The Governess Club: Bonnie (11 page)

Inquiries into Rees’s history showed that Mr. Rees’s grandfather had been valet to the Viscount Darrow fifty years prior, until he had been dismissed for thievery. The current Simon Rees had studied at University of Glasgow, studying engineering, chemistry, and agriculture before finally settling on mathematics. And after graduation, he had simply disappeared.

During which time Sylvester Renard arrived at Darrowgate Hall.

It was clear. Sylvester Renard was Simon Rees, qualified to be both a man of business and man intent to inflict the sort of harm that had befallen the Darrow family.

Stephen looked at Renard, bent industriously over his desk. He looked so . . . normal. Stephen had always assumed that men like that had some sort of noticeable characteristic indicating the mal intent, something like shifty eyes or gnarled knuckles from fighting, anything that gave one a sense of discomfort upon meeting. But Renard, or Rees or whatever his name was, looked normal. The only thing uncomfortable about him was his tendency to overstep his bounds when speaking.

Stephen was uncomfortable with accusing the man based only on circumstantial evidence. He needed solid, irrefutable evidence.

And he needed it fast. Before Renard took another life.

S
oft knocking interrupted Bonnie’s lovely dream. She and Sir Stephen had been enjoying one of those evenings he had described, except they were both naked. Unfortunately for her dream, his body was blurry below his neck. Not even her ambitious imagination could fill in those gaps.

The knocking persisted, drawing her more into the land of the waking. She rolled over and tried to ignore it.

It didn’t stop. “Miss Hodges?” Sir Stephen’s voice. “Bonnie?”

Bonnie sat up. Had her dream conjured him up? “Just a moment,” she called out in a scratchy voice. She climbed out of bed and pulled on her dressing robe. When she opened her door, she squinted against the light from the candle he was holding. “Sir Stephen? Is something the matter? The boys?”

“They’re fine,” he assured her. “I apologize for disturbing you so late. I had to speak with you.”

“What is it?”

He glanced down the hallway. “May we speak inside?”

Bonnie hesitated. “Ah, yes. Come in.” She stepped aside to let him in. Sir Stephen moved by her, taking the door from her hand and closing it. He placed the candle on the washstand and turned to face her.

His stillness unnerved her. He just looked at her, his eyes fastened on her face. Bonnie clutched the neck of her dressing robe closed. “You wished to speak with me?”

He blinked and his eyes focused clearly on her. “Aye. My apologies. You were sleeping?”

She smiled. “That generally is what people do at night in the dark.” Did he just flush?

Sir Stephen cleared his throat. “I have new information regarding the investigation.”

“Oh. Shall I come down to the study? It will be only a moment for me to get dressed.”

“No, I do not wish to inconvenience you further. We can do this here.” He took a deep breath. “I believe I have discovered who is behind the incidents.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Renard.”

Bonnie’s eyebrows shot up. “Mr. Renard?”

“Aye.”

“Why? I mean, how? How do you know?”

“Well, there are many reasons, in fact. First, I believe his real name is Simon Rees.”

“I don’t understand.” She rubbed her forehead.

He took a step towards her. “The important thing to focus on is that he has been discovered and will be apprehended. We all will be safe in a day or two.”

“How did you discover all this?”

Sir Stephen smiled. “By examining the books and contacting some people I know. But the hard evidence came from a diary I found in his satchel, outlining everything he had done as well as future plans.”

Bonnie turned from him. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

It was Stephen’s turn to be confused. “I just explained. He had written everything down in a diary.”

“No, I mean I don’t understand how he lived so long among us without us knowing. He’s a murderer, for heaven’s sake.” Bonnie’s skin began to itch from her agitation. She rubbed her arms and began to pace.

Stephen could feel her distress; an idiot would be able to. “I didn’t mean to cause you alarm.”

She turned on him. “How was this not meant to cause me alarm? I may not have liked Mr. Renard, but I trusted him enough to not suspect he was capable of murder.”

She was panicking. He needed to calm her. “Bonnie lass, calm down. Take a deep breath and calm down.”

“Calm down? There is a murderer in the manor, one who almost killed me, and you are telling me to calm down?”

