Page 10 of The Moonstone Governess
But Brenna… He would have to work hard to claim her. It was his fault they had started off badly. In his own defense, it was not every day he brazenly kissed a woman he had just met. In fact, he had never done it before.
She assumed he wanted her as a bedmate.
But she was wrong. It was very possible he wanted her as someone more permanent.
However, not merely as his mistress. First of all, he did not believe in keeping a mistress, and never had, since they were a responsibility and could be as demanding as a wife. Nor did he like the thought of keeping a pretty bird trapped in a gilded cage. It was still a cage, and the pretty bird was not free, no matter how many expensive trinkets herkeeperprovided.
Second of all, Brenna was completely innocent and would not know the first thing about enticing a man in bed.
Though that innocence was enticing in itself. She was an angel, a glorious, beautiful, celestial being. And this was her family name, too. Angel. He had done some low things in his life, but never had he befouled an angel.
Perhaps she could become someone dear to him over time—he simply did not know.
She certainly remained in his thoughts, and he had never felt so invigorated after meeting someone. It made no sense, for she was nothing more than a prim, overly sentimental schoolteacher on the verge of becoming a spinster.
But gad, what a stunning spinster she was.
He liked her, despite her insolent attitude…which probably made him like her more.
Why was he thinking so much about her? It must be boredom, or a momentary madness on his part.
What else could it be?
Chapter Three
Daire decided thesesurprising feelings he had for Brenna were indeed a momentary madness, for who but a madman contemplated marriage within minutes of meeting a person? Not that he was seriously contemplating it, certainly not with this girl, who was nothing like the biddable ladies he usually came across.
Nor would Brenna be in any way suitable, since he was a duke and she had not an ounce of noble blood. It did not matter that his body was still thrumming and his heart had not stopped racing from their earlier kiss.
She had said what he needed was salvation, not a home.
What if she turned out to be his salvation?
Blast, he was doing it again. Why could he not stop thinking of this girl?
Not that his thoughts were at all serious about her.
However, if they did turn serious, then what did he care what anyone thought about who he chose for a wife? Only his opinion mattered. If the Duke of Strathmore could marry an Angel, why couldn’t he?
“Botheration,” he muttered, chiding himself for allowing these far-fetched musings to invade his thoughts and completely swallow them up. His mind had been on nothing and no one but her since meeting her this morning.
Since kissing her this morning.
Bollocks.
He was being an idiot, and Brenna would be the first one to call him out on it.
Nor would Brenna ever believe or trust him if he chose to pursue something beyond the leasing of her house. How could she when he did not trust himself? He was still that coiled snake, and too dangerous for an innocent like her to handle.
He pushed thoughts of her out of his mind, yet again.
His friends were now awake and seated in wait for him at one of the grander tables in the inn’s dining room when he returned. They caught his attention as he tried to stride past them, so he could not ignore their gestures to come over.
They looked like a muster of peacocks, all of them overly dressed for this casual village, and impatient for him to relieve theirennui.
“Really, Claymore,” Lord Hollingsworth said, seated idolently in the chair beside the one Daire now took. “How long must we rusticate here? Why don’t we all head to Bath for the summer?”
Daire glanced at the others. “Is this what you all wish to do?”
