The Governess's Earl (Grace-by-the-Sea #4) - Regina Scott Page 0,1

Miss Denby seated in one of the heavy-armed chairs in the study. Felicity had laughed at the pretentious red and black dragons entwined on the velvet seat, but then again, his late wife had had a way of making the darkest day seem bright.

He made himself smile at the waiting lady. “Miss Denby. Forgive me for keeping you.”

“Punctuality is a prize few attain,” she replied, and he had to stop himself from apologizing again. Odd. She wasn’t imposing or stern-faced. Indeed, her gown of sea-green wool was tailored to a trim figure, and the patterned shawl over her shoulders might have graced any young miss in London. The only things about her that were the least intimidating was the way her warm brown hair had been pulled back into a severe bun behind her head and the lorgnette hanging from a black ribbon about her neck, as if she would raise it to her clear blue eyes to study his character.

But he was the master here, the one intent on hiring a governess. He would be the one asking the questions.

“Indeed,” he said, taking the seat beside her. “Is punctuality a lesson you generally impart to your charges?”

She regarded him. “I have no need to impart it, my lord. My charges are seldom late.”

Slippery. He kept the smile on his face. He’d learned a few tricks from his father, after all. Never let your guard down. Never allow them to become aware of your indecision. “I see. I assume you brought references to such, from previous employers.”

She clucked her tongue. “I would never advise making assumptions on such short acquaintance.”

Drake opened his mouth, then shut it again. What was it about this woman that put him in so defensive a position?

He gathered his dignity with difficulty, raising his chin and squaring his shoulders. “Exactly how much experience do you have as a governess?”

She glanced up at the ceiling as if counting the beams that crossed it. “Six years, three months, and eighteen days.”

Well, that was something, both the amount and the precision. Though she must have started rather young. She could not be much beyond five and twenty. “And how many charges have you schooled during that time?”

“One.”

Drake raised his brows. “One?”

She cocked her head. “Yes. I distinctly said as much. Have you a difficulty with hearing or recall?”

Though the question was said with all solicitation, it was still just this side of impertinent.

“One child is insufficient experience for this position,” he explained.

Her eyes widened. “But you only have one child. Why would you need a governess with experience schooling more? In any event, if you require additional evidence as to my capabilities, I started the dame school in Upper Grace and developed its curriculum before leaving it in my older sister’s capable hands.”

So she hadn’t actually taught there either? He felt as if the bookshelf-lined walls were closing in around him. “Miss Denby, you seem unsuited for the role of caring for my daughter. She has been through a great deal for having only attained nine years. She requires encouragement, nurturing.”

“Precisely why I applied,” she insisted. “Lady Miranda and I have much in common. She lost her dear mother a year ago, I understand. I lost my father when I was eight.”

The memory of Felicity’s death was all too vivid. He would not have wished such an experience on any child. “My condolences.”

She did not pause to acknowledge his comment. “Furthermore, through a change in circumstances, Lady Miranda finds herself in a new home in a new location. I too had to leave our home in Kent for Dorset to live with my uncle after my father’s death.”

Perhaps she had something to teach after all. He leaned forward. “How did you manage?”

She spread her hands. “As you can see, I grew into an educated woman capable of managing her own future. I would like to help Lady Miranda reach a similar happy state.”

Felicity would approve. She had refused to hire a nanny or governess, preferring to care for Miranda herself. He had never seen such love and devotion, even if she tended to let their daughter do whatever she liked. He had been desperately trying to act in her stead for the last year.

Now that he was earl, he no longer had the luxury of spending all his time with his daughter. He must find a way out of the financial chasm his father had dug for them, do his duty in Parliament when it started up again in