Free The Governess Club: Louisa by Ellie Macdonald Page A

hurry it up, Louisa. The light is fading, Louisa. It will be time for dinner soon, Louisa. Maisie needs help preparing the meals, Louisa. I will tend the pub with Packard tonight, Louisa.”
    “Oh, would you just stop already!”
    His laughter echoed over the yard.

 

C HAPTER E IGHT
----
    Late October, Ridgestone Manor
    J acob stepped out of the carriage to see Claire, Bonnie and Sara all standing in the drive. Even in the twilight, he could see the anxious look on their faces. Claire pulled her shawl tighter when Stephen and Nathan exited the carriage.
    Without Louisa. Their disappointment was palpable.
    Grooms and footmen were already seeing to the luggage and Jacob strode to the waiting women. He kissed Claire on the cheek and put his hand on her growing belly. “You should not be outside in such cold weather, sweetheart. Not with just a shawl.”
    “You didn’t have any success?” Bonnie asked.
    Sir Stephen shook his head, his face grim. “I must echo Jacob’s sentiment, wife. You must take care.”
    Bonnie glared at him, even as she accepted his embrace, angling her body to accommodate her large stomach. “I cannot think of such things at this time.”
    “You are nearing your time,” her husband pointed out. “You will not have a choice regarding what to think about. Where are the boys?”
    “In the nursery, preparing for bed. I was about to go lumbering up when we received word of the carriage. You would not believe how difficult it is to carry all this around.” She rubbed her stomach.
    “I will accompany you.” Stephen left his arm around Bonnie, supporting her as she walked.
    Sara stood with Nathan’s hand entwined around hers. “You must all be hungry. I will see if Cook has something warm for you.”
    She moved to do that, but Nathan tightened his grip on her. “Send a maid.” He nodded at Greaves, the butler, to do so. “I wish to not have my fiancée run away just as I arrive.”
    “Is the fire in the drawing room lit?” Jacob asked.
    Claire nodded and linked her arm around him, bringing their bodies close as she led them inside. “It is nice and toasty tonight.”
    “Your leg is paining you?” Sara asked as Nathan leaned on his cane more after divesting his cloak.
    He grimaced. “Just the cramped coach ride. And it is going to snow soon, or so my leg tells me. I will be fine . . .” He leaned in and whispered the rest of his sentence in her ear that had her face turning scarlet.
    “I missed you too,” she said softly, fingering the lapels of his coat. “I just wish you had returned with Louisa.”
    “As do I. I do not relish leaving you behind as I continue on to Windent.”
    Her blush did not lessen. “I am sure we can have a room prepared for you tonight. Claire and Bonnie would serve as chaperones.”
    Nathan flashed a grin at her. “They are worse than we are. You hear how they encourage us.”
    Sara stopped just outside the drawing room and looked up at him with worry lining her face. “Nathan, I know I said I wished to postpone our wedding until Louisa was found. And—and I thank you for your patience. But if you wish—I mean, if you need—want to, it’s not that import—we could—”
    He placed a finger over her mouth. “Stop. We will wait. There is no issue. The purpose of the wedding is to tell the world what we already know: You are mine and I am yours. If your friend is not there, then not all the important people will know.”
    Relief flooded through her and she pressed her forehead to his chest. “I am so concerned for her. It has been four months and we still have heard nothing. I feel as though we drove her away, you and I, with what we did. This is a punishment.”
    He rubbed her back. “That is foolish thinking. Come into the drawing room and hear our news. It is not encouraging, but the good side of it is that we still have not uncovered anything to indicate she is not enjoying good health. We will resume our search next week once we hear from some