Page 20 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
Dear God, the chit possessed the same type of temerity Elizabeth Darcy had demonstrated with his cousin Darcy. “I possess not the least idea to what you allude,” he protested.
“You know,” she suggested with a lilt in her voice. “You are simply too much of a gentleman to ask them.”
“Such . . . such is ridiculous!”
“How might you think to assume your brother’s position, if a mere female flummoxes you.”
“You do not flummox me!” He was out of his seat and circling the desk to lord over her. The fact the woman did not draw back, but rather looked up into the fury marking his features was remarkable.
“Whatever you wish to believe, Colonel, shall be the ‘truth’ on your part,” she said with a small smile that infuriated him. At length, she expelled a heavy breath and stood, forcing him to step back. “Permit me to answer the questions you fear asking. How old am I? I shall be one and twenty in a few weeks.”
“You do not appear to be one and twenty,” he argued.
“Such is because I am not yet so old,” she corrected, “but you have my permission to evaluate my appearance again on that future date.”
Edward was not prepared to argue such claims. “You . . . you,” he stammered, “do not look old enough to . . . to . . .”
“To have the gall to argue with a man of your nature. To know umbrage at your lack of confidence in me. To have crossed the ocean multiple times. To have lived with war springing up all about me. To have the acquaintance of a number of people, including emperors and the plain, but obsessive, aristocrats. To have viewed the Parthenon, to have ridden upon the Venetian canals, and to have watched in horror as Napoleon Bonaparte rode through an area once owned by British forces in a victory parade. To have been kissed, though not by a man I wished to marry.”
As she spoke, Edward had been studying how her eyes sparkled with delight as she built to her conclusion—a conclusion he, without a doubt, had not expected.
“Do you expect me to kiss you, Miss Lambert?” he asked, edging closer still so she would be required to look up at him.
“Another man who does not mean to marry me? I think not, sir. I did not care for the previous experience. If you choose to employ me, I would prefer an ordinary handshake if you believe we must seal the arrangement in some manner beyond a spoken ‘yes.’”
“You do have a tendency to rattle on,” he accused.
“I am simply content to have such an attentive audience. I have never experienced such a contentious discussion from such a close proximity, though I suspect you are often nose-to-nose with new recruits and the like.”
For a few fleeting seconds, Edward thought to step back, but he would not permit her to know she had found a weakness. He desired her more than he would ever admit. Yet, he had a problem. He could not send her on her way without disappointing Lady Lindale’s children. Moreover, the eldest of Babcock’s children would soon be arriving at William’s Wood from school. Would it not be better for Lady Annabelle to have a person who had actually experienced a ballroom or a proper introduction, even if those experiences occurred during breaks in a larger-scaled battle plan, rather than a woman of Mrs. Peyton’s nature?
“I think we should permit you the opportunity to prove yourself to be a proper governess,” he said as he eased back to provide a space between them. Edward realized immediately that his choice was the correct one; even so, he wondered how he might stand to have her constantly within reach, as she was now. He would be required to increase his recruitment efforts in the surrounding shires. Eventually, it would be necessary for him to return to London and take the acquaintance of Miss Romfield, his betrothed. The idea was very sobering. He would wait until the Darcys departed for Derbyshire before he began his on-again-off-again days at his brother’s estate.
“I am willing to accept the position, but I fear we do not agree on the term ‘proper governess.’ Rather, I promise to teach the children of languages, mathematics, sciences, horticulture, with a bit of history and art. I am capable of teaching dance and manners, but a proper dance teacher and music teacher should eventually be employed, especially for the elder daughter, who I have yet to greet. All that being said, I would demand the right to change out some of the traditional lessons for those required of Lord Vincent’s singular attention and Lady Victoria’s need to protect her brother. Are these requests acceptable to you, Colonel?”
Wide blue eyes draped by dark lashes and brows met his, and Edward found himself wishing they had met under different circumstances. If so, the lady would require a large stick to beat him off. “Agreed, Miss Lambert.”
Chapter Nine
Thinking everything was settled between them, when Edward came down the following morning, he was surprised to discover only Darcy and Elizabeth in the morning room. “Is there something ill happening with the children and Miss Lambert? I expected to be the last down to break my fast. I was attending to necessary correspondence.”
“Rose and the children had finished their meals before Mr. Darcy and I came down. They were off to execute some sort of study of the flora and fauna found in the area. They had several specimen bottles, drawing pads, pencils, and the like with them. Miss Lambert said they may not return until the midday meal.” Mrs. Darcy explained. “My husband sent one of the footmen with them with instructions to stay with their small party.”
Edward was glad the lady had taken her duties seriously, but he regretted not having the opportunity to look upon the woman’s handsome features. “I am pleased Miss Lambert is prepared to step into her prescribed role in this household.”
Mrs. Darcy presented him an odd look. “Rose removed her things from the rooms I set aside for her to the room designed for the governess.”
“Meaning, my dear Elizabeth thought Miss Lambert should have asked your preference before the woman took herself off to the quarters designed for the position she holds in this household,” Darcy said with a teasing smile directed towards his wife. “I told her, though you might agree with her estimation of the woman, Lindale is very much the same type of stickler as is the earl. It is not for a governess to reside in the family wing.”
“Darcy is correct,” Edward conceded as he filled his plate from the offerings on the sideboard. “The children are already too fond of the lady. We do not yet know if Lindale and Lady Elaine will approve of Miss Lambert’s employment.”
“You have written to them?” Darcy asked.
“Last night. Mr. Torrence franked the letters to Matlock and to Lindale. This morning, I informed my supervisor I would be making calls from William’s Wood instead of pater’s home in Derbyshire for the time being. I left that letter on the tray when I came down, Torrence.”
“I will see to it, Colonel.”
Darcy asked cautiously, “What of your discussion with Miss Lambert? I assume as she is performing her duties to the children that you considered the woman satisfactory.”
