Oh yes, Seth knew how much she smiled.
“We like her better than Mrs. Barstaple,” Heron said. “Can she be our governess?”
“I’m afraid not, lads,” Seth said, letting go of Fallon shoulders since the fighting had seemed to pass. “She is a lady. Not a governess. She is only helping until Mrs. Barstaple gets well and rejoins us. Which I hope will be soon. Now where are your finished lessons? Let’s have a look.”
Both boys ran over to a short chest and each brought him several sheets of paper. A quick glance indicated that Lillian had indeed seen to it their written work was complete. He didn’t know if he was happy about that or a bit perturbed that she’d proved him wrong.
“It looks as if you accomplished everything and did very well, from what Miss Prim wrote.” He paused. “She didn’t help you with any of the answers, did she?”
Both boys shook their heads.
“And you read the assigned pages too?”
“I read mine out loud to Miss Prim. She wasn’t sure I could read.”
Seth ruffled his hair just as he had his brother’s. “I’m glad you showed her.”
“She did everything just the way you told me you wanted her to do it,” Heron said.
“I thought as much.” He laid the sheets aside. He, of all people, should have never doubted Lillian’s iron will to accomplish what she set out to do.
“Do you want to help me make Napoleon win this time?” Fallon asked, rubbing his nose with the back of his chubby hand. “I’m tired of losing.”
Seth righted some of the overturned soldiers. “It’s not a good idea to let the French win. Remember, they are the enemy of England. They are the bad soldiers and we are the good ones.”
Fallon nodded and smiled.
“You’ll win tomorrow night.” He turned to Heron. “Right?”
The older brother mumbled a reluctant “Yes.”
Seth said good night to the lads and headed down the long corridor that led to the main section of the house. When he reached the top of the stairs where the two wings of the house met at an adjoining sitting room, he stopped. If he had to guess, he’d say Lillian hadn’t made it down to the drawing room yet. Maybe he’d wait a few minutes to see.
He couldn’t let go of the fact she’d taken his nephews to a pond without taking her to task about it. He looked around the room. There were two settees facing each other with a table between them, four upholstered armchairs, and an uncomfortable looking bench pushed against the wall. He smiled. It was probably the one where the boys had been sitting when Lillian first saw them. He made himself comfortable, and within a minute or two was rewarded when he heard a door open and close. He rose from his seat.
Lillian strolled down the corridor toward him, putting on a long white glove. He watched as she fitted her fingers into the hand, pulled it over her small wrist, and stretched it up her slender arm. He inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. A tightness squeezed his lower stomach as he watched her intently.
Her dress looked as if it had been carved from the finest piece of alabaster. Colors of deep and light parchment swirled with patches of dark amber melting together into one silky, flowing fabric. In her hair she wore a band made from several strands of pearls. A single strand adorned her beautiful, slender neck. She was a vision of loveliness walking toward him and, for a moment, Seth forgot he was cross with her.
When she looked up and saw him, her steps faltered and then hastened. Concern etched her face.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing other than the fact that I could kiss you right now if I wasn’t so upset with you.”
Her gaze held steady on his. “It sounds as if there is contradiction in your feelings for me, my lord.”
“There is and believe me I feel the war raging inside me. So do you want to tell me how it came about Fallon was wading in a pond of icy water today?”
“Maybe I’d rather the other emotion inside you win and have the kiss.”
She was so damned provocative he almost reached for her.
“But then perhaps another time,” she hastened to add before he could respond. “When you aren’t at war with yourself.”
The depth of her mischievous smile grabbed him in the gut. Words that should irritate him seduced him.
“I’m glad Fallon told you about that incident,” she continued. “There was no harm done. I was going to tell you tonight myself. However, I will clarify that he merely stepped on the icy bank and his feet got wet—maybe up to his ankles. That is a far cry from wading in the pond.”
