Page 49 of The Moonstone Governess
She winced. “Well, it does not make me respectable, either.”
“You are curious, that’s all. Never mind about this little incident. We are past it now. Do you have more to tell me about our project?”
“Actually, is this not a perfect day for us to go through these fabric books and make our selections?”
He leaned back and propped his hands behind his head. “Oh, joy,” he said dryly. “Can’t wait to get started. Selecting drapery. What man can resist such fun?”
“I see your point. It is rather dull for you.”
“I am exaggerating, Brenna. Why don’t you sort through them and then show me your selections? I have some Claymore estate matters that require my attention. We can work side by side. Interrupt me whenever you feel it is necessary.”
“All right. That sounds nice.”
Yes, it was nice having her beside him as they each attended to their tasks. The doctor had wrapped a protective bandage around her head and given her some laudanum to quell the pain. She ought to have looked exhausted and disheveled, but to Daire, she looked like a beautiful, doe-eyed waif.
Daire truly felt bad about what had happened. “Feel free to treat this suite as your own, Brenna. Don’t overdo it. Take a nap if you feel tired. Tug on the bellpull if you require anything to eat or drink. Take your meals in here, or if you are feeling strong enough, you can join me in the dining room. And to be clear, because you are very thick about this, all is to be charged to my account.”
She pursed her lips, but did not object.
Daire spent the next hour attending to Claymore estate matters. He was just finishing up when Felicity rushed in carrying a leather satchel that turned out to hold her designs for the Stoningham Manor garden.
“Stay,” he said, wanting her to serve as chaperone to replace the sourpuss maid whom Thaddius had installed as watchdog over Brenna. The maid was the same one Brenna had accidentally bumped into this morning when darting out of his suite. This woman had a perpetual frown that Daire, quite frankly, could not abide.
Brenna smiled in relief when the dour woman left. “Felicity, I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I had to come as soon as I heard you were hurt. What happened?”
Brenna told her the cleaned-up version, omitting Daire’s stupid remark that had shot her out of here like a fireworks rocket.
“Let me see your garden designs, Felicity.” Daire motioned for her to take a seat beside Brenna and make herself at home. “Would you care for tea?”
She nodded. “I’d love a cup. It is so raw out there, but the rain has slowed to a drizzle and should end soon.”
She and Brenna chatted quietly while he skimmed through her drawings. “These are excellent,” Daire said with some surprise. Yes, Brenna had told him that her cousin was good at her work, but this was professional quality. He had few modifications to suggest and was surprised she had put something this impressive together so quickly.
“You must have worked all night after yesterday’s tea party to complete these drawings,” he remarked.
Felicity nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t mind. I’m looking forward to putting these ideas into effect. With your approval, of course.”
Since Felicity obviously had a good eye for color and form, he suggested she assist Brenna in choosing the fabrics for Stoningham Manor’s new bedding and drapes.
“I would love to help,” she said, scooting her chair even closer to Brenna’s and asking about her choices so far. “Oh, these are lovely.”
Brenna nodded. “I thought so, too.”
As the mantel clock struck the eleven o’clock hour, he excused himself and headed down the hall in search of Thaddius. It felt as though an eternity had passed since he’d run into his suite completely drenched, but it was no more than late morning now, and only a few hours had gone by. “Thaddius, have my friends started packing yet?”
“No, my lord. As far as I know, only Lord Hollingsworth is ready. The others are still dawdling abed.”
“Abed? Blast,” he muttered. “Send one of your maids to rouse them. If they give her trouble, she is to tell them it is at my command.”
“Well, can you really blame your friends? It is not a day for travel,” Thaddius remarked. “Even the morning mail coach is several hours late.”
“I don’t care. The storm is ending, and I want them gone.”
Thaddius swallowed hard, no doubt caught off guard by his harsh tone. “Yes, Your Grace.”
Daire noticed a look in the innkeeper’s eyes and understood what he was thinking. Would he behave like this toward Brenna when he tired of her? He had been kindness itself to Brenna this morning, but what about tomorrow? Would he curtly toss her out on her ear, as he was now doing with the Hollingsworths and their cousin, Lord Danson, all of whom had joined him here year after year?
