Before she’d come to work in their household, Ruby had asked the Amble sisters exactly what to expect as she’d only had life in her father’s household to go by. They’d told her she would be seen but not heard, and that it would be rare for the men of the household to visit the nursery. The reality had been far different.
“Hello!”
A small raven-haired child approached Ella.
“Meredith, this is Mr. Howarth’s daughter, Ella,” the beautiful woman said. “Take her to meet the others and attempt to not get into trouble while doing so, my sweet.”
Meredith had black curls and wore a white dress that had food smeared all over it. She grabbed Ella’s hand, and in seconds was leading her to the table the other children sat at.
“I apologize in advance for the bad habits your daughter is likely to pick up, Forrest,” Lord Sinclair said. “I’m afraid we left the strongest-willed for our last child.”
“You do know that Ella lives in the same household as Zach, don’t you, Sinclair?”
“Ah, of course. He is the replica to Cam, my brother.”
“Miss Knight, may I introduce you to my sister,” Lord Sinclair said. “She is Ella’s tutor, Eden.”
“Your Grace.” Ruby dipped into another deep curtsey.
“You do that well,” Mr. Howarth said.
“Lovely to make your acquaintance, Miss Knight,” the duchess said.
Ruby smiled, and then after another curtsey she excused herself to see to Ella. Skirting the large group, she stood behind the child at her table.
“That is for over there,” she heard Lord Raine say a short while later as a waiter approached. Soon Ella had an ice in front of her.
“That one is for you.” Mr. Howarth took a bowl off the tray and moved to hand it to her. “I took the liberty of selecting chocolate. Who doesn’t like that?” His smile was gentle.
“Thank you,” she said taking the ice.
He stood watching her take a mouthful. The moan was only soft, but it still slipped from her lips. She’d never tasted anything like this before.
“Sinful, isn’t it?”
The eyes that met hers were darker now, and her heart started to thud hard in her chest as she saw the heat in them before he walked away.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“The children like Miss Knight,” Warwick Sinclair said.
Forrest looked to where Ruby sat with children around her. Ices had been eaten, and they were now all sitting in a circle on the grass. She was talking, so he thought perhaps she was telling a story.
“Her voices are excellent. Zach spends a lot of time in the nursery listening to her stories.”
Warwick laughed. He was one of the quieter members of these families, and like him, was happy to stand back and watch. He was the youngest of many siblings and cousins who had found their way into their tribe over the years. Finding one’s voice in such a setting was no doubt hard.
Life had been different for Forrest. He had been an only child, so his quiet side had come from that and a need to blend into the background.
Forrest had met many noblemen during his time in London. Some he liked, others he found pompous twits, but the Raven and Sinclair families he liked very much.
“I’m sure her task is a great deal easier than that of any of the governesses or nannies we have in our family. They never know who they are looking after or teaching from one day to the next.”
“But you would have it no other way,” Forrest added, looking at the young man. He was a replica of his eldest brother and two of his cousins. Tall and dark, with a serious way about him.
“I would have it no other way,” he agreed. “We are a large, boisterous family who spend most of our time together.”
“And yet you are frowning, Warwick.”
