainment through the walls, or so I am told.”
    Claire stiffened and felt herself flush. “Sir, you overstep our acquaintance. This is inappropriate conversation.”
    Mr. Blatherly moved away from her. “My apologies, Miss Bannister. I forgot that governesses are the paragons of propriety that teach our children. It appears that mine failed to impart these important lessons upon me. Perhaps if she had looked more like you, I would have paid more attention.”
    Claire was saved from his awkward flirting by Lady Aldgate’s beckoning. “Excuse me sir,” she said and hurried over to her employer.
    “I see you conversing with Mr. Blatherly, Miss Bannister.” Lady Aldgate’s tone held a hint of rebuke. “He is here courting Lady Tusset’s eldest daughter. It would not do for you to think too highly of yourself.”
    Claire looked at the floor and nodded. “My apologies, my lady.”
    “It would be best for you to retire for the evening,” Lady Aldgate said. “We no longer require your presence in the evenings. Lady Wroth has sent word, and we expect her arrival tomorrow.”
    “Very good, my lady. Thank you.” Claire curtseyed and left the library, relief flooding her. She was glad to escape the guests. Even with