When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,61
the duke still mistrusted her. Was that any surprise after she’d confessed to being a liar?
All of her hopes and dreams had come crashing down around her. She had not identified her father, she would never have her shop, and she’d be lucky to escape this awful quandary with her neck intact. And she had only herself to blame.
She drew a ragged breath and blinked away tears before pivoting back toward Carlin. He hadn’t bothered to return to his seat. He was lounging beside her on the chaise, watching her. A certain grimness lingered at the corners of his mouth, yet that harsh severity had eased, and he merely looked like the arrogant duke of their first meeting.
If his mood had mellowed, even a little, then she desperately needed to press her advantage. The alternative was to be imprisoned on false charges. “Please, Carlin, you must believe me,” she implored. “I’ve told you everything. And I beg you not to have Orrin arrested. He came here today only to tell me that he’s been making inquiries about where Mama may have been employed. So take out your wrath on me if you like, but not on him.”
During her speech, Tessa unthinkingly extended her hand across the cushion to touch Carlin’s. How warm and strong his fingers felt, how dearly she wanted him to caress her as he’d done in the library. Then she realized her foolishness. Lud, now he would think she was trying to work her wiles on him.
Yet when she tried to withdraw, he gripped her fingers for a stirring moment and gave her a brusque nod before releasing her. “I won’t turn either of you in to the law. But I intend to do a thorough investigation. As to your father, we’ll see what can be discovered when the book arrives.”
Relief welled up in her and bubbled forth in a tremulous smile. “I-I don’t know what to say except … thank you. I vow, I didn’t come here to steal any treasure map. I knew nothing about it when I applied for the post.” Seeing the value of a little self-enhancement, she added, “I’m truly sorry for lying, but pray consider, if I’d confessed my background from the start, you wouldn’t have hired me. And Lady Sophy would still be terrorizing the nursery staff.”
An appreciative glint lit his dark eyes, though it didn’t quite reach his lips. He stood up. “We’ll discuss my daughter later. For now, you’re to stay inside this house. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, of course.” Tessa also arose, feeling as light as air without the weight of her secrets. A way to make restitution occurred to her. “I was thinking … even if I were to find my father, I needn’t leave your employ at once. Lady Sophy will require a proper governess eventually, but it’s too soon yet and you won’t want her to lapse back into bad behavior. Of course, that’s only if … if you wish for me to remain here for a time.”
“We shall see. I’ve other things on my mind at present.”
The robbery. In all the turmoil over her own fate, she’d nearly forgotten there was a thief to apprehend. She glanced around at the remaining chaos. “This was no ordinary burglary, Carlin. If it was about the treasure map, surely that confirms the culprit was someone who was here yesterday evening.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Frankly, I don’t know what to think.”
Because he’d been certain it was her and he hadn’t yet considered anyone else. So Tessa speculated on his behalf. “Well, if I were a thief, I’d have hidden myself somewhere in the house after the lecture. There are any number of places on this floor, or perhaps even upstairs in one of the unused bedchambers. Then I’d have waited until everyone was asleep, searched for the diaries, and left by the back door. It was unlocked, you’ll recall.”
Carlin went to pull the bell rope. “I’ll assemble the footmen who were on duty last night. They’ll know if any visitor was not observed to have departed.”
“Of course there’s another possibility,” she mused, picking up one of the framed paintings from the floor. “The villain may have left through the front door and then sneaked back inside by way of the garden before Roebuck locked the doors. In which case, it won’t do any good to question the footmen.”
“Very true. Has anyone ever told you, you have the mind of a criminal?”