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“Wait.” He turned his head toward her. “You haven’t slept in a bed with anyone?”

Isabel placed her hand under her cheek and snuggled comfortably under the covers. “Why does that surprise you?”

“Because lovers usually spend nights in each other’s beds.”

Isabel rolled her eyes—not that he would see her. We are back to that, are we? “You are free to perceive that information as you please since you won’t believe me anyway.”

Vane let out a grunt. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. “How were your days with Millie?”

“Quite good. I enjoyed my time with her, and I think she is warming up to me.”

“I think so, too.”

Isabel studied his shaded form. “Truly?”

“Yes. I just hope you won’t disappoint her.”

Isabel stifled a groan. How had she earned the contempt of her husband? And she had thought they’d moved past it. “I received a few replies from prospective governesses. We can expect an interview with a couple of them in the next few days.”

“That was fast.”

Isabel let out a breath. “I am quite competent in many things.”

Another grunt.

“You don’t believe me,” she murmured, chewing on her lower lip. She was getting frustrated by his coldness and indifference toward her. But more than that, she was tired of his contempt.

“I believe we have a lot of work ahead of us. And it will take a lot more than replies from prospective governesses to convince me of your competency when it comes to my daughter,” he said.

“I do not know why trust and respect seem beyond you, but I refuse to let it affect me, my lord. You might contemplate my competency all you want. In the meantime, I have a house party to host and a girl to educate. Goodnight.”

Isabel turned away from him.

Perhaps she’d been wrong when she’d thought things were looking up in the household. Her husband seemed to be as obstinate as before. No matter. She had more important things to worry about, and finding a perfect governess for Millie was at the top of the list.

* * *

“I believe that children should be disciplined strictly,” the older woman in front of Isabel said as she sat straight, her hands demurely on her lap, her appearance impeccable, nary a hair out of place.

Isabel found herself trying to sit straighter just from one look at the potential governess, Mrs. Pemberley. “Yes, I agree wholeheartedly.”

This was the tenth interview in over a week, and Isabel was getting extremely tired. Finding a competent governess was not an easy feat.

Every time she thought she had found someone, her husband would dismiss them.

He had called two of them too young and inexperienced. Well, he could not fault Mrs. Pemberley for that. The woman had worked in the field for over forty years.

And the third one had an inexplicable glint in the eye that Vane disliked.

Isabel had not argued with her husband, but she had not noticed any glint in anyone’s eye, and she hoped Mrs. Pemberley did not possess it also.

Mrs. Pemberley was the last resort. If they didn’t hire her, Isabel would have to post in the paper once more and wait weeks to gather responses and conduct more interviews.

“A lady should act as one from birth. There should be no unnecessary noise coming from the girl. She should be invisible unless called upon,” Mrs. Pemberley continued.

Isabel stifled a grimace. She did not agree with that part. Children were children. They needed space to run around and play, sing and dance if they needed to. But all of this should be done away from the adults—or at least from guests. So perhaps that’s what the older lady meant by invisible.

Isabel remembered her childhood fondly. Her family was large and very loud. Their household was never quiet. But this was not about her. Despite all the rambunctious fun, Isabel was raised by a lady from birth. Millicent, on the other hand, had not had that privilege.