Page 34 of The Moonstone Governess
Her mouth rounded in anOas that sharp brain of hers took in his words. “Seriously? Are you suggesting you can buy this village ten times over?”
He nodded. “Probably closer to twenty. Little dove, stop fretting for me. I am contributing to the economy of Moonstone Landing, am I not? This is good for everyone.”
It was especially good for him because it was time for him to ingratiate himself with the villagers. But he also liked that Brenna was trying to be frugal on his behalf. Not that he wanted her to do it, but everyone turned beady-eyed and conniving once they realized how wealthy he was.
Not Brenna, however. There was no greed in this girl. She did not want his money.
Of course, she did not wanthim, either. He hoped her feelings would change in time.
Though perhaps he should not desire this. If there was one thing Daire did not wish for, it was complication.
“How are you getting to St. Austell Grange?” Daire asked as he walked Brenna back to her cousin Cara’s cottage. Another thing he did not like was that she was living alone. It did not matter that half the cottages on this quiet beachfront street were occupied by members of her family. What was to stop Albert from sneaking in one night and having his way with her? Or abducting her?
Well, that was probably not going to happen. The man was a professor, not a pirate.
“I’ll ride up with one of my uncles,” she said with a casual wave of her hand.
“You are welcome to ride in my carriage,” Daire offered.
She laughed and shook her head. “Oh, dear me. No. Your friends are too glittery for me. I shall look like a lump of coal and have to endure their sneers the entire way there.”
“I won’t be sneering.”
She arched a delicate eyebrow. “Daire, surely you realize that you are more dangerous to me than all of your friends combined.”
She had called him Daire again.
Yes, he was dangerous to her.
Despite all commonsense efforts to resist this girl, it was inevitable she would end up in his bed, because he could not seem to get enough of her. He was not the sort to settle for less than claiming all of her.
And it was just as inevitable that if he bedded her, he would feel honor-bound to marry her, because she deserved better than to be used by him for a single night or to be taken on as his mistress.
Besides, once he got a taste of her, he did not think anything less than forever with Brenna would satisfy him.
Daire sighed. He walked her to her door and waited for her to disappear inside before he strode back to the inn to prepare for the tea party. He ordered a bath brought in, then marched to his suite of rooms, noting the elegant furnishings in the small sitting room that served as his private parlor, the blue silk settees and matching silk curtains. The decorative pillows were embroidered in tones of blue and yellow, and the carpet was clearly of finest quality, perhaps Aubusson or a fine imitation. The tables were of finely polished mahogany.
He strode into his bedchamber, an equally elegant room decorated in those same shades of blue and yellow, and stripped out of his clothes. He put on a robe of black silk, loosely fastened the belt at his waist, and then poured himself a port while waiting for the inn’s staff to bring in the tub and buckets of water.
He had no sooner poured his drink than he heard a knock at the door. “That was fast.”
Setting aside his glass, he crossed the room and paused with his hand on the knob. Thaddius was an excellent innkeeper and must have anticipated his needs.
To his surprise, Lady Gemma was at his door when he opened it, her eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger when she saw he was undressed. “I see I’ve come at the perfect time,” she said, her voice low and breathy.
Her nimble fingers undid the tie of his belt and teased aside the robe before he could stop her. In the next moment, she had her hands on his bare chest and was sliding them lower. He grabbed her wrists to stop her. “No, Gemma.”
She frowned. “Why not?”
“I’ve ordered a bath, and the inn’s staff will be along at any moment.”
“So what? That never stopped you before. I’ll wash your back for you,” she continued in that breathy purr that he found quite annoying at the moment. “I don’t mind being your serving maid.”
“For pity’s sake.” She was about to cup his privates, but he caught her hand once more, trying to be gentle with her despite his impatience. He turned her toward the door. “Out, Gemma.”
But she resisted and turned back to face him. “It’s that girl, isn’t it? You haven’t touched me or Sarah since we arrived here. Are you saving yourself for her? What is so special about that prim little nobody?”
“This has nothing to do with her. Can you not see I have responsibilities that are occupying my time?”
