The Duke of Defiance by Darcy Burke

Author:Darcy Burke
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Darcy Burke
Published: 2017-06-27T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

“So the princes were buried there?” Evie pointed at the White Tower.

“They were, but then they were moved.” Becky scanned the guidebook in her hand. “I can’t believe they were murdered.”

Evie shivered. “Let’s read the part about the Jewel Office again.”

Jo looked over at the White Tower and tried to imagine the two boys but decided she didn’t want to. She’d much rather enjoy this pleasant spring day with Knighton, Evie, and Becky.

They’d made plans to come to the Tower of London and had invited Nora and Titus and their children. Titus had been unable to attend, and Nora had decided that this excursion might be a little too much for Christopher yet. Consequently, Knighton had offered to just bring Becky along. The girls were having a marvelous time, and Jo, as the governess, was delighted to see them reading the guidebook Knighton had purchased for sixpence as soon as they’d arrived.

The girls walked a few feet in front of them, and Knighton noted, “What a dreadful story to include in the guidebook. Don’t they realize children might read it?”

“It’s history,” Jo said, though she agreed with his assessment that it was a bit ghastly. “It’s important for children to learn history, even when it’s ugly.”

“I suppose that’s true. I recall learning all sorts of things about various battles.”

The girls had moved a little farther ahead but still well within sight. Becky turned her head to look at them. A moment later, Evie did the same.

“They look like they’re plotting something,” Knighton said.

Perhaps, but they were five-year-old girls. What could they possibly be up to? “Nonsense, they’re just having fun. I’m glad they have each other.”

“I am too. Becky’s made this transition far more bearable for Evie.” He shot her a warm glance. “As have you.”

Jo didn’t think she’d done all that much. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ve scarcely done anything.”

He paused and looked at her intently. “You shouldn’t do that.”

She stopped. “Do what?”

“Diminish your talent or your gifts. You’re an exceptional woman.”

She blushed and turned from him to start walking again. He kept doing that—making her blush. He said things to her and looked at her in ways that evoked a heady response. Matthias had never, ever made her feel like that.

He had, however, made her feel worthless, as if she were a grave disappointment. She supposed that was why she balked from praise. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

“That’s just it. You don’t have to say anything. Accept who you are.”

She thought she had, but it did seem that she was trying to sort out who she was. She was the vicar’s widow and the duchess’s sister. But who was Jo? Right now she was a governess, and it was the most comfortable she’d felt. With the exception of the way Knighton provoked her. The other day in his office after his mother had left, there’d been several moments when she’d been drawn to him, both from the things he’d revealed about his childhood and from the way he’d looked at her.

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