When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,40
want you to feel unsafe in my home.” A slight softening at one corner of his mouth indicated that he’d accepted her explanation, much to her relief. It also lent him an attractive allure that was sure to entice women—as proven by its warming effect on Tessa. “Were you looking for anything in particular, by the by?”
She blinked. “Pardon?”
“The book that you wanted. You can’t have thought to find any ladies’ novels in my study.”
There was no need to mention the pendant and invite pointed questions, she reasoned. A version of the truth would do. “I was seeking something on heraldry, Your Grace. As I’m living in a noble household, it would be helpful to learn the coats of arms belonging to the various aristocratic families.”
He raised an eyebrow, studied her for another unnerving moment, then gave a crisp nod. “You would do better to look in the library. I’ll take you there if you’ll wait a moment.”
As he stepped past her, Tessa caught a whiff of spice that smelled rich and alluring. She felt a bit foolish for not realizing that Carlin had a private library somewhere in this enormous mansion. He was an educated man, after all, and wealthy enough to purchase all the books he wished. She herself had yearned to patronize one of the public lending libraries, though the one-guinea subscription fee had exceeded her means.
The duke hunkered down, opened the trunk, and rummaged inside. Her curiosity piqued, she tried to look past him, but his broad shoulders blocked any view of the trunk’s contents. Closing the lid, he returned to her side with a thick notebook tucked beneath his arm.
“Come, I’ll show you the way.”
He courteously took hold of her elbow and guided her out of the study. The duke believed her to be gently bred, Tessa knew. He was treating her with the deference due a fine lady, unaware that she’d concealed her baseborn past.
As their footsteps echoed in the marble corridor, remorse over the deception weighed on her, and she longed to correct his misapprehension. Yet if she confessed the truth, that she’d lied to obtain the governess post, he would sack her at once. Not only would she lose the chance to identify her father, she’d be out of work. No millinery shop would hire her since Madame Blanchet had branded her a thief over that chip-straw bonnet.
What would happen then? How would she earn a living?
Those troubled reflections came to an abrupt halt as Carlin asked, “Did you and Sophy ever finish the headdress?”
“Yes, we did. She liked it so much I had a time convincing her to remove it at bedtime. I told her that the feathers would be sadly crushed by morning.”
“A pity I couldn’t have stayed, but I had a prior engagement for the evening. I don’t suppose she wanted to show it to me?”
Tessa’s heart squeezed at his hopeful look, and she felt loath to disappoint him. “I’m sure she’ll be happy to model it for you, Your Grace. In fact, I’ve been thinking we should arrange for you to visit with her on a regular basis, so that she might learn to trust you.”
“What would you suggest?”
Tessa thought for a moment. The custom in aristocratic households, she’d gathered, was for children to be brought down from the nursery several times a week for inspection by the parents. But in Carlin’s case, the situation called for something less intimidating to his daughter than standing in front of him and being drilled on her activities.
“I don’t believe a regimented meeting would be wise. If Lady Sophy is ever to overcome her wariness, you’ll need to befriend her—perhaps by engaging in activities together like watching the parrots. You might take her to the park to feed the ducks or to toss a ball back and forth.”
Carlin mulled that over for a moment before nodding. “Yes, that’s sound advice. But you’ll come with us.”
The trace of anxiety beneath his command filled her with the desire to help him. It touched her to see such a formidable man, a man who had braved the perils of a round-the-world voyage, hesitate to be left alone with his four-year-old daughter. “Of course, Your Grace.”
His eyes warmed as he studied her. “You’ve done well, Miss James. You’ve survived your one-week trial and have proven me wrong.”
His praise made her glow and she smiled. “I won’t deny that Lady Sophy is adept at testing one’s patience, but she can be a delightful child, too. You’ll