Chapter 3
Aaron satbehind his large mahogany desk in his private office, a contract resting on the hard surface when a rapping came at the door. “Enter.”
He had spent countless hours tossing and turning last night as he thought about Miss Baxter and her offer as well as how she’d come to be in his carriage. Now he wished to get on with theirmeeting.
One thing was for certain, Sophia was smitten with the woman. Last night when Aaron had taken her the doll he’d bought, she’d hardly paid mind to it as she rushed to ask him if Miss Baxter could stay for a spell. Sophia went on to tell him that she found Miss Baxter to be a lovely lady and wished to become better acquainted with her. Big words for a seven year old—and they went right to hisheart.
Miss Baxter stepped into the office, closing the door behindher.
“Please sit.” Aaron indicated a chair. He watched the subtle sway of her hips as she crossed the room to sit in the high-back leather chair. She was a beautiful woman, the kind that could bring a man to his knees if he were notcareful.
She folded her hands on her lap and met his gaze, her violet eyes cautious. “Good morning, YourGrace.”
He smiled on impulse. “Good morning, Miss Baxter.” He could easily understand why his daughter liked the woman as she did. Since Sophia’s mother ran off with her lover, she’d not had a young, pretty woman around to spend time with. Her nanny had served as his nanny and was now quite advanced in years. The same was true of the house keeper, old governess, andcook.
Dismissing his musings, he focused on the task at hand. “I asked you here so that we could further discuss the possibility of you becoming Lady Sophia’sgoverness.”
Miss Baxter beamed, the worry he’d recognized in her gaze faded away. “I would behonored.”
“Very well.” He tugged at his cravat not at all certain he was doing the right thing. After all, he knew nothing of the woman. That would change here and now. “First I must know more about your background. Where do you hail from? Where did you receive youreducation?”
“My aunt and uncle raised me for most of my years. Aunt Charlotte taught me everything I needed to know in order to do well in life, and be able to mix with the higher classes. She always said it was imperative for a lady to be well educated, though one must never wear it openly, and to perfect the things expected ofwomen.”
He settled back into his plush leather chair. “Your aunt sounds like a smart woman, though I disagree with keeping ones intelligence hidden. I wish for my daughter to be proud of her learning andabilities.”
“Aunt Charlottewasa smart woman indeed. She has passed on to her final reward.” A small frown pulled at Miss Baxter’s bow-shapedlips.
“I am sorry to hear it. I think I would have likedher.”
“I do not doubt that you would. Lady Sophia would as well. Your daughter is a delightful young woman and I agree with you, Your Grace, she should be happy to show off her brain as much, or more so, than her prettyface.”
The more they talked the more he relaxed. Regardless of how the woman came to be at his house, she seemed to belong. Furthermore, she was well spoken and conducted herself as a lady should. She’d told him she was well versed in the areas a governess must be, and she liked his daughter. He could find no reason not to hireher.
Aaron tapped the contract resting on the desk in front of him. “Have a look and let me know your thoughts.” He slid it toward Miss Baxter who lifted it from the polished surface and began toread.
After she reached the end of the contract she laid it back on the desk then looked up at him. “It is a generous offer, Your Grace. I am pleased to agree with all the terms you’ve laid out, except forone.”
He arched a brow in surprise for he could not imagine what she might disagree with. The contract included every provision he could think of right down to a new wardrobe and time away from the estate for personal matters and relaxation. He held her stare and asked, “Which might thatbe?”
“I am an accomplished singer and therefore have no need of attending Lady Sophia’s singing lessons. In fact, I should like to instruct hermyself.”
Not an unreasonable concession. That is if the woman truly was accomplished. “Let me hear a sample of yourskills.”
“As you wish.” Miss Baxter stood with her posture straight though not at all stiff. She drew in a breath then belted out the first lines of Robin Adair.“What’s this doll town to me? Robins notnear…”
When she reached the end of the first stanza she stopped and smiled athim.
He had become lost in her voice, mesmerized. Miss Baxter had sung like a nightingale. He could listen to her for the rest of his days and never cease to be held in awe of herskill.
Bloody hell, by the time she reached the second line of the song, he had become completelycaptivated.
He reached for the contract and struck through the bit about Sophia’s singing lessons, then inserted that Miss Baxter alone would be responsible for her instruction. By the time he had made the change, he’d recovered his wits and turned his attention back to Miss Baxter. “That was lovely indeed.” He dipped the quill in ink and offered it toher.
“Thank you.” In a smooth and fluid motion of swirls and lines, Miss Baxter signed the contract. She angled her head, bringing her attention back to him. “I would like to startimmediately.”
Aaron grinned at her enthusiasm. “Then allow me to take you on a tour of the house and most importantly, familiarize you with the school room. Once we have finished, you can begin yourinstruction.”
She nodded, rising to her feet. He came around the desk and offered his arm. When she rested her gloved hand on his coat sleeve a wave of longing passed through him. He’d wanted to reach over and cover her hand with his, but he resisted the urge instead leading her from the room. As they made their way down the corridor, he pointed out the various rooms they passed, stopping to peek into eachone.
