“Uncle Lucien!”the girls cried, breaking the chilly atmosphere, and they flung themselves on the man’s neck.
“Gently, my dears,” he murmured, nevertheless hugging them back.He looked over their heads.“Annis,” he greeted Jenny’s employer in a neutral tone.
Jenny wasn’t expecting the simple courtesy of an introduction, and none was forthcoming.A great deal of awkward greetings ensued, with kissed cheeks and handshakes, until she felt someone’s eyes on her, and she realized there was one more gentleman in the room, over by the far door, as if he’d just come in.
And this was the notorious Brat, son of the Scorpion and the lovely lady at the tea table, she knew it without question.He was quite tall, dressed in black like his father, with a lean, elegant body, long legs, and the air of an untamed tiger.His black hair was too long, his eyes too dark and piercing, and his expression was one of wicked amusement.In fact, everything about the man seemed wicked, much more so than his formidable father, and the feel of his gaze on her was like a physical touch.An uncomfortable one.
“And who is this demure young lady?”he murmured, and his deep voice sent a little chill down her spine.Or was it a thrill?He was everything her husband had not been—dark and cynical and dangerous-looking.So why was her heart suddenly pounding?
“That’s the twins’ governess,” Annis said dismissively.“She won’t be any trouble.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” the man said softly, and Jenny’s stomach tightened unexpectedly.
“Don’t be rude, Annis,” a plump woman said.“What’s your name, dear?”
“She’s Miss Lancaster,” Charles said, ignoring her widowed status once more.“And she’s leaving us in two weeks’ time, so I hardly think it matters.”
“It’s a delight to meet you, Miss Lancaster,” the woman said.“That stalwart young man is Lord Brandon Rohan and his wife, Emma.I’m the Viscountess Rohan and that handsome man is my husband, and your hosts are Lucian and Miranda, the Earl and Countess of Rochdale.”
They were a particularly good-looking lot, she thought, curtseying in turn as she was introduced, still acutely aware of the one person who hadn’t been identified.He was hardly the sort to let the slight go by unnoticed.
“You forgot about me, Aunt Charity,” he drawled.“Or do we simply pretend I don’t exist?”
“I hadn’t forgotten, my dear,” the woman called Charity said.“I was debating the wisdom of introducing you to an innocent young female.”
He laugh was low and oddly beguiling.“I think she’ll survive the shock.It takes grit to be a governess, particularly with two such rampaging hellions as Hortensia and Penelope.”
“Brat!”Annis protested in shocked tones, while the girls giggled.
“And that’s who I am, dear lady,” he said, fixing the full attention of his magnetic gaze on her.“The Brat, also known as James de Malheur.I’m not one of these blasted Rohans.”
“Watch your language,” Miranda Rohan de Malheur said easily.“And you’re half-Rohan, whether you like it or not.”
“For my sins,” he said.“I’m a very bad man,” he added, looking at her.“If you see me, you’d best run.”
“Don’t be absurd, Brat,” Annis said crossly.“You’ll behave with decorum whether you like it or not.”
“Ah, my dear Aunt Annis.”He turned his glittering gaze to her.“How delightful to see you again.And how are your gaming debts?”
Jenny watched with detached interest as her employer turned beet red.It was well known that Annis Rohan had far too great a fondness for gambling, the source of many of the arguments with her husband, and right then she was looking at Brat de Malheur with extreme, one might almost say murderous, loathing.
“Despicable creature,” she hissed, and he bowed in acknowledgement.
“Behave yourself, James,” Miranda said, and Brat bowed again.
“And keep away from the governess,” Charles added sharply.
Another low laugh.“Really?Exactly what do you think I would do?”
He was clearly enjoying unsettling his elders, and Jenny could wish it wasn’t at her expense.She knew her own worth—she was a sensible young woman, no great beauty but no antidote either.She had plain brown hair and plain brown eyes and a pleasing countenance, or so she’d been told, but hardly the sort to draw the attention of such a man.He’d only do it to annoy her employers, and she was in no mood to be used.
“I’m sure you’d prefer to see your rooms and freshen up.I can have tea sent up to you,” Miranda said somewhat desperately.
“That would be lovely,” Annis said, still looking flustered.“Come along, girls.You’ll have plenty of time to visit with your relatives later.Come along, Miss Lancaster.”
For some reason, she wanted to correct her address—she wanted the strange, dark Brat to know that she was a widow, no innocent young thing ready to be dazzled by him.Because the truth was, he did dazzle her.He was unlike anyone she had ever met, and she was unwillingly fascinated.It was just as well that her employers intended to keep him far away from her.Fascination was a dangerous thing.
ChapterThree
