Never Doubt a Duke by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott [Scott, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical Romance, Humor, plain Jane, Regency romance, romance clean and wholesome, governess, children, widow, single father
Publisher: Edwards and Williams
Published: 2018-05-18T07:00:00+00:00

~~~

Julian didn’t stay much longer. Now that he had his marching orders, nothing Alaric said could convince him to spend the night at the castle. Alaric saw his friend out, waved him goodbye, and returned to the library.

But their conversation lingered, like smoke in the air. Could Miss Thorn be Mary Rose? The names seemed too connected to be a coincidence. Had she taken the darker appellation after losing her home? Where had she been since leaving Surrey? How had she come to possess a town house on prestigious Clarendon Square? How had she gained the capitol and presence to open an employment agency? Why had she singled out his family? Was Jane a dupe or a willing accomplice?

The matter refused to leave him. Perhaps that was why he questioned his mother over dinner. “What made you decide to favor the Fortune Employment Agency with our request for a governess?”

Her Grace looked up from her Yorkshire pudding. “I had never heard of the Fortune Employment Agency until I received a note announcing the day and time of the interview with Mrs. Kimball. I assumed you had engaged them.”

Alaric sat back. “I did not.” He glanced at their butler, standing in his usual place along the wall. “Parsons, can you shed light on this mystery?”

Parsons drew himself up. “No, Your Grace. I would have advised a more prominent London agency.”

So, no one in the house could offer him answers. He could only hope Julian would be more successful.

He was almost afraid to sit behind the desk that evening, ready for the next dire tale from Parsons, but his butler did not appear in the doorway to announce Jane’s latest innovation that threatened household order. The first notice he had of a visitor was the sound of little feet scurrying across the carpet.

Calantha came to stand just in front of his desk, her pale hair a nimbus about her peaked face. Did she know that was where Jane usually stood to give her reports? Very likely. It seemed his middle daughter was a keen observer, especially when no one noticed she was about.

Jane was standing in the doorway, fond smile on her face, so at least he knew Calantha had not escaped the schoolroom.

“Good evening, Calantha,” he said, offering her a similar smile. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

She dropped a quick curtsey. “Mrs. Kimball said…”

“Calantha,” Jane interrupted, “tell your father what you want.”

Calantha shifted from foot to foot, as if unsure how to proceed. Alaric rose, came around the desk, and went down on one knee beside her.

“There, now. What is it you’d like to say to me?”

Her face scrunched up. “You look silly like that.”

“I don’t think you came all the way from the schoolroom to tell me that.”

“Noooo.” She drew out the word as she shifted from side to side. “It’s about singing.”

He glanced up at Jane. “Yes, I understand Mrs. Kimball is teaching you.”

Jane spread her skirts and bobbed a curtsey.

“Yes,” Calantha said. “And Larissa and Abelona and I were wondering.

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