“Thank –”
“As to your reason for being here,” he cut over her, his tone suddenly sharp. “Perhaps it needs to be restated, to avoid confusion. You are not here to be the child’s mother. You are not here to be my wife. And you are certainly not here to give me advice on how I should treat my own child.”
Her heart started to race. “I did not mean…”
“You are here as the boy’s governess only,” he continued. “To teach and educate him in the ways of the peerage. Beyond thatsingular task, if you have any more opinions, I suggest that you keep them to yourself. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” she said in a whisper.
“In fact, I see this now as a good chance to address our relationship.” He let that word sit between them, and Yvette forced herself to look up… and she gasped when she met his eyes because it felt as if he could see right through her. “We do not have one. You are not to seek me out. You are not to send for me. As far as you are concerned, I do not exist outside of my son. Even then, the only time we speak is as it concerns his education. Do I make myself clear?” A beat passed between them. “Well?”
Yvette’s initial reaction was to bow her head and simply agree. Anything to turn his rancor away from her. Plus, the Duke was so darn intimidating that she could not help but feel the need to submit and even apologize as if she had done something wrong.
What stopped this reaction was the Duke’s eyes.
In them, she saw Hugh, a clear paternal connection between father and son. It reminded her that the Duke was Hugh’s father, and that he was responsible for this situation and its consequences. He might have been intimidating. He might have been a touch scary. But he was in the wrong here, and she would not let him forget it.
“I understand very well.” She held his glare with her own determined one, demonstrating that she would not be walked allover. “Let us hope there is no reason for me to have to speak to you again. Ever.”
It might have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she saw a flicker of surprise pass behind his eyes. Even amusement… but he smothered it quickly.
“Very well,” he said. “My staff will see you to your rooms, and they will instruct you on anything that you need to know while staying here. Now, if there is nothing else…” He raised his eyebrow at her, she looked right back, and he scoffed. “Good day.”
With that, the Duke turned and walked back up the stairs.
Yvette watched him go, her heart racing, her limbs trembling, and a distinct feeling within herself that for as long as she remained in this home, she wasn’t going to like the Duke very much.
Which was fine, as she surmised quite quickly that he wasn’t going to like her either. Not one little bit.
CHAPTER FOUR
“This way, thank you.” The Head Housekeeper of Pembourne Estate was an elderly woman by the name of Mrs. Fletcher, and Yvette could tell immediately that the woman did not like her.
“Coming,” Yvette said when Mrs. Fletcher took off without looking back to make sure that she was following. “Where are we going?”
“I have been asked to show you to your rooms,” Mrs. Fletcher said, not slowing down so that Yvette might catch up. “And to give you a tour of the manor.”
Mrs. Fletcher led her up the stairs and down the first hallway. She walked quickly, not looking back, no sense at all that she cared one way or the other if Yvette followed her.
“Your things will be unpacked today for you,” Mrs. Fletcher continued. “And if there is anything else you need, you may ask me or another member of the staff.”
“Thank you.”
“You are not to bring your grievances to His Grace,” she said sharply, and for the first time she looked over her shoulder and scowled at Yvette. “Is that understood?”
“Have I done something to upset you?” Yvette asked.
“Not at all.”
“Are you sure about that?” She laughed to dispel the tension. “I have a knack for sensing these things. I think I get it from my father… it’s what makes him such an effective vicar.” More awkward laughter that was not returned.
Mrs. Fletcher exhaled sharply from her nose and then took a sharp turn.
“Here is your room,” she said as she stepped into the bedroom. “Again, anything that you need, do not hesitate.” She looked coldly at Yvette as if she truly hated her.
Yvette eyed the room from beyond the doorway. On first inspection, everything looked in order. If anything, it was more than she was expecting, as the room itself was nearly the samesize as her home. But none of that was what concerned Yvette right now.
Some might have called it a weakness, but Yvette was the type who needed to be liked. Sure, if someone disliked her for a good reason, she could make her peace with such a thing, but she felt that Mrs. Fletcher’s hostility was uncalled for and seeing as they would likely be working closely together, she could not stomach letting the tension sit.
