Educated by the Earl by Annabelle Anders

Author:Annabelle Anders
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Annabelle Anders

Domestic Preparations

Piers hadn’t exaggerated when he’d said there was much to do.

After dressing in a woolen gown, a thick shift beneath it, and a very serviceable pair of woolen stockings, Victoria didn’t waste any time in cleaning out the hearths so Piers could set up the wood for new fires. And by mutual agreement, they split up the various tasks involved in the baking she’d deliver to the less fortunate on Boxing Day, along with beginning preparations for the meal the two of them would share on Christmas.

Which meant he was staying for at least two more days.

Two days.

How many rules could they break together in forty-eight hours?

“Fetch your coat, woman. We need evergreens for the parlor,” Piers laughed while he brushed his hands together.

Victoria would have thought she’d feel awkward with him, or that he would look at her differently after going down… but he seemed to be enjoying himself.

As was she.

When the knowing look in his eyes threatened to turn her knees to jelly, she swept her gaze around the kitchen, which he’d shown her how to keep clean while they worked.

Dough rested on the table near the stove to rise beneath clean linens and what felt like hundreds of vegetables, chopped and sliced now, had been placed in the cold storage.

But he hadn’t forgotten the one thing she longed for the most.

“Evergreens?”

Decorating for all manner of festivities was something she knew. It was something she was good at. And even though it wasn’t at all practical, she was grateful that it mattered to him. And although she knew he took issue with his father, she risked asking, “Will they be gathering vines and mistletoe at Starbridge Abbey?”

Decorating the school was something Primm had happily delegated to Victoria.

“My brother, Theo, will insist on it.” The affection in his voice was unmistakable.

“Theodore is the youngest?”

“My sister didn’t leave much out about us,” he commented wryly, but without any ill will.

They’d strolled through to the entryway, and before she could reach for it, he was holding her coat behind her.

These occasional flashes of gentility were more intoxicating than having the most sought-after bachelor tend to her every whim at a Mayfair ball.

Although not as intoxicating as what he’d done under the quilt. Her cheeks flamed at the memory.

“Your sister and I have spent a good deal of time in one another’s company.” She ducked her head, forcing herself to sound normal. But as much time as she and Primm spent with one another, Victoria thought they ought to know one another better than they did.

The one thing the school head mistress rarely spoke of was herself—of her childhood or her feelings. Some of the students joked that she lacked the latter, but that couldn’t be true. She was simply better at containing them.

Victoria had once imagined herself to be the same sort of woman her employer was, but the past few days had proven her wrong.

Because when he smoothed his hands down the sleeves of her coat, she didn’t resist the urge to lean into him.

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