The Governess Club: Bonnie by Ellie Macdonald Page A

normally a gentleman who engages in inappropriate behavior.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “But I find myself in abnormal circumstances.”
    “Sir—”
    “Indeed I barely recognize myself with all the inappropriate things I am considering these days.”
    “Sir Stephen, you must stop.”
    “You still haven’t convinced me as to why.” Where was this flirtatious manner coming from?
    “Because it will make me admit the same thing and we both know how disastrous that would be.” Her voice was quiet.
    Well. He wasn’t expecting that.
    “Please,” she continued, “can we speak of something else?”
    Stephen obliged her. “Henry has a strong kick.”
    “I think Arthur would as well, if Henry would give him a chance.”
    Stephen chuckled. “Ah, the nature of boys.”
    “He seems fully recovered from his fall.” Bonnie glanced up at him. “Henry has mentioned returning to his own chamber again.”
    The ball sailed through the air towards them. Stephen released her momentarily to kick it back towards the boys.
    “Uncle Stephen! Come play with us!” Henry yelled.
    “I’ll join you soon,” Stephen called back. “Let Arthur practice. I’ll play against the both of you.”
    “Uncle Stephen?” Bonnie asked when he returned to her.
    “I’ll lead you to a place to sit.” He gestured to a set of benches by the green.
    “I am not allowed to play?” she asked, feigning affront. “Are you afraid I might be a better player than you?”
    He slanted her a look. “You are visibly wilting after just walking from the manor. You believe you pose a threat?”
    Bonnie laughed. “Always.”
    Stephen helped her sit down and joined her. “There’s something I want you to be aware of.”
    Bonnie noticed the change in his tone. “Yes?”
    He pulled out a small writing pad. “I made a timeline of all the incidents that occurred. I started with the bridge collapse and added in everything around that. I’ve noticed something.”
    “What is it?”
    He showed her his notes. “Before the bridge, incidents were occurring roughly once a month, every three weeks at most. After the bridge, nine weeks passed before Henry’s fall. Your poisoning happened a mere seven days after that.”
    Bonnie looked at him questioning. “So after a two-month absence of incidents, two happen within a week of each other.”
    “Correct.”
    “And you are sure these incidents are intentional.” She made this a statement, not a question.
    “I cannot speak for certain in regards to the incidents prior to the bridge, but I am convinced of the others.” He looked at her steadily. “Cut girths and poisoned biscuits are nothing but intentional.”
    She turned to her gaze to the boys. “Have you come any closer to discovering who is behind this?”
    Stephen was saved from answering by Arthur’s approach, holding a pair of rocks in his hands. Bonnie automatically opened her hand to take them.
    “Here, Mama,” Arthur said, dropping the rocks into her hand before turning around to rejoin his brother.
    Bonnie stared after him, her stomach falling. Oh dear heavens . She blinked and looked at Sir Stephen, meeting his raised brows with hers.
    “Mama?” he echoed.
    “He spoke,” she squeaked out. “We should focus on that, not necessarily what he said.”
    “Mama?” he repeated.
    Bonnie shook her head. “First time he ever called me that.” And hopefully the last.
    He pursed his lips. “Just know that you can’t pester me about being Uncle Stephen.”
    She nodded. “Agreed.”
    Stephen stood, straightened his coat, and handed his hat for her to hold. “About what we were speaking of a few moments ago? There is something else I want you to be aware of.”
    “There’s more?” Her voice was full of dismay and distress.
    He looked at her intently, leaning towards her to rest his hands on the back of the bench, boxing her in between his arms. He put his mouth next to her ear. “I disagree that we would be disastrous.”

 

C HAPTER F