Stephen grabbed her by the arms, halting her pacing. “You need to stop this.”

“What are we going to do, Sir Stephen?” Her eyes were frantic.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with this, Bonnie. I have it under control. I have a plan.”

She stared at him. “You do?”

He held her gaze steadily. “Aye. I will ensure you and the boys are safe. I will take care of you.”

Her green eyes were wide. “You will?”

“Aye.”

Bonnie couldn’t help herself. He was so intent, so sincere. She stood on her tiptoes, cupped his face and pressed her lips to his. He gave a little jerk of surprise, but his hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

She pushed her tongue into his mouth, eager to taste him and to have him take away this fear. He met her eagerness, thrusting back.

He plundered her mouth, sweeping and swirling, dancing with her tongue. Her head spun with his skill. His hands released her shoulders and wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Bonnie wrapped her arms around his neck, not objecting at all to being so close to him.

“Bonnie lass,” Stephen muttered against her lips. “Bonnie.”

Their lips met again, stopping his words. Stephen drew her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked, enjoying the sound of her moan. Her hands slid underneath his coat, pushing it from his shoulders. He had to release her to allow the garment to fall to the floor and Bonnie took advantage, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat. His hands fell to the tie of her dressing gown, freeing it to join his coat on the floor.

Stephen grabbed her waist again, lifting her off the floor to hold her against him again, their lips coming together. He turned and moved the few steps to her bed.

He took a step back and removed his collar and cravat. Bonnie watched him, watched his skin slowly be revealed, her mouth drying as each inch of bare skin reached her eyes.

Stephen tugged his boots and socks off and untucked his shirt from his trousers, but didn’t remove it. He reached up and cupped her neck, his thumbs running down its length, before he leaned down and took her mouth again, gentling from his earlier plundering. Bonnie held his wrists, enjoying his controlled strength.

One hand moved to tug on the ties of her nightgown. The cool air touched her skin before his hand disappeared underneath the material to cup her breast. She broke the kiss to press her forehead into his neck, savoring the warmth of his calloused hand surrounding her breast.

Stephen pressed a lingering kiss to her temple before pulling away slightly. She made a sound of protest, but all he did was lift her arms and pull her nightgown off, tossing it to the pile of clothes in the corner.

It was a novel thing, to be naked in front of a man, to be exposed entirely to his gaze. She saw the appreciation flare in his brown eyes and he licked his lips as his eyes drifted down, taking in her tightening nipples and rounded hips before settling on the curls covering her womanhood. She turned slightly, shifting her legs to give him a better view.

Bonnie smiled when his jaw hung open, so she shifted again. His eyes were fixed on her moving limbs. With a giggle, she raised her arms above her head and spun around, delighting in his obvious desire for her.

“Och, lass,” he said with a raspy voice. “Ye are the bonniest I ever did see.”

“You are a charmer, aren’t you?” she teased, putting her hands on her hips and turning one foot out.

He met her eyes straight on. “Nay. I am a simple, honest mon, lass.”

Bonnie stopped her silliness, his words settling in her chest, warming her. Stephen stepped closer to her, his shirt caressing her bare skin. Placing his hands on her hips, he guided her down to the bed until she was lying on her back, her legs hanging over the side. He knelt in front of her, resting his hands on her knees and opening them, exposing every inch of her to his gaze.

Bonnie stared at the ceiling, nervous breaths filling her with anticipation, not knowing what he was going to do. She jumped when his large hand landed softly on her stomach. He chuckled low, trailing his fingers around her navel. She instinctively raised her hips, the wetness between her legs begging for attention.

But he didn’t give it to her right away. His fingers crawled up her ribs to play with her breasts again, teasing and circling her nipples until they were so painfully tight. Her focus was so keen on his hands that she was taken aback when she felt something on her womanhood. She jumped with shock, but the arm he had stretched along her body anchored her to the bed.

Bonnie looked down to see his face buried in her curls. Good heavens, that was his tongue she was feeling. He ran his tongue around her opening before pressing his lips to her and suckling. Her eyes rolled back and her lashes fluttered as heat shot up her body. A choked gasp escaped her.

