Page 27 of Aurelia

Miss Hatchet leaned closer, until Aurelia felt her hot breath on her face. “He visits his lover—one of them—in the village. Mary Neel is the widowed owner of the pub, a brazen, blowsy woman no better than a prostitute. The man has no shame. He is like a feudal lord, exercising his droit du seigneur.”

“I believe that alleged right applied to virgins on their wedding night, not willing widows.”

The governess’s jaw dropped and she regarded Aurelia as if she was a serpent that had slithered into her midst.

Aurelia opened her mouth to say she was tired. But Miss Hatchet wasn’t finished.

“He has a son, you know?”

“I was under the impression Lady Celsa was his only child.”

“His only legitimate one. He has children all over the island and on the mainland, too. But there is one—Guustin Walker he calls himself—who even stays in the castle like an honored guest. He dresses in fine clothing and struts about as if he were one of the family. Indeed, his lordship openly acknowledges him as his son.”

Fathering children outside of marriage was irresponsible and selfish, but Aurelia thought the earl’s acceptance of his illegitimate child showed at least a modicum of decency. Most men disavowed their by-blows. Still, it couldn’t have been easy for Lord Crewe’s wife to put up with his behavior. Not that such a man would care.

“You will meet him, I am sure. He is a captain and visits whenever his ship is in port.”

“A captain? He must be quite old,” Aurelia said, and then wished she kept her mouth shut so the woman would leave.

No, you don’t. You love gossiping about your new employer.

“I daresay he is in his middle twenties. His mother lives on the island too. She is no better than she should be, but behaves like a grand lady—one of the island luminaries. Ha! And where is her husband? Mister Walker? Conveniently dead and out of the picture. Not that a person would believe her son belonged to anyone but the earl. He is a great swaggering lout who is the very image of Lord Crewe. When the two of them are in this house…” She shivered. “Well, I do not sleep easily, I tell you. It is no surprise that his daughter is an ill-behaved little savage given the example he sets for her. You would be well advised to lock your door, too, Miss Burton.”

“If his lordship has a mistress in the village then you and I are likely safe from his predation, Miss Hatchet.” Aurelia was amused at the thought of Lord Crewe pursuing the woman in front of her. Or herself, for that matter. She might be ignorant, but even she could see that the earl did not look like the sort of man who was much interested in virginal spinsters. He would demand sensual, experienced lovers who knew how to pleasure a man.

A shiver wracked her at the images that flooded her mind’s eye—chiefly those featuring his lordship’s long, lean body and wicked, laughing expression.

“His sort can never have enough women, Miss Burton. They cannot stop themselves—like dogs in rut. You would be wise to trust to my greater experience in such matters.” She cut Aurelia a look that was irritatingly superior.

“Thank you, Miss Hatchet, I certainly appreciate your suggestion. Now, if you don’t mind, it has been a long day and—”

“Sir Gideon brought you over to the island today, I hear.”

“Yes, he—”

“Now there is a gentleman.” Miss Hatchet’s rather stark features took on a dreamy, romantic cast. “He rescued me when I sprained my ankle in the small wood outside the village. Nothing would do except that he escorted me back to the Laughing Hen.” Her stern face became quite pretty as she recounted the experience.

“Yes, he is very kind,” Aurelia agreed. “Now, if—”

Miss Hatchet heaved a sigh. “I daresay you are tired and wishing to go to bed.” Her face creased into a spiteful smile. “And I must go and see that Lady Celsa is obeying her father’s order.” On that note, she turned and left.

Aurelia closed and locked the door behind her, not out of fear that Lord Crewe would pester her, but against any further invasions from Lady Celsa or her nosy keeper.

Rather than ready herself for bed, Aurelia drifted back to the window, her thoughts on the earl rather than the annoying governess.

Was it true that he had ridden off to see his lover? Why did the thought make her belly churn so uncomfortably?

Aurelia frowned at her own foolishness and yanked the drapes closed. It was just as well the earl had a mistress to occupy him. She would do well to keep that information at the front of her mind, should she be in any danger of succumbing to his wicked charm.

Chapter 6

The following morning after breakfast Aurelia was in the library, jotting notes for herself in her journal when Lord Crewe entered the rather cavernous room.

“Ah, hard at work, already,” the earl said, his wind-ruffled hair and riding leathers indicating he must have just come in from outside. He smiled down at her, tapping his calf with his crop. “I have come to show you around the island.”

Aurelia hesitated and glanced at her journal.

“I know you’ve just begun work, but we must embrace lovely weather when it comes to us. Trust me when I say there will be many rainy days that will keep you inside with your paints and brushes. Now, run along and change into your habit and I shall meet you in the stables.” He turned on his heel and strode away before she could reply, not that there was anything to say except yes, my lord when one’s employer required one to skip work and go play.