Julia Justiss - The Tempting Of The Governess

‘What the hell do you think you are doing?’ an angry voice demanded.

Startled as much by the voice’s ferocity as the profanity, she looked up from the miniature to the incensed face of the Colonel pacing towards her, back to the portrait and up again. ‘You—you have a son ?’ she gasped.

Reaching her, he ripped the small frame from her hand. ‘ Had a son,’ he spat back. ‘Quite legitimate, I assure you, so you needn’t go all faint and maidenly on me. How dare you creep in here and snoop among my private things?’

‘I was not snooping !’ she cried indignantly. ‘I wished to speak with you, the door was open and the room appeared as if you’d only left it for a moment. I intended just to wait for you.’

‘Isn’t it anguish enough that he lies thousands of miles away, his little body trapped underground in a small wooden box with nothing but a stone angel to keep him company? Must I tolerate having indifferent strangers gazing upon his face?’

As he looked down at the portrait, his breathing went ragged, his jaw worked and tears sheened his eyes. ‘His beloved face,’ he whispered.

Horrified by what she’d inadvertently discovered, agonised by his agony, Olivia stood speechless, her mouth open in shock.

Before she could dredge up a reply, with his eyes still locked on the portrait, the Colonel made a swishing motion with his free hand. ‘Leave,’ he said, his voice raw. ‘Please, just leave me.’

Picking up her skirts, she ran from the room.

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