Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess (2009) by Merrill Christine

Author:Merrill, Christine [Merrill, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-03-26T18:08:44+00:00

Tim's smile faded as he walked into the entrance hall of his home. It had been a surprisingly pleasant afternoon, probably because he had got away from the past. Afternoon had turned to evening and dinner with Adam and his wife. It had grown late, and he'd been forced to ride home in darkness. It was good that he knew the old paths as well as he did, for once the sun set, there was little light from the sliver of a moon, and the growing bank of rain clouds that threatened to obscure it.

For a few hours, he'd felt almost like his old self. Then his cheerful mood had begun to fade. For he was home. There, in front of him, were the damn stairs. And, as always, the ghostly image appeared in his mind of Clare broken on the floor before him.

He turned deliberately from it, refusing to be put out of his own home by an unpleasant memory. Perhaps he did not deserve to be happy, as he once had been. But there was little he could do about it. It was foolish to start and stare at nothing, like a coward, or, worse yet, a madman, whenever he crossed his own hall.

He disguised his hesitation in care for his outer wear, tossing the coat and hat over a nearby bench so that a servant could collect it in the morning. He took a moment to brush at his clothes as he steeled his nerves. Then he turned back to the main staircase and felt his will falter as the weight on his spirit increased. The servants' stairs were just down the hall, ready and waiting for him.

But he looked up to see the governess, waiting in total stillness at the top of the stairs. She was dressed for bed, barefoot on the marble. His arrival had surprised her. She must have thought if she did not move he would not notice her.

He smiled, and remembered his discovery of her in the afternoon. Too late for that, my dear. From now on, I will watch your every move. She might pretend that she had the best interests of the children at heart, but what purpose did she have to search bedrooms and creep about the house when all were in bed? If Adam had not sent her, nor Penny, then who? It made no sense to think that without motive or direction, she would go unerringly to the source of so many problems and secrete it about her person.

His anger conquered his fear, and he started up the stairs, focusing on her eyes as he climbed. The truth was hidden in them, if he could manage to dislodge it. She'd lacked the sense to flee the house this afternoon, when he'd given her the chance. And now she would answer to him for what she had done.

As he stared at her, he was pleased to see her fidget. Did it bother her to be a thief and a spy? He certainly hoped so.

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