Glancing into another opened door, she caught sight of a pianoforte.The music room. Despite the advanced hour, the pastel-blue room was bright. She had the sudden urge to plunk the pianoforte’s keys, but she was on a mission.
A warm, flickering light shone from beneath a door around the next corner, and Juliana strode directly for it. She released a quiet breath and was silently grateful for the greyhound’s calming, happy presence at her side. Squaring her shoulders and gathering her indignation, Juliana pressed the door’s latch and stepped through the doorway. And nearly swallowed her tongue.
Mr. Notley stood near the shelves of books along the far wall, his coat removed and his shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, exposing the disconcertingly alluring hair on his forearms. He carefully examined a book that sat easily in one hand, a duster poised in the other, and his expression was a mask of focus behind his charming spectacles.
She wanted to remain angry—to hold fast to the emotion—but it became increasingly difficult as she noted the endearing smudge of dust on the bridge of his nose and the scent of coconut and cinnamon that coiled around her senses. The man was caring for his books, for pity’s sake.
How many times did Jasper make me feel safe, comforted, and loved before he betrayed me?Abruptly, the warmth that had begun to bloom in her chest dispersed in a puff of smoke. No matter how much she might need the temporary position—and a place to hide from Jasper and avoid the perils of travelling in such weather—she wouldn’t stand for trickery, falsehoods, and manipulation. The irony was not lost on her, but her false pretence was for her safety—her verybeing—not a ruse to acquire a spouse.
Straightening her shoulders once more, Juliana strode into the room.
* * *
The swishof fabric and the soft patter of paws came from the entry of the library, and Leo paused before making the next swipe with the dusting rag. In the three days since he’d seen her, he’d almost managed to convince himself that she wasn’t as striking as he’d recalled, but his body’s instant reaction to her lent truth to his original assessment. There was something fundamentally… Christ,attractivewasn’t even a strong enough adjective to describe what feelings she inspired in him.
The hair on his body, both fine and thick, stood on end. His gut knotted, and a disconcerting tingling began at the base of his spine. He slid the tome back into its position on the shelf and turned to face her, coughing in an attempt to cover his discomfiture.
Several members of his staff had worked together to alter their tallest maids’ uniforms, but even with the modifications, the material still pulled tightly across Miss Smith’s generous bosom and was just a mite too small for her rounded hips. Never in his life had he found a maid’s uniform the least bit attractive, but on Miss Smith he wanted nothing more than to—
“I’ll not stand for prevaricating, sir,” she said, mercifully snapping him out of his lewd thoughts.
He tossed the duster aside and removed his spectacles. “About what, pray tell?”
A charming little line appeared between her eyebrows as her brows puckered. “Miss Notley’s education, of course!”
It was his turn to frown. He folded the spectacles and placed them carefully on a side table. “Explain,” he grunted.
She huffed a breath and planted her fists on her waist, which he imagined was meant to express her wrath and irritation. Instead, he found it rather enchanting.Stop it, man.
“The young girl has knowledge far beyond her years, as you well know.” She gestured exasperatedly, then shook a finger at him. “You merely require someone to offer affection while she continues to learn. A wife, perhaps?” Her spine stiffened. “I’ll not stand for that sort of manipulation. If your maids and housekeeper are teaching her adequately, you can offer her the affection yourself, sir, and I’ll be on my—”
“Now wait just a moment!” Leo stepped forward, suddenly not finding this so amusing. His gut churned with a nauseating combination of anger and guilt. Would yet another attempt of his to ensure Elizabeth’s education collapse? He couldn’t fail his brother again. This was his opportunity to provide for the girl, to work through part of his infinite debt to Walter. “Lizzy requires a proper education.”
“She—”
“You’ve known her for only three days. How could you possibly—”
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Notley,” she said stiffly, her green-and-grey eyes flashing, “but I’ve had sufficient time to test her knowledge in maths, Latin, geography—”
Leo scoffed. “You’re telling me that a four-year-old child is well-versed in Latin, maths, and geography?”
Her lips pursed. “For her age, yes, as a matter of fact. She is able to recognize patterns, knows her numbers and some basic equa—”
“Patterns.” He rubbed his hands together thoughtfully before letting them drop to his sides, the sense of impending disaster and guilt in his stomach twisting like a blade. “You believe that her elementary knowledge of some subjects is enough of an education to sustain her through life? Or do you mean to tell me that Elizabeth is capable of teaching herself in the future?” He paused, allowing her a moment to consider his words. “Because I’m certain that my maids and housekeeper have reached the end of their abilities to educate my niece.”
Her eyes grew wide as he spoke, and her lips parted slightly before her expression grew pensive.
“You may put your fears to rest, Miss Smith,” he continued, enunciating the words carefully and speaking just above a whisper as his gaze bore into hers. “The very last thing that I want in my life is a wife.” Once upon a time he’d imagined that he would do what was expected among the peerage, and marry and sire children, but that was before Walter…before he’d decided that celibacy was best for him.
“Oh, but Mr. Notley, I had not—” She bit her lips together, her gaze darting toward the window for several long moments before she cleared her throat. “You’re correct, of course. I hadn’t considered my argument with a clear mind. I beg your forgiveness, sir. I allowed personal feelings from my past to impact my judgement. If you will allow me, I would very much like to continue on as Miss Notley’s governess.”
Swift relief swept through him, the force of it nearly making him dizzy. His guilt remained, always hovering there in his heart, but for the moment, he felt comfort in the knowledge that his niece’s education would be sorted. The muscles in his shoulders unclenched, and he discreetly released a long breath, searching the woman’s uncertain expression.
Trust was difficult for many people, he realized, but with Miss Smith, something felt different. Whatever had influenced her to storm into his space and bluster at him, Leo very much wanted to know the story behind it.
“You may stay,” he said.
The uncertainty in her gaze eased slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Notley.”
