When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,29

firmly, praying he’d heed her. “As a first step, now would be an excellent time to give Sophy a tour of the conservatory.”

Chapter 6

As Guy followed Miss James toward the house, he had his doubts about the advisability of her method. It seemed too much like a reward to Sophy for lobbing a stone at that window. Whenever he’d committed mischief as a boy, he’d earned the sting of his grandfather’s cane. Though that was far too harsh a penalty for a four-year-old girl, Guy wasn’t entirely convinced that showing her the conservatory was the proper course of action, either.

Ahead, Sophy sat stiffly on the steps, her dark hair messy, the ribbon dangling loose. Feral kitten, indeed. That description was more apt than he wanted to admit. He suffered a spasm of anguish that his daughter thought he despised her, and that she would express her anger at him in such a manner. It was his own fault for abandoning her as a newborn, for convincing himself she’d be better off raised by her maternal grandparents.

Instead, the Norwoods had allowed Mooney to stuff Sophy’s head full of lies. He could hardly blame his daughter for believing what her primary caretaker had said. And it had taken Miss James to figure it all out. To think just a few days ago he’d been ready to banish her from his house.

His gaze lingered on the new governess. In the sunlight her upswept hair was an unusual shade of blond that reminded him of golden buttercream. That high-necked, long-sleeved dark gown couldn’t quite hide a feminine figure that was every man’s dream. The sight aroused a rush of heat in his core, a sensation that he quickly rejected.

It was dishonorable for a man of his rank to lust for a woman in his employ. Guy had no wish to subject her to unwelcome advances, nor did he want to put her in a situation where she felt compelled to resign. Any temptation that stirred in him must be kept under lock and key.

Reaching the steps, Miss James crouched down to address his daughter. “Thank you for waiting here. Nevertheless, throwing a stone at a window was a very naughty act. As punishment, you will not be allowed to play in the garden tomorrow. Now, what have you to say for yourself?”

The way Sophy sat with her arms tightly curled around her knees suggested distress. Yet her small face wore its usual rebellious scowl. She mumbled, “Sorry, Miss James.”

“It is your papa who deserves the apology. That was his window, not mine.”

The girl slid a glance upward though she didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Sorry, Papa.”

The words sounded forced, with an underlying note of mistrust. His chest taut, Guy wanted to grab her up into his arms and declare that he did indeed love her, and she was never to believe otherwise. But Miss James was right, a feral kitten would only scratch and hiss.

Taking his cue from the governess, he hunkered down to his daughter’s level so that she had to look at him. The glower on her face was far from encouraging. “I accept your apology.” Guy searched for the right words to reach her. “Yet … it seems I owe you one, too, for never showing you the conservatory. I’ll take you on a tour right now if you like.”

Sophy stared suspiciously at him. It was as if she was weighing his sincerity and seeking evidence of some trick in the scheme. Then she shifted her wary gaze to the governess. “Will you go, too, Miss James?”

“Certainly! I wouldn’t miss it for all the cream buns in the kitchen.”

The girl considered that for a moment. “I wouldn’t miss it for all the circuses in the world.”

“There, you see? Parrots are better than all of our favorite things.”

Miss James sprang lightly to her feet just as Guy reached out to offer his assistance. A pity that, for he’d have liked the chance to touch her. In the next instant he scolded himself. Damn, he had to put a halt to such thoughts.

Sophy, too, rejected his proffered hand and stayed close to Miss James, who picked up the basket and tucked the handle in the crook of her arm. The girl gave wide berth to Guy. He had to settle for leading the way into the house, where he ushered them almost immediately through another doorway.

Entering the conservatory was like stepping into another world.

As he closed the door behind them, Guy relished the

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