Miss Baxter asked him questions about the staff, the pictures on the walls, and the collection of leather-bound novels in the library. By the time they reached the private family drawing room the two of them were chatting like old acquaintances. He could not help but relax in her presence, and given his experience with beautiful women that terrifiedhim.
He swallowed back his worries and led her toward the door. “This is the family parlor where we spend much of our time together.” He guided her into the room, stopping to gaze at his daughter who sat with her nanny at a table near the fireplace.
Sophia looked up with a wide smile. “Daddy! Miss Baxter! Come see mydrawing.”
Miss Baxter moved her hand from his arm and crossed the room to look at Sophia’s picture. “How lovely, Lady Sophia.” Miss Baxter pointed at the parchment. “I can tell that this is you and your daddy.” She trailed her finger up to the top of the drawing. “Who isthis?”
Sophia angled her head up, meeting Miss Baxter’s gaze. “That is mama, she’s anangel.”
Aaron came to stand behind his daughter. He rested a hand on her small shoulder and looked at the parchment before her. She’d drawn a garden with cobbled paths and flowering bushes. He stood beside her, holding her hand on a path as they both gazed at the bright sky. His dead wife rested on a cloud, her wings spread and halo glistening. His chest tightened, not for her but for theirdaughter.
“Daddy, do you like it?” Sophiaasked.
Aaron swallowed past the tightness in his throat. “You are a wonderful artist,Poppet.”
Her smile grew larger, lighting her eyes. “Good. I thought you might hang it in your office or bedchamber.” She shaded in a colorless flower then held the drawing out tohim.
He hesitated a moment before reaching for it. “Might you rather hang it in yourroom?”
Sophia averted her gaze, her expression crestfallen. “You do not likeit.”
“On the contrary,” Aaron said, searching for words to erase the hurt he’d caused. What a bloody fool he was when it came to his daughter’s grief. Still he could not help but be angry when his deceased wife entered their lives. She had no place in Sophia’s heart after what she’d done tothem.
Miss Baxter reached out for the picture. “MayI?”
Aaron allowed her to take it from his hand. She made a great show of studying the drawing and complementing Sophia on her skill. “I think this would be perfect in the school room. Then your mama would be watching you as you learn and grow. I just know she would beproud.”
“But I do not have a governess to teach me.” Sophia looked to Aaron, a small twinkle of good cheer back in her bluegaze.
“Oh but you do. Miss Baxter has agreed to fill theposition.”
Sophia’s eyes took on their usual sparkle as she turned to MissBaxter.
“And I would be honored if you would consent to hang your art in the schoolroom.”
“Let us do so now.” Sophia jumped from her seat and grabbed Miss Baxter’shand.
Miss Baxter smiled. “So long as your daddy does notobject.”
He grinned at them. “Not in the least. We can continue our tour on the marrow. Meet me in the foyer after breaking your fast and I will show you the grounds before Sophia’slessons.”
Aaron watched as the pair left the room hand in hand. Perhaps Miss Baxter would be good for his daughter. The way she had handled the drawing and seemed to sympathize with both him and Sophia spoke volumes to hercharacter.
She’d proven herself to be a compassionate woman even if she held a secret. None-the-less, he had to get to the bottom of said secrets. He could not go on blind faith that she was trustworthy and safe to be around hisdaughter.
Tomorrow he would ask her how she’d come to be in his carriage as he’d meant to do today. God willing her answer would not make him regret allowing her close to hisdaughter.
