Page 68 of The Gambler Wagers Her Baron

She walked toward his desk and held out the letter. “My resignation letter, my lord.”

After he’d taken the paper from her, she could do nothing but twine her fingers, squeezing them so tightly, her knuckles surely turned white beneath her gloves. She could not look at him—did not want to see the satisfaction on his face to know that he did not have to release her and commit to severance pay. Payton was undertaking the difficult task herself.

She heard, rather than saw him unfold the letter.

It would be wise for her to pivot and depart the room. She hadn’t many possessions at Ashford Hall, mainly a handful of dresses, two pairs of slippers, boots, underpinnings, and her brushes. A few hairpins and ribbons—but not much else.

When she’d taken the position as governess, she’d arrived with only her traveling trunk. In truth, she could have carried all her possession if the need had arisen. Thankfully, Mr. Curtis waited just outside the townhouse.

“You are leaving?” he whispered.

She glanced up to see Damon’s questioning stare.

“I think it best I move on,” she replied. Her voice remained steady without so much as a waver in her tone.

“Best for whom?”

“For all considered.” She’d expected this to be the easy part, giving her notice and collecting her things.

“You think to know what’s best for me?” Almost as an afterthought, he added, “For my children?”

She cleared her throat. “My apologies, my lord. Best for me, this is best for my future.”

“Where will you go?” he demanded.

Belatedly, she realized he had no intention of making this easy for her, even though they both knew this was what they both wanted.

Of all the questions, why would he be concerned with where she went after departing his employ?

“Home, though that is none of your concern.” She bit out the words with more force than intended.

“What of the children?” Was it hurt that etched his face? “They need a governess, Miss Samuels.”

“And you shall find another. If you haven’t already.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Come now, my lord—”

“Damon,” he all but growled across the desk.

“That is improper and far too informal, Lord Ashford.” Every word was like a dagger to her chest. She wanted to call him by his given name, just as she wanted to hear her name from his lips at least once more. “We both know after what happened, this is best. You will find another suitable governess, and the children will continue to thrive. Of that, I have no doubt.”

“Nothing has changed.” He pounded his fist on the desk, causing Payton to flinch. “You know that as well as I.”

She shook her head. “We both know it is impossible to return to the way things were.”

“Damnation,” he hissed. “I do not want you to leave, and my children need you.”

Payton laughed, though the sound rang false and hollow.

Was she using their kiss as an excuse to escape? Certainly, she was not misreading everything that’d transpired since that night. The baron had all but demanded she leave that night and proceeded to give her the next afternoon off. They both knew what’d happened between them was a mistake and could never happen again. The only way to make sure it didn’t was for the baron to be rid of her and hire another governess.

He was pushing her away.

She was not fleeing.

And it was all for good reason.