“What!” Isabella’s eyes flashed and she jerked her head up to look at the earl, who was still standing on the far side of the room. “My God, this man is obviously some sort of lunatic!”
“Really, Miss Browning,” Mrs. Braun admonished. “It is hardly necessary for you to insult his lordship.”
“Insult his lordship?” Isabella sputtered, unable to believe Mrs. Braun was defending the earl. “This ... this man spent the better part of the morning stalking and harassing me, following me around a public park calling me Emmeline, which I might add, is not, nor has ever been my name. He now has somehow managed to track me to my residence and place of employment, and you have the audacity to imply I have insultedhim. I strongly doubt he even possesses the wit necessary to be insulted!”
“That is quite enough,” Mrs. Braun huffed. She turned to her husband in annoyance. “George.”
Mr. Braun’s expression revealed his shock at Isabella’s angry response. In all the months she had worked for them, he had rarely seen her raise her voice to his children, let alone speak to anyone in such a passionate manner. The quiet, self-contained governess he knew appeared to be unraveling before his eyes.
“Did the earl hurt you this morning, Miss Browning?” Mr. Braun inquired. “Or threaten you in any way?”
“Not exactly,” Isabella answered truthfully. “But he did try to prevent me from entering the carriage when we were leaving the park.” She stared pointedly up at the earl.
He slanted a steely gray gaze in her direction and took a long swallow of his drink. His face gave no indication of his emotions other than the hint of amusement she saw in his eyes before a shuttered look took its place. It made Isabella furious.
“So the earl did not harm you,” Mr. Braun stated reflectively. He was certainly in a very delicate position. Since she was his employee, Mr. Braun felt he owed a measure of loyalty to Isabella. After all, she was an unprotected female living in his household and clearly his responsibility. However, Mr. Braun was not unaware of either Damien’s fierce reputation or his social stature. The man was an earl, and although he had a somewhat tarnished reputation, he was still a member of the English aristocracy.
True, Mr. Braun had heard about the mysterious death of the Countess of Saunders several years ago, but he also remembered hearing about Damien’s obsessive insistence that his wife was not dead. Then there were all the wild rumors inferring that the countess had committed suicide, while some of the more sordid stories even hinted at murder, with the earl as the chief suspect.
Mr. Braun considered all that ancient history at the moment. Damien St. Lawrence had stated his case this afternoon, before Miss Browning had been summoned, in a very calm, very persuasive, and very civilized manner. It truly did not matter if Mr. Braun personally thought the idea that his children’s governess was the missing wife of an earl was completely preposterous. He was certainly not about to disagree with a man who by every account was his superior. Mr. Braun had not earned his vast fortune by being a fool.
“As you can plainly see, Mr. Braun, my wife has reacted precisely as I predicted she would when I first explained this bizarre situation to you,” Damien stated smoothly. “I ask only that you allow me to escort Emmeline to Lord Poole’s house in Grovesnor Square. After she has seen and spoken to her brother, I believe she will be more reasonable.”
The room remained silent as Damien pressed on. “Afterward, Emmeline will naturally be free to return here, if she wishes.”
“That seems very fair, my lord,” Mr. Braun replied slowly, pleased the earl had given him an easy choice. It was a reasonable request, asking Miss Browning to accompany him to Lord Poole’s. And it left room for the possibility, if the earl was somehow mistaken, then Miss Browning would be free to return, although nothing in Damien St. Lawrence’s attitude or tone suggested there was even a remote possibility he was wrong.
“Fair?” Isabella repeated in a voice that sounded far too loud, even to her own ears. “You honestly think this man has devised a fair solution to this absurd situation?”
“The earl is only requesting your cooperation for a few hours,” Mr. Braun insisted. “It can do no harm for you to visit Lord Poole this afternoon. He will be able to verify your identity.”
“I don’t need anyone to verify my identity,” Isabella replied tensely, unable to believe what she was hearing. She sat very still while she considered the best course of action. Belatedly she realized her hands were trembling. She folded them in front of her. “I am sorry, Mr. Braun, but I must refuse to accompanythe earlanywhere.”
A charged, furious silence greeted Isabella’s announcement. She could feel the resentment of both Mr. and Mrs. Braun, but it was the earl’s fury that truly frightened her. His face was a taut mask of controlled anger. His steely gray eyes glittered with terrifying intensity and the whiteness around the edges of his mouth testified to his barely restrained emotion.
“You will accompany me, Emmeline.”
Isabella flinched at the cold-blooded tone of the earl’s deep voice. “I will not,” she declared stoutly.
“I think it would be best for all concerned if you do as the earl requests, Miss Browning,” Mr. Braun injected.
“I have already made my feelings quite clear about this,” Isabella insisted softly. “And I must add that I would not feel comfortable working for someone who had so little regard for my personal feelings, Mr. Braun,” Isabella added a trifle recklessly. She knew it was a gamble, but she also knew her only chance to avoid being hauled away by the earl was to convince Mr. Braun to support her.
Isabella waited tensely for Mr. Braun to make his decision, beginning to experience a ray of hope when he did not immediately answer.
“If that is truly the way you feel, Miss Browning,” Mr. Braun said with a regretful sigh, “perhaps it is best if you terminate your employment with us.”
Isabella’s heart sank at his announcement, but she listened to his answer with stoic acceptance. She was used to having her feelings and opinions disregarded; it had been that way for most of her life. But she had foolishly hoped it would be different this time.
Isabella sighed. For a brief moment, she thought she might have persuaded Mr. Braun to take her side. She rose regally to her feet and faced the Brauns. There was a hint of tension in the way she held her shoulders, and the hurt in her eyes was evident.
“Are you absolutely certain you wish to terminate my employment?”
Mr. Braun had the grace to look embarrassed. Before he could reply, his wife intervened. “We believe it is best for all concerned if you leave,” she insisted.
“I’ll go upstairs and pack my things immediately.” Isabella turned and walked slowly toward the drawing room doors. It was over. She had just lost her fourth position. What would she do now? She felt dazed and a little sick to her stomach.
When her hand touched the door latch, the earl spoke. “I will await you in the front hall, Emmeline.”
