Beneath His Silence by Hannah Linder

Author:Hannah Linder [Linder, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636094373
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

The music room had been silent for so long. Sometimes, when his wife assumed no one was listening, he had heard the sounds coming from within. She had played just like his mother. Just like Miss Tilbury.

“Ah, there you are at last.” Miss Tilbury’s fingers stilled on the keys. “What shall I play? I can produce most any melody, my lord.”

“Play what you wish.” His gaze slid across the room. “Unless Miss Woodhart has a preference.”

“No.” She turned from the window, her finger releasing the drapery. “I do not.”

“Very well. Let us begin with this.” And thus, Miss Tilbury flew into a melody that filled the room.

A pounding started at Henry’s temples, moved to his chest, and settled at his heart. “Miss Woodhart, may I have this dance?”

“There is very little need to be formal.” She accepted his hand, but she wore no gloves.

Thank heaven he wore his. He could not fathom a touch so intimate. These slender fingers against his own. “I did not imagine a lady’s maid would know how to dance.”

She guided him into the first few steps. “I did not imagine a lord would not.”

As if to deny her words, his memory urged him into the next move of the dance. They moved with ease, gliding back and forth, falling in step with the music.

Her mouth widened with a smile. “Your memory is not so impaired, my lord.”

“I suppose it compares to riding a horse. One never quite forgets.”

“Am I to think this was a scheme?”

“To gain what, Miss Woodhart?”

“A dance, perhaps, with Miss Tilbury?”

“No.” He swept them farther from the pianoforte. “But if I had foreseen this, perhaps I would have been guilty of such plotting.”

Her expression faltered. Confusion lowered her brow, flattened her lips, took away the sweet gleam in her eyes.

He wanted to scold himself. He half wanted the guilt to return, one more time, and scare away the feelings he knew he should forbid. Why couldn’t he be afraid? Where was the hatred?

“You forget yourself, my lord.”

His stomach clenched, but he didn’t answer.

“I am only a governess.”

I know.

“And your dancing skills are not lacking.” She stepped out of his arms so quickly his mind reeled. “Excuse me.” She rushed from the room as if he’d wronged her.

Perhaps he had. What right did he have to taunt her heart? What right did he have to taunt his own? Especially when such a match could never be.

The music stopped. “My lord?” From the pianoforte, Miss Tilbury stared at him, brows raised, cheeks flushing. “My lord, I …” Her lips half twitched as if she wished to say more. Instead, she managed a smile. “Come stand next to me and I shall play another tune. It seems your dancing lesson is finished.”

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