Page 43 of The Moonstone Governess
“Yes, I shall have a care for your reputation. But no one will be fooled. Their eyes may be on me, but my eyes will be on you, and everyone will know it.”
“Don’t say these things to me.”
“Why not? Should I not be honest with you?”
“Yes, you should… But…”
“What is troubling you?” He slowed his pace as they walked toward the makeshift dance floor, which was nothing more than long planks set out across the lawn.
“Your lady friends said you returned to Lady Dowling’s after last night’s assembly ball.”
He was not surprised they would make up these ridiculous lies. “But you saw me return. All I did was walk her home and come straight back to the inn.”
“I know. They were speaking of later, after I had gone home.”
“And you believe them?”
“Actually, no.”
He sighed in relief. “Thank you, Brenna.”
“Do not be grateful. I only find it easy to believe you because Lady Dowling has done nothing but cast me venomous looks since I arrived. She has claws, that one, and would have been looking at me with the smug confidence of a cat who had just polished off a bowl of cream if you really had spent the night with her.”
“I see.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Then good thing she is angry.”
Brenna frowned. “I do not like to be caught up in these manipulative games.”
“I know. I am sorry you are. The only way to avoid being drawn in is to have nothing to do with me, but this is the last thing I want. Hollingsworth’s sisters and Lady Dowling, for all their fine clothes and jewels, for all their elegant training and titles, are nothing compared to you. You are the true pearl among them.”
“Hardly.”
“A natural, exquisite pearl,” he continued. “People are always going to scheme because this seems to be the nature of most, especially those who want something from me. It is all the more reason why you are so important to me.”
“I suppose this is why you must be cautious, always alert to those who seek to use you because you are a wealthy duke…or trap you because you are one of England’s most sought-after bachelors.”
“I can do little to control them. However, I promise always to be honest with you. We are building a friendship here, and friends do not lie to each other.”
“Learning to trust you will take time.”
He nodded. “I look forward to the challenge.”
“I don’t. I am very afraid of what is going to happen.”
He took her hand as they joined the line of dancers. “And I am afraid of what might not.”
“What do mean?” She stared at him as they moved down the line in time to the music.
He could not answer as they parted to twirl with the couple in front of them, each of them now standing with a new partner for the moment.
But was his concern not obvious?
Brenna had the capacity to believe in others, for she had been raised with love and had a supportive family willing to come to her aid when necessary. She understood how to trust and what it meant to have unquestioned faith in a loved one.
She would not be afraid to make the leap and trust him once she felt the time was right.
But he had never put his faith in anyone in his entire life… Well, one person came close, and that was Juliana, the stepmother he always referred to as his mother, another of those rare, kind souls.
Perhaps this was all it took. If he had the capacity to trust his stepmother, then he might have the capacity to trust Brenna, too.
