The Windham Family Duet by Grace Burrowes

Author:Grace Burrowes [Burrowes, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-952443-75-6
Publisher: Grace Burrowes Publishing

Jonathan Dolan’s rare smiles would make angels weep, and Amy Ingraham did not consider herself an angel. The meal would be enjoyable for him—he made this claim sound believable—but for her, it would be both torture and bliss.

She was attracted to her employer. This pathetic, sorry conclusion had come to her in piecemeal admissions.

She listened for the sound of his voice.

She watched at breakfast to learn exactly how he took his tea.

She defended him as fiercely as she dared to the occasional grumbling young footman, though the maids never complained about Mr. Dolan.

While she practiced French with Georgina over breakfast, Amy studied the way Mr. Dolan’s thick, dark hair fell over his brow. She noticed how morning sun sometimes made him look weary, and she saw the utter besottedness with which he beheld his daughter in unguarded moments.

And she loved to hear him thundering at some jobber or subcontractor who had delivered late or shoddy goods.

Amy yanked her thoughts back to the present, to this unprecedented midday meal with her employer. Just tea, indeed.

“So tell me, sir, what are we to discuss?”

His smile, both mischievous and bashful, faded. “I have a proposition for you.” His tone was brusque, and as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he set his teacup down and rose. “That came out wrong.”

The momentary leap in Amy’s pulse settled. Of course he hadn’t meant anything untoward. Jonathan Dolan was the soul of propriety, a gentleman to his big, handsome bones.

Alas for her. “Come sit, sir, lest you leave me to dine alone.”

He ran a hand through his hair and shot her a look that smacked of bewilderment.

“I’ll sit in a moment. I’d like you to consider joining me and Georgina for a jaunt out to Surrey. My brother-in-law is insistent that his niece visit him and his new marchioness. If I drag my heels accepting the invitation, Lord Deene will get his back up, and we’ve had plenty enough of that behavior from him to last us lifetimes.”

The Marquess of Deene being the brother of Mr. Dolan’s late wife, a man of rank and influence, and one who had the power to command his niece to the country.

“You have agreed to bring her to visit her uncle, have you not?”

“May God have mercy upon me, I have.”

He dreaded this visit. Amy could tell as much from the wariness in his gaze and the fact that he was standing across the room, keeping furniture and space between them.

“I had thought to visit my family in Surrey, sir.” Such as her family was. Drusilla and Hecate put up with her during the few weeks of leave she took from her job each summer.

“And you shall.” He closed the distance and resumed his seat. “I shall see that you have time with your family while we heed Deene’s summons, and I’m sure Deene’s marchioness will make you welcome. She’s not the fussy sort. Unlike some.”

Amy ignored the jibe and tried to still a sense of brewing excitement.

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