American native, like the ones I read of in travel diaries. They cut off their enemies’ hair, did you know? Anne can be a bit . . . managing, and at the age of six I decided she was my mortal enemy. Obviously I could not cut off her hair, but her doll . . .” He flexed one hand and shrugged. “It seemed a good idea at the time. She was too old for dolls then, yet she took it oddly to heart.”
Viola laughed. It was wrong to laugh, both at the story and because she might still be in an ocean of trouble, but once she started, she couldn’t stop. She laughed until her sides hurt and she was gasping for breath and her eyes were wet. And when she finally recovered enough to catch her breath, she discovered she’d crossed the line into sobbing at the end.
The earl had gone down on one knee in front of her. He held out a handkerchief without comment. Viola took it and blew her nose, loudly and miserably.
“Is there a chance you’re underestimating Wessex’s understanding and compassion?”
She rolled the damp handkerchief into a ball. “Perhaps. It will depend, I suppose, on what Lady Alexandra tells her mother. If the dowager duchess takes umbrage, she will urge the duke to do the same.”
“What will Lady Alexandra tell her, do you think?”
Viola thought of the set expression on Alexandra’s face as she went in to see her mother. “I expect she’ll say it was a trifle; some harmless flirting, a stolen kiss.”
“As it most likely was,” he pointed out.
Viola sighed. “She’s a proper young lady, the sister of a duke. She’s not at liberty to flirt with and kiss any young man she chooses.”
“No.” He looked down. “If I may repeat my question . . . What will you do?”
“If I’m sacked?” He gave a slight nod, and she put down her glass. “Look for another position.” She looked sadly around the room. “I’m very fond of this one, though. It will be hard to leave Kingstag.”
He nodded, rubbing his hands on the arms of her chair. Viola covertly watched. He had lovely hands, strong and big. “Would it reassure you,” he said very slowly, “if I promised you a similar position at the same salary?” She jolted, and he raised those lovely hands as if to calm her. “Only if you cannot find one more to your liking. I hate to think you might be brought low by my nephew’s actions, and thus by my own. I blatantly invited myself to Kingstag, and then I brought Newton with me. If there is blame to be laid, I must accept my share.”
“You don’t need to do that, my lord,” she murmured.
“But I want to.” One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “I want to very much, actually.”
Viola turned her gaze to the corner of the fender where her feet were propped. Do not become enamored of an earl, she told herself. Especially not this earl, with his strong hands and endearing grin and an offer that could easily lead her to forget herself and do something very wrong, like flirt with him. Encourage him. Let him kiss her, and kiss him back, repeatedly, until she ended up in bed with him, begging him to make love to her. She didn’t want that, she really didn’t, even though part of her did want it, despite it being a terrible idea and—
A knock at the door startled her out of those thoughts and sent her leaping to her feet. She looked in alarm at the earl, who had also risen. There was no way to excuse his presence in her private room.
Without a word, he pointed at her bedroom, brows raised. Viola gave a quick nod, ignoring her conscience, and he stepped quietly inside, closing the door behind him. Straightening her shoulders, Viola went to the main door and opened it.
Alexandra stood there. Her eyes were a little wet, but she managed a smile. “May I come in?”
“Of course.” Viola stepped aside and followed her to the tiny sofa.
“Mama said I must apologize to you,” the girl began. “I put you in a very bad spot, and betrayed your trust. Mama was terribly upset that I took advantage of your distraction to steal away, when she’s been so sick and you’ve had to do so much more than usual.” She sucked in a deep breath. “But I want to apologize for myself. I know