A Little Bit Scandalous Page 0,29

brows rose slowly.

Caroline wanted to throttle him. No, there wasn’t room for the both of them. His blasted broad shoulders seemed to take up the entire doorway as it was, and suddenly the air felt thin.

“You wish to serve as well. That is to say, yes, welcome. Please here, take my chair,” Mr. Lamb said, flustered by the appearance of the duke.

“That is not necessary,” Roe said, surveying the room. His eyes lit on her.

Caroline rolled her eyes heavenward.

“What a wonderful day for the children here at Dover House,” Mr. Lamb said. “I’d wager we’re the only orphanage in London with such an attentive board.”

Roe sidled over and then lowered himself into the empty chair next to her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked between her teeth.

“I like to know what my money is paying for. Also, I believe when a family member vacates a board position it falls to another family member.”

His words were a slap in her face. It was a cold reminder of the fact that she was truly alone in the world. She had no family. She clenched her teeth.

“You intend to steal this board position from me?” she asked.

He leaned toward her, his head almost touching hers. “No, nothing quite so dramatic. I merely intend to assist.”

“Out of the goodness of your heart, no doubt.”

“Precisely,” he said with a tilt of his head. “That is my reputation, the duke with the good heart.”

“Funny, I haven’t heard any such thing said about you.”

He chuckled, but said nothing else.

Mr. Lamb continued on about all the funds they would need for this change, that new fabric for the girls to sew into their winter dresses, and wage monies to pay for a second housekeeper. The two older ladies made suggestions for how to generate new benefactors for the orphanage.

“Perhaps His Grace would host a ball to raise funds,” Lady Fairfax said.

The two older ladies clapped with glee. “What a spectacular idea,” Lady Winguard said.

All eyes turned to Roe, and Caroline found it immeasurably appealing to have him put on the spot in such a way.

“I shall see what can be done,” he said with a curt nod.

“Now then, Miss Jellico, being new to the board we shall need to find something for you to do, some way for you to contribute,” Mr. Lamb said. “I’m certain we can think of something appropriate.”

Caroline didn’t like the man. It wasn’t so much anything he did or said, but there was a feeling and he made her feel quite uneasy. The way his pointed teeth gleamed when he smiled sent a shiver up her arm. “Very good, sir.”

The meeting came to an end and Caroline gathered her belongings, coming to her feet.

“Caroline, I shall give you a ride back to the townhome,” Roe said moments before Lady Fairfax approached him.

The woman wrapped her hand around Roe’s forearm and pulled him aside. Her long talon-like nails were covered in some red-colored lacquer. She looked up at Roe from beneath her lashes and cooed when he spoke, never taking her hand off his arm for more than a second.

Jealousy, hot and heavy, settled in Caroline’s stomach and she turned away from the sight. Her feelings for Roe were unwanted both by him and by herself. She had no desire to be with him, not truly. It was merely her heart or her body that betrayed her. And if Lady Fairfax wanted him, she could have him. But Caroline saw no reason why she had to stand there and watch it happen, so she turned away and stepped out into the corridor. She had more important things on her mind. Mr. Murdock had complicated the issue of her townhome. She knew that raising the money would be a challenge, but she’d thought their agreement to end the lease prematurely had been settled. What the devil would she do if she had to wait another year before she could live in her own house? If the house was empty that long it could fall to vandals and vagrants. Yet if she continued to lease it, the house would continue into further disrepair.

Roe was at her side. He pressed his hand against the small of her back. The heat was instant, traveling down her legs and up her arms.

“Shall we?” he asked, pushing her gently forward.

They walked in silence from the orphanage and into the carriage.

“You are familiar with Lady Fairfax,” Caroline said.

He met her gaze, and his green eyes did not waver from her own.