The Governess Was Wicked Read online

  Miss Woodward reached out and ran her fingers over the spines of volumes by Bewick and Ruskin. “Is Lady Eleanora a great reader?”

  “She enjoys a good book, but her real passion is the harp.”

  Miss Woodward’s eyes twinkled a little bit and he felt an irrational amount of pleasure that he’d pleased her. “Is that right?”

  “I think you’ll find that she’d rather play for you than conjugate French verbs.”

  She laughed. “Even so, I’ll find a way to make sure that her French sparkles.”

  “I’m sure she’s in very capable hands, although when I’m home I do ask that after luncheon you bring Eleanora to my study. I’ve taken it upon myself to educate her in certain subjects,” he said.

  “And those would be?”

  “Latin, Greek, mathematics, and botany,” he said. “The latter is of particular interest to me, and I’m lucky she indulges me.”

  He watched her pull a volume of Dickens off the shelf and leaf through it. “Most fathers don’t encourage a girl’s education, especially not in the subjects traditionally taught to boys.”

  “Eleanora has more than enough aptitude to handle a classical education,” he said with pride.

  “That’s most encouraging.” Miss Woodward snapped a book shut. “And my own room is through here?”

  He nodded and tried his best to keep his eyes off the sway of her hips as she stepped through to her room, but her full skirt drew his attention. A powerful urge to see her spread out over the clean, crisp sheets he’d ordered be put on her bed gripped him. His fingers twitched to trace over the smooth swell of her breasts and down the softness of her stomach to where her hips flared out. He ached to taste her, feel her, be inside her. She would be magnificent, he had no doubt.

  It was only when he realized he was playing with the chain of his pocket watch—an annoying habit he’d been trying to break for years—that he snapped back to reality. Miss Woodward was in his employ. He wouldn’t touch her. He couldn’t.

  “Please excuse me,” he said, clearing his throat. “I have an appointment. I’ll send Warthing to make arrangements to retrieve your things.”

  And without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room before he did any of the things he’d promised himself he never would.

  Don't miss the rest of the Governesses series by Julia Kelly, coming Fall 2016 from Pocket Star Books!

  In her fourteen years as a governess for London's most elite, Mary Woodward has been known to work magic with her difficult charges. And never before has she been tempted to break the strict rules she sets for herself, but oh, never before has she been governess to the daughter of the very handsome and very single Lord Eric Asten . . .

  The Governess Was Wanton

  * * *

  Jane Ephram has always been the epitome of a prim and proper governess. So when her latest charge runs away to elope with an unsuitable boy, and Jane is dispatched to bring the girl home, she must ready herself for an adventure of her own.

  The Governess Was Wild

  * * *

  ORDER YOUR COPIES TODAY!

  About the Author

  Julia Kelly is the award-winning author of sexy historical and contemporary romances about smart women and the men who love them. She picked up her first romance novel and the bad habit of reading well past her bedtime when she was thirteen. Years later, she decided to try writing romances of her own and never looked back. Julia is the author of Seduction in the Snow and The Wedding Week, both of which appear as part of the One Week in Love series. She is also a founding member of First Draught, a monthly YouTube show and podcast exploring writing and romance. By day, Julia is an Emmy-nominated journalist in New York City, where she chases breaking news and bosses reporters around. She never met a pair of stilettos she didn’t love and still stays up too late reading.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 by Julia Kelly

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  First Pocket Star Books ebook edition September 2016

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  Interior design by Leydiana Rodríguez

  Cover art by Chris Cocozza

  ISBN 978-1-5011-3933-8