The Governess Club: Louisa by Ellie Macdonald

was for her protection, but he knew better.
    As they walked, he noted several men turning their way. But, as she predicted, their eyes were not on either of their faces. John felt his blood simmer with annoyance when he saw the lust in the men’s eyes. One was foolish enough to grab Louisa’s arm to halt their progress.
    “Hullo, honeypot,” the man slurred, his eyes and words directed at her bosom. “Lemme git ye a drink.”
    John pushed the man away, causing him to stumble and fall onto another man. “She’s with me,” he growled and resumed their progress through the room. When the overturned men tried to make a fuss, he discouraged them with a dark look and they went back to their own business.
    When they reached the table, he sat with his back in the corner and maneuvered her onto his lap before she could get her own chair. He wasn’t about to give any man in the room the impression she was still up for grabs. Having her close and learning the feel of her body was merely an added bonus.
    She gave a little squawk. “I know this is unnecessary.”
    He held her firmly, forcing her to stay. “Ladybird, remember. Put your arm around my neck.”
    With furious eyes that promised retribution, she obeyed. “You must at least try to look like you’re enjoying yourself, Louisa,” he muttered. It’s not like he enjoyed having an erection in public, but with her bottom nestled nicely against his member, it would soon be unavoidable. His thighs could easily discern the shape and softness of her buttocks and his hands ached to explore and massage the cheeks.
    A serving wench approached them. “What’s it to be?” She eyed Louisa up before settling her eyes on John. They held more than a hint of interest and invitation.
    “Well, luv, what do ye fancy?” John asked Louisa, patting her hip possessively.
    She didn’t even notice the pat on her hip, so focused was she on the wench’s interest in the man underneath her. Hmph, two can play at that game. “Anythin’ ye want, Johnny,” she purred in his ear, caressing his chest. She glanced at the serving wench, the challenge clear in her eyes as any good ladybird would do.
    “Two pints of yer best ’n a nibbles board. ’N quick too,” he ordered.
    “One pint,” Louisa corrected him. She ran a finger down his cheek to under his chin, following his beard to make him turn his face toward her. She leaned in closer to him and gave him a sultry smile, lowering her eyelids seductively. “We kin share.”
    John didn’t look at the wench. “One pint,” he amended. The girl turned away with a twirl of her skirts and disappeared into the crowd. He swallowed, his mouth dry as she looked at him with that hooded seductiveness.
    She immediately leaned back, peering around the room. “It’s a smaller space than ours, but it has the same number of tables. But that makes it more cramped.”
    How in blessed Mary’s name can she think of business right now? John was struggling to keep his physical awareness of her under control. “There’s a private dining room down that hallway.” He used his nose to push her gaze in the direction he meant, using the moment to inhale her tasty scent again. All he could seem to think about was how her mouth would taste.
    “Hm, I wonder how often it is used,” she said absently. “We are too far from Grompton for the town to use it.” Did she notice she was still caressing his chest? The small circles her fingers made burned through his waistcoat and shirt and onto his skin.
    “But they do have an assembly room above stairs,” he pointed out. He wondered how she would look twirling down a dance line with him.
    “Yes, that is an advantage of theirs. I wonder what the cost would be to add one.”
    “I disagree that we should have one. There is no space, not unless we eliminate the rooms, which would be a larger source of revenue than an assembly room that is only occasionally used.”
    She grimaced and tilted her chin to the side.