The Dukes Box Set Series: Four by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Sarah drew rein outside her front door. She dismounted and smiled her thanks to her groom and patted her horse's sweat stained neck. The time was now a little after six o'clock and she recalled, from her son's itinerary, that he should now be in the schoolroom preparing his lessons for the following day.

As she ran up the steps two thoughts occurred to her simultaneously, neither of them happy. The first, that she had sent the captain up to the schoolroom after their brief meeting and her son would not have been there because she had allowed him to go to the village to visit the May fair. The second, that she had ordered him to attend her at four o'clock and she had also been absent.

With a sinking heart she entered the hall. The housekeeper bustled up to meet her. 'Madam, Captain Mayhew has been waiting to see you in the library for the past two hours. He is still there. I've offered him refreshments but he has refused.'

'Would you send in my sincere apologies for wasting his time? I will see him tomorrow after breakfast.' Sarah hurried up the stairs and along the wide, light-filled, passageway to her bedchamber. She had no desire to be accosted by the man she had left kicking his heels for over two hours.

At her chamber door she paused, undecided then turned and walked briskly back. She had been unpardonably rude and it was her duty to make her apologies; Captain Mayhew maybe her employee but he deserved to be treated with respect.

She reached the spacious marble-tiled hall the same time as the captain. For a moment they stood, eyes locked, frozen on her part by embarrassment and on his by anger.

Sarah broke the silence 'Captain Mayhew, I am so sorry, I have no excuse for my incivility. I realize that twice today I have misdirected you.'

The hardness of his jaw relaxed, he nodded, stiffly. 'After your encounter with poachers, madam, I was naturally becoming worried by your continued absence.'

'Thank you for your concern. I can only apologize again, sir. There was no problem, I am afraid I had completely forgotten that I had arranged to meet with you.' She smiled, warmed by his concern for her welfare. It was years since anyone had taken note of her whereabouts.

She laughed and the unexpected sound somehow disarmed him. He smiled back and for the second time Sarah felt the impact of his charm. Her mouth went dry and there was a peculiar sensation deep inside her. She took an involuntary step back, trod clumsily on the hem of her skirt and stumbled. An iron-hard hand shot out and caught her. His touch burnt through the sleeve of her habit.

The captain snatched his hand back and moved away, his expression unreadable. 'If you will excuse me, madam, I have left my charge too long unattended.'

Sarah believed the oblique reference to her lack of manners was uncalled for. 'Of course, Captain. I will see you

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