Page 49 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
The Duke sighed and sagged against the balustrade, “Am I that transparent?”
The Earl shook his head, “My friend, if I have noticed your attitude from halfway across the room, your wife must have, also.”
He grimaced at that sudden realization, “Edward, why in the blazes did I think I could do this?”
“And by ‘this’ I assume you have created some fallacy in your mind that you can love her from afar, no?” Edward smirked.
Moses levelled his friend with an evil eye, “Correct, curse you.”
“Which is curious,” Edward mused while tapping his chin, “How far is far when you two live under the same roof?”
“Sadly, not far enough,” Moses admitted. “I thought, foolishly, that just seeing her every day would put my mind at ease but…”
The Earl laid a hand on the Duke’s shoulder, “Get through this night, my friend, you owe it your wife. See if you can soldier through, Moses.”
Clenching his eyes tightly, Moses could not believe that his control was splintering at the edges. “You’re right, Lavinia does deserve this night.”
Straightening his tailcoat, and tugging his sleeves out, Moses clapped Edward on his shoulder, “Let’s get back in there.”
* * *
Dark blue eyes slowly read over the lyrical lines of the solemn Greek tragedyTroilus and Criseyde, by Chaucer. The last few days had found her disconsolate and though Caroline suspected why it was, she never dared to examine it too closely.
Hiding in a corner nook of the library, the governess could hear strains of music wafting up from the grand ballroom. It was a night of pomp and showmanship of old jewels and grand dresses. It was where nobles came to amuse themselves and ignore the harshness of the world around them by submerging themselves into the creation of glitter and gold.
It was nearing to one in the morning, but Caroline could not make herself leave the book.
Tomorrow is Saturday, I have no duties and I may be able to sleep in.
She had just passed the section where Troilus became lovesick and fell ill, immersed in her reading, when a deep voice jarred her.
“You should not read in such low light, Caroline. You will damage your beautiful eyes.”
Instantly, her heart started to skip its natural beat but she managed to gently close the book and set it down. “And I believe you should be at the party below, Your Grace.”
She stood up but could barely see the man because of the darkness of his clothes that merged with the gloom around them and rendered him ghostly.
“Caroline.” His voice was deep with censure.
Her head dipped slightly as the soft criticism made her redden, “Forgive me, Moses…old habits are hard to break, but why are you not dancing?”
The soft smile he gave her did wonderful things for her soul. “I was, but over time the music and partners became…repetitive and tiresome.”
For several long seconds they held one another’s gaze as he approached her and held out his hand, “And then I remembered there is one lovely lady I have not danced with. My friend Edward is covering for me. I have little time, but would you do me the honor of dancing with me, Miss Robins?”
“In a stuffy library?” Caroline asked askance, even as she reached out to him, “There is no music.”
“Yes, there is,” Moses replied while clasping her hand in his and pushing out the nearest window to allow the music from below to inundate the room.
There was something in his deep verdant gaze that drew her and held her in. His hand framed hers and the other slipped to just under her left shoulder.
“Have you ever danced before?” he murmured.
“No,” Caroline replied breathily as she was enveloped by his strength and magnetism. “I have not.”
“Just follow my lead then,” his voice had fallen to a husky tone that sent shivers through her.
Slowly he moved and tentatively she followed, frettingly mindful of not stepping on his toes, but still found her feet clashing with his. Caroline twisted her face away in mortification only to hear him laugh.
