The Governess Club: Claire Read Online Free

a significant look. She left the two sitting in silence, watching her leave.
    The silence grew. Jacob was still sulking, and Claire had no wish to deal with another childish tantrum. Refusing to be pulled into his antics, she smoothed her skirts and stood. “Good night, Mr. Knightly.” Her brisk steps took her to her door.
    “Wait.” His voice called out and stopped her before she could close the door.
    “Mr. Knightly, I’m not really in the mood—”
    “Look,” he interrupted. He stood and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t have a choice. I need this tutor position, but as you so eloquently have put it, I am failing.”
    “I haven’t even touched on your tutoring abilities yet.”
    His eyes shot a glare at her. “There is no need to be caustic.”
    “Yet so tempting.” Claire couldn’t hold back a small smirk. “It is clear that humility does not come naturally to you.”
    “At least I am trying.”
    Claire sobered herself at his petulant tone. He was trying, and that deserved some acknowledgement. She waited for him to speak again.
    Jacob ran both hands through his hair, ferociously scratching the back of his head. He began to pace. His behavior took Claire by surprise; she had never seen a man so out of sorts before.
    “See here,” he finally said. “You must help me.”
    “I must?” Raised eyebrows accompanied her question.
    “Yes. As I said, I need this position. Sparing you the details, I cannot return to London at this time.”
    “I see. Yet I fail to see the part where I must help you.”
    “I thought I made it clear. You will give me advice on how to navigate the world of servitude.”
    Claire folded her arms and let out a long sigh. “It is like dealing with a seven-year-old.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “This piece of advice is free of charge and given with no obligation or expectation of more to be given. Understood?”
    Jacob nodded and gestured magnanimously.
    “Servants are ordered around enough by their employers; even within their ranks, the upper servants have the authority and power, and order the lowers around. As used as they are to feeling insignificant and debased, they are human and prefer to be treated as such.”
    Jacob was confused. “I don’t follow.”
    “Ask, Mr. Knightly, don’t demand. Especially of servants who occupy the same sphere of relevance as you. So before I offer you any more advice on how to ‘navigate the world of servitude,’ I would appreciate if you ask for my help, not demand and expect me to comply.”
    “I didn’t—”
    “Try to not embarrass yourself again by having me point out your mistakes. I truly dislike that game; no one enjoys having their flaws pointed out, even if they asked to hear them.”
    “Gads, you really have the governess role down to a tee. Do you ever relax and stop disciplining people? It makes one feel judged—and found lacking.”
    Claire took a deep breath. He was right. She should not be treating him so. “My apologies. I did not mean to be so insulting.”
    A wry grin tugged at the corners of him mouth. “I often tend to bring out the worst in people.”
    “But that does not excuse my behavior. And despite the frequency, I suspect that one would not appreciate such a characterization. I will endeavor to not add to it.”
    It was his turn to look at her silently. For the space of several heartbeats, all he did was stare at her, those pale blue eyes filled with disbelief and surprise. For the first time since his arrival, the effect of those eyes spread over her. So different from the studied gleam usually found in them, this odd unexpected vulnerability sang of sincerity, drawing her in and settling in her chest.
    It took several moments and a deep, awkward clearing of his throat, but Jacob finally spoke. “Thank you. I appreciate your efforts.”
    Jacob could not remember feeling so out of sorts. The disdain, the dismissal from others—he was used to that; no one ever took him seriously. But this? This