Mrs Radcliffe nodded and turned to leave the room, shutting the door behind her. Alone, Victoria took a few moments to familiarize herself more intimately with the space. She found her bag had already been brought up for her and was sitting at the end of the bed. There was also a water pitcher and a basin she used to wash her face and hands.
Checking her reflection in the vanity’s mirror, she ensured her hair was perfectly in place and that her skirts were smooth. When she felt confident enough in her appearance, she made her way out the door and into the hallway.
Navigating the large house proved a bit more challenging than she anticipated. Once she had made her way to the staircase and down to the ground floor, she had to try and remember where the breakfast room was. She felt as though she were walking a maze as she wandered from corridor to corridor, peeking into open doorways to see if she had stumbled upon her destination.
Finally, she began to recognize where she was and knew the breakfast room was just up ahead. Just as she reached the door, however, Mrs Radcliffe came barreling out of the room, nearly running her down.
“Oh! Miss Clifford, I do apologize,” the lady said with a cry. “I have to get a letter to Mr Carter for the post. I only just remembered. Go on it, though, and help yourself to some food. My brother is in there. I will be back momentarily.”
Before Victoria could say a word in response, Mrs Radcliffe good-naturedly pushed her toward the room before hurrying on her way to complete her forgotten task.
Once the lady was out of sight, Victoria hesitantly continued inside. Glancing around, she immediately spotted a lone figure sitting at the table in the middle of the room. His head was bowed over a newspaper, his dark hair hiding his face.
“Excuse me, my lord,” she said, not wanting to startle him. “I am Miss Clifford, the new governess, and I….”
The man lifted his head, and Victoria froze. She instantly recognized those blue eyes, though she could hardly believe she was staring into them once more. She had been certain they would be relegated to her dreams for the rest of her life.
It was him. The rude man from the ship.
The man who had been invading her deepest, darkest fantasies for over a week now.
His eyes widened at the sight of her, recognition clear in his expression.
“You!” he exclaimed, shoving to his feet. “You are the new governess my sister has hired?"
"You are Mrs Radcliffe’s brother?” Victoria did not know which of the two of them was more shocked, but she quickly realized just how awkward of a situation she was in. She had been in conflict with this man twice, and now she found himself employed in his home.
All of the sharp things she wished to say to him died on her tongue…she could not very well make him angry, could she? She had far more to lose between them than he did, and she feared that one word from him to his sister would bring her employment to an abrupt end.
It was a bitter realization she made, knowing she had to make peace with him or risk losing everything she had fought so hard to achieve so far.
Chapter 12
How was this possible? How was he encountering this woman yet again?
Surely this had to be some cruel joke being played on him by fate itself.
She was looking at him with an expression as shocked as he was certain his own was. For a moment, he thought she might say something, but she pressed her lips together and seemed to reconsider her words. Second-guessing whatever sharp-tongued barb she had in mind for him? Smart of her, considering her position within his household.
I thought Emily was a better judge of character than this. How in the world did she decide on employing this woman?
A part of him was tempted to dismiss her outright, but he forced himself to bite his tongue. They simply stared at each other for long moments, assessing each other, before Miss Clifford released a long sigh.
“Good morning, my lord,” she said in a small voice. “I hope I did not disturb you.”
He frowned, confused. “How did you come to be in this house? Did you stalk me here?”
Her eyes widened with alarm. “What? No! No, of course not! I had no idea that Mrs Radcliffe was your sister. I was merely looking for a position of employment, and she had one available. I swear, my coming here has nothing to do with you.”
He supposed she could believe that. After all, it would be rather difficult for her to feign such shock at seeing him again.
Crossing his arms, he glared at her and said, “I was not keen on having a stranger moving into my home, but to have you, of all people? I am not sure I can bear it….”
“Please, my lord, do not send me away,” she begged, surprising him. “I…I would wish for us to start over, if that is possible. To forget our last two encounters entirely. Please…I do not wish to lose this post.”
He considered her words for several moments. There was a desperation behind them that made his stomach twist into uncomfortable knots. Did she truly need this position so badly? He did not think he was such a cold-hearted fiend that he would take a woman’s employment from her just because they had not gotten along during their previous brief encounters.
Releasing a long groan, he said, “Very well. I do not wish to uproot Emily’s plans, and she is quite happy to have found you. If you are willing to let bygones be bygones, I suppose I can do so as well.”
