The Duke shut the door behind them and Madeline’s pulse quickened.
“Please sit,” he said, gesturing to a chair near the fire.
She obeyed.
He remained standing a moment, collecting himself, the posture of a man reclaiming familiar ground after a day that had thrown him off balance. When he finally sat across from her, the formal presence of a Duke settled over him fully again.
“I want to be certain you understand the nature of the position,” he began. “My daughter requires stability. Discipline. Structure.”
Madeline folded her hands primly. “I understand.”
“And I will not abide anyone who undermines her education or indulges her excessively.”
“Of course.”
“And I expect absolute discretion.”
She met his gaze steadily. “Naturally.”
He inhaled a quiet breath, watching her as though weighing every syllable she spoke. “You will have full room and board, appropriate attire for your station, access to the library for teaching materials, and an annual allowance for supplies. As for your salary…”
He named a figure substantial enough to make Madeline blink.
“That is more than what is required, Your Grace. You’re being much too generous.”
“It is not a matter of generosity. It is a matter of hiring someone competent.”
Madeline felt heat rise in her cheeks. “Thank you. I already feel like your daughter and I are going to get along splendidly.”
The Duke’s expression cooled slightly. “This is not about getting along. It is about educating her.”
“I believe both are possible,” Madeline replied, lifting her chin. “A child learns best when she feels secure.”
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “And you believe you understand her?”
“I want to.”
A beat of silence stretched. He stared at her with such intensity that she felt the warmth rise inside her again, something low and treacherous. She could not recall the last time a man looked at her with that kind of focus or curiosity. Her heart thrummed too quickly.
A knock at the door snapped her out of it, and Mrs. Hayward entered. “Your Grace, the room is ready.”
The Duke stood and Madeline rose with him.
“I will have the solicitor draw up the contract,” he said, watching her more closely than before. “You are free to settle in for the day.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
As she followed Mrs. Hayward toward the door, she felt the shift in the air before she turned. The Duke’s heavy gaze was still on her, searching for something. Her knees wobbled as she aimed to step away from him. She exhaled deeply, then tried again.
Madeline lowered her eyes and stepped into the corridor, her pulse fluttering wildly. She was not afraid of the Duke and yet, she could not quiet the erratic beating of her heart, even after she had left his sight.
CHAPTER 4
“Please deliver this at once,” Madeline said softly, offering the sealed note to the footman in the entrance hall.
Her fingers brushed the parchment as she released it. The sealing wax was still warm. She had sat at the small writing desk just moments before, steadying her hand despite a persistent tremor. She had rewritten the letter twice, pressing each word into place as though it might anchor her in a life she had already left behind.
It felt like a goodbye she had not prepared herself to make.
