When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,52
fear, I mean t’ go t’ all of ’em even if it takes me a year.”
Tessa couldn’t let Orrin waste his time trying to find a needle in a haystack. Not when she already had another plan in motion.
“You mustn’t put yourself to so much trouble.” Clutching the fringed edge of her shawl, she paused, then plunged on, “You see, I’ve discovered another way to find out where Mama was employed. I’ve a gold pendant that belonged to her. For a long time, I didn’t realize the design engraved on it was anything important but now I think it’s a coat of arms for a noble family.”
The darkness was beginning to lighten a bit, enough for her to detect his frown. “You never told me so,” he said, sounding injured. “Where is it? Lemme have a look.”
She obligingly drew out the pendant from beneath her gown and allowed him to examine it. He squinted down at the engraving and turned it this way and that in his ink-stained fingers. “’Tis too dark t’ see much,” he grumbled. “Do you mean t’ say ’tis from your pa’s family?”
“Yes, it must be. Where else would a maid get such a fine piece? He must have given it to her.”
“As payment for warmin’ his bed, no doubt.” Orrin shook his head in disgust. “Hand it over, I’ll find the bleedin’ toff.”
He made a grab to remove the filigreed chain from around her neck, but Tessa stepped back and tucked the pendant back into her bodice. “Thank you, but I’ll soon be able to identify the coat of arms myself. I asked Carlin if he has a book on heraldry and he’s sent for one from his library at Greyfriars—that’s his estate.”
“Carlin, is it? Blimey, you sound on cozy terms with His High-and-Mighty Dukeship.”
Hostility vibrated in Orrin’s voice and she realized to her surprise that he was jealous. With all that had happened, she had forgotten about his hopes for their future together. He mustn’t guess about that passionate kiss or her reckless attraction to Carlin.
“Don’t be silly,” she said breezily. “The duke is a kind, considerate man, that’s all. You mustn’t think ill of him simply because of his title.”
Instead of reassuring Orrin, her speech only seemed to make matters worse. He stood there scowling, his fingers gripped into fists, his manner radiating harsh emotion into the cool morning air. “Tell me the truth, Tessa. The blighter’s been tryin’ t’ charm you into his bed, hasn’t he?”
“No! Certainly not.”
“Well, if he hasn’t, he’ll try. It’s what them nobs do. Look at your mam, used an’ then tossed away like rubbish. We Brits need a revolution like in France t’ overthrow the aristos, who think they’re better’n the rest o’ us.”
Picturing Carlin with his neck in a guillotine sent a cold shudder through Tessa. “Hush, that’s dangerous talk. You’ve never even met His Grace. I can assure you he’s a person with hopes and dreams, no different from you or me. In fact, he wouldn’t even be a duke if not for the Carlin Curse.”
“The—what?”
She blinked at him through the misty shadows. “It’s nothing, really. Several ducal heirs died within the space of a few years. That is how the present duke came into the title.”
“The Carlin Curse, eh? What are their names?”
“Whose names?”
“These heirs what died. ’Tis just the sort of juicy scoop that folks like t’ read about in the papers.”
Belatedly, Tessa realized that she’d piqued his journalistic interest. He’d asked her once before to keep her ears open for salacious gossip that she could feed to him. Now she’d handed him a story on a silver platter. Lud, she could only imagine what Carlin would have to say about such a scandalous news article. He’d sounded very strict while ordering his aunt never to speak of the Carlin Curse lest anyone repeat it.
She folded her arms beneath the shawl. “Never you mind that. I’ll have your promise that you won’t write any such article.”
“How’ll I ever be promoted t’ staff reporter without comin’ up with good stories? ’Tis the only way I’ll earn enough t’ marry an’ have a family. I thought you wanted that, too.”
“Just promise me,” she repeated sternly. “I won’t have my employer’s family name dragged through the dirt.”
His puppy-dog expression lapsed back into that jealous pout. “You’ve changed, Tess. You didn’t use t’ like the nobs. That’s wot comes from livin’ in such a posh house.”
She bit her lip. Had she changed? Certainly, her horizons had grown