Stephen continued to lavish attention on her, one hand playing with her breast, his mouth on her mound and his free hand adding to the sensations with his thumb on her nub. Small sounds of appreciation pulsed out of his mouth, much like a man enjoying a meal, and the vibrations just increased her pleasure.

Bonnie’s hips moved against her will, undulating against his mouth. She could feel her inner walls tighten to the point of discomfort.

“Sir Stephen,” she gasped.

He pulled away slightly, keeping his focus on her mound. “Just Stephen.” He switched tactics and pressed his mouth to her nub, moving his fingers and sliding one inside of her.

Bonnie arched her back. Stephen continued his attentions, sliding his finger in and out in a thrusting motion. After several moments he added a second finger. Bonnie could hear her wetness as his fingers slid in and out.

The tightness finally burst. Bonnie cried out as she felt pulses of pleasure contract around his fingers and wash through her body. He nurtured it, coaxing the waves over and over again until her body was completely spent.

Stephen pulled away, gently covering her mound with his hand, caressing it. Bonnie panted from exertion.

“Lie along your bed,” he ordered gravely, standing up. Bonnie’s limbs felt heavy, but she managed to obey. When her head was on her pillow, she opened her eyes to see him pulling off the remainder of his clothing. The candlelight reflected off his skin, sweat glistening on his body. Her gaze fell on his very obvious desire for her.

Bonnie’s eyes widened as she took in his large erection straining towards her. Good heavens, he was beautiful.

Stephen lay down alongside her on the bed, his fingers brushing her hair out of her face. She caressed his lower lip as he shifted over her, nudging her legs open again and settling his hips between them. She smoothed his hair off his forehead and boldly drew his mouth down to hers, cupping his face.

Stephen slid one arm underneath her neck, supporting her head, caressing her cheek with his other one. He shifted closer until he felt his cock press at her opening. His body tensed, his base nature howling at him to claim her, to make her his, but he held himself in check. He kissed her deeply, covering her mouth with his and in one hard thrust entered her.

He swallowed her cry and felt her body instinctively tense underneath him, a reaction to the pain. Stephen held still, allowing her to get used to his intrusion. He lifted his head from their kiss and brushed away a tear with his thumb.

“Well,” she said in a small voice. “That was expected yet . . . unexpected.”

“I’m sorry, lass.”

“I know.”

Sweet Mary and Joseph, but having her scalding heat encase him was paradise. Stephen kissed her tenderly before moving inside of her. He stilled again when he heard her sharp inhalation, once again allowing her to get used to him. He repeated the thrust, her reaction lessening each time until he could hear the pleasure coming from her. “Bend your knees,” he told her, and when she did, he was able to settle himself even more fully inside of her.

Bonnie immediately saw the advantages to such a position. Pressing her heels into the mattress, she lifted her hips to meet his slow thrust. Their breaths mingled, foreheads pressed together, pants and gasps of increasing desire filling the small room.

Stephen picked up speed, instinct beginning to override his consideration of his partner. Bonnie trailed her hands down his back, fingers sliding easily with the sweat. She reached down and cupped his buttocks, eliciting a sharp growl from him.

His body stiffened. “Och, lass,” he groaned into her ear as he gave several short thrusts before she felt a warm heat spread through her pelvis and knew he had spilled his seed in her.

Stephen pressed his forehead to her shoulder, a feeling of vast contentment stealing through his body. Sweet Mary and Joseph. He had no words.

He wasn’t able to move for several minutes. When he could lift his head, he looked down at his love and smiled at her, one that she returned. He kissed her tenderly before disengaging from her embrace.

Bonnie inhaled sharply again as he moved out of her, the soreness acute. Without a word, he stood and took the step to the washstand. She listened to the splashing of water and watched his shadow as he cleaned himself of their coupling. He rinsed the cloth off and wrung it out, coming back to the bed to press it against her throbbing mound.

She grimaced at the coldness against her, but it soothed as well. Stephen cleaned her, his touch gentle. His lack of conversation unnerved her. When he was finished, he tossed the cloth back at the washstand and pulled the covers over her, tucking them around her shoulders.