Brenda Joyce by Splendor

Author:Splendor
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Clad in a black tailcoat, pale satin breeches and stockings, and an exquisite white shirt, Nicholas knotted his cravat, facing the mirror over a side table in the library. Not turning, his eyes met Carolyn’s in the looking glass. “You wished to see me?” he asked.

She hesitated on the room’s threshold, clearly surprised and discomfited to find him finishing his toilette in the library rather than upstairs. But his wife was upstairs, pacing her bedroom in a fit of pique. Nicholas had no wish to learn what was bothering Marie-Elena, not that he could not guess, and he had decided to finish his preparations for a night about town downstairs. He watched her blush, and slowly, he turned. Not for the first time, he wondered if hiring her as Katya’s companion was a mistake.

He faced her, their gazes locking.

“Yes,” she said huskily.

“Do come in. Close the door if you wish.” She did as he asked and came forward. “You seem disturbed, Miss Browne.” It was not a question. He would have been surprised if she had not been disturbed after her first day in his employ.

“I am very disturbed.” But her gaze held his unflinchingly.

“What has happened?” He was quiet, but alarm bells were ringing inside his head.

Carolyn worried her hands. “I have met extreme opposition from Taichili—and from your wife.”

He nodded, not relieved, even though he had been anticipating this, and motioned her to take a seat. When she had settled on the sofa, he sat down facing her. He saw now how still her small hands were on her skirts. “I will deal with Taichili immediately. I will also deal with my wife.”

Her color increased. “I do not want to cause a problem between you and her.”

He eyed her. “I have no intention of responding to that remark and thereby discussing my marriage with you.”

“I realize that. I apologize. I … I am very fond of your daughter, Your Excellency. But I question my ability to be helpful, given the circumstances.”

He stood. Thinking of the circumstances—precisely. That is, he was thinking of her going upstairs to her bedchamber to spend the night—a thought he refused to entertain no matter that it would not leave his mind. But she was there in his house. This was not going to be as simple as he had thought. He had been distracted all day. Hoping for a glimpse of her, a word, a smile. It was insane.

“You cannot run out now, at the very first sign of difficulty. I give you far more credit than that, Carolyn. I know you are a woman of strength and courage.”

Carolyn stared, her cheeks pinker than before. “I did, for a moment, think of leaving. But Katya is the reason I shall stay on. At least”—her color increased—“until she departs for Russia.”

He was relieved. “I have spoken to the physicians. I am told my wife can travel in another seven days. I am making arrangements as we speak for her to return home.” His gaze found and held hers again.

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