The governess waved her hand to the attendant who scurried away .
“Ms. Dawson, if you expect to marry into the Pennington lineage, you’ll have to do far better than to roll out of bed at a such a late hour looking like you were run over by the bin lorry. Have some decency, child.”
Ruby blinked several times and cleared her throat. “Um, I’m sorry. Am I late to y’all’s dinner?” she asked in that sweet Southern accent that made my cock take notice.
“Dinner? Child, you slept through dinner and the evening. It’s now half past ten in the morning,” the governess chided with a scowl. “There are amazing devices called alarm clocks. Please familiarize yourself with them as we have a strict schedule to keep over the coming weeks. We haven’t a moment to waste if we are to prepare you for your wedding.”
Ruby’s hand slipped from holding her robe as she covered her mouth in shock, presumably worried about having slept through not only dinner but through to the next day. Watching her fear and concern slip across her pretty face… I could have eaten up her innocence.
“I’m so sorry! My gosh! I never sleep well, but that bed was a like a cloud.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, and when she did, the satin at her chest parted at the lapels and a beautiful, rounded breast popped out and said hello.
The tip was a ruddy brown disc the size of a two-pence coin that I wanted to lick, nip, and sink my teeth into until she screamed for mercy.
The governess gasped, stepped back, and turned around abruptly.
Ruby frowned, and her gaze finally met mine.
I pointed to her chest without saying a word.
She looked down as a horrified expression tore across her face and she jumped into action and covered herself. Her cheeks and neck flamed a bright rosy color that almost matched the robe. Her bottom lip trembled for a moment before she firmed her jaw, pressed her lips together, and stood up straight .
I’d never been more proud of a woman than I was in that moment.
She faced incredible odds against her and yet she had the strength and grit to accept her situation and battle through it.
“I’m sorry for my appearance and for missing dinner. It will not happen again. If you will be so kind as to allow me the time to shower and pull myself together, I will happily attend anything you have planned. I’m not known for being the best student, but I’m a fast learner and that has to count for somethin’。”
“Something. Something-gah.” The governess enunciated the word.
Ruby clenched her teeth and then shockingly, smiled and repeated the word perfectly. “Something.”
“I expect you in the formal dining room in one hour,” Ms. Bancroft demanded, turned, and left without further discussion.
“Wow, that sucked,” Ruby murmured.
I came up to her and pushed the strands of loose hair away from her face. “It will be okay. She’s going to be hard on you, but one day, you’ll thank her for it.”
“If you say so,” she sighed. “I’ll see you down there?”
I shook my head. “No, but tonight is my night to take you out on a date. Ms. Bancroft already knows you are to be done with your studies for the day by six p.m. so you can change into something befitting a night out on the town.”
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement.
I smiled and waggled my brows as I backed away from the temptress. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Not even a hint?” she called out. “What should I wear?”
I let my eyes rake over her scantily clad form. “What you’re wearing is sexy as hell, but I now know you’re even more stunning without it.”
Those rounded cheeks of hers went pink once again, and she hit me with a cocky, rather sinful smile of her own. “I’ll make sure to show off this body you like so much,” she goaded heatedly.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, love. I’ll take you up on everything you’re offering.”
She tipped her head back and laughed melodically. I was happy to have been able to make her laugh after the small battle with Ms. Bancroft.
“Good luck today. You’re gonna need it,” I warned. The governess would not be easy to please. Unlike me. Ruby pleased me simply by existing.
Episode 36
Judge. Jury. Executioner.
SUTTON
Thirty minutes before the fight…
“How could you marry a woman from the ugliest family this state has ever seen?” My ma’s words shook with emotion. “You’ve broken my heart, Sutton. You better find a way to fix this!” she cried, pointing her finger straight at my chest.