Page 29 of An Innocent Maid for the Duke
Right. He’d enjoyed it so much he’d bid them goodnight after half an hour. ‘I mean, we have not had an opportunity to speak privately.’
His lips thinned. ‘Nor should we. As my grandmother’s companion—’
‘That is precisely what I wanted to talk to you about.’
He looked puzzled and perhaps even a little angry, or was it something else she saw reflected in his gaze? ‘Is there a problem? The servants lacking in respect? If so—’
‘No, no. Everyone has been most kind.’ Extraordinarily respectful, in fact. As if she was some sort of duchess. Honestly? The only thing making her uncomfortable was him. Knowing he was there in the house, sensing his presence and feeling the disturbing need to seek him out as if there was more between them than employee and employer.
There wasn’t. There could not be. Yet no matter how often she told herself not to think about him, her mind kept going back to his kiss until she could barely sleep of a night. Taking this position had been a very bad idea indeed. The last thing she needed was to be led astray by a nobleman. She knew where that would lead.
He grimaced, put the brush down on the top of the rail and wiped off his hands on a rag. ‘Something is troubling you, Miss Nightingale, for you to seek me out here.’
He left the stall to loom over her. A half-step back and she was up against the central pillar. A snuffling from behind her made her jump and look around at yet another great beast observing her over the top of a half-door.
Westmoor put out steadying hand. A brief warm clasp on her elbow that sent hot shivers racing over her skin. She tried to ignore the reaction.
‘Steady on.’ He spoke in much the same tones as he had used on his horse. ‘They wouldn’t hurt you even if they weren’t all safely gated and barred.’
She inhaled a deep breath. Tried for calm. All she succeeded in doing was breathing in the scent of horses and him. The spicy scent of his cologne overlaid with the clean sweat scent of a male engaged in hard physical labour. A man who bathed regularly, ran a dukedom, yet took pleasure in grooming his own horse.
She gripped her hands together. ‘I want my old job back.’
Please let me go back.
* * *
Normally, Jake would have been far from pleased at being interrupted. The stable was one of the few places people left him alone. Gave him space to himself and his thoughts. His initial delight at seeing Rose in what he considered his domain had taken him aback. He’d been certain the distance he had created between them had solved the problem of his fascination. After all, a gentleman did not importune the females living under his roof.
He stared at her face, at the determination reflected in her eyes and her hands clasped tightly at her waist. He had no wish to keep her here against her will, but nor could he abide the thought of her returning to Vitium et Virtus or her old lodgings. ‘You would really prefer to go back to scrubbing floors and living in that dreadful building rife with rats and dirt and surrounded by thieves and vagabonds than work for my grandmother?’
She stiffened as if insulted. ‘There were no rats in my room.’
She had avoided his question. He moved a step closer. She had nowhere to go given the horse behind her. A suspicion arose in his breast. ‘Is it my grandmother? Has she been too outspoken? Too testy? She’s not the most patient person. Too used to getting her own way. Shall I speak to her for you?’
‘Your grandmother is the soul of patience.’ She gazed at him with pain in her eyes. ‘But I feel like such a fraud. She has to explain the simplest things. A real lady would know these things.’
This was reason for her anxiety? ‘I am sure she is only trying to be helpful.’ He saw from the way she recoiled this had not helped. He shrugged. ‘You catch on very quickly.’ That did not seem to help, either.
He reined in his anger at the idea she wanted to leave and called upon reason. ‘My dear girl, your fears are unfounded. A woman does not need a title to be considered a lady. I promise you no one would mistake you for anything else.’
She did not look in the slightest convinced.
‘And besides, you can’t leave, not when, for the first time in months, Grandmother is acting more like her old self. It is you who has wrought this change. It is not only your help she needs, I realise now, it is your company. She was lonely.’
Her eyes widened a fraction and for a second he saw a crack in her determination. She shook her head. ‘Surely when your sister arrives—’
If only it were so. ‘Eleanor will stay for a short time only and then Grandmama will be alone again.’
Rose gave him a look filled with suspicion. ‘Could you not prevail upon her—?’
‘No.’ He stiffened, realising he was about to be rude when he wanted to be conciliatory. He knew he was overly defensive where his sister was concerned, but he feared he had said more than he should. ‘I beg your pardon. Eleanor would not brook my interference in her life. Nor could I lay my duty on her shoulders. She has enough—’ He shook his head at the urge to unburden himself about his sister. These were his concerns and not to be shared. ‘My sister’s business is—’ Damn it all, now he was being rude.
‘None of mine,’ she finished. ‘You don’t have to mince words with me, Your Grace. But what will she think about the likes of me currying favour with your grandma when she arrives?’
‘I can assure you Eleanor will be as glad to see Grandmama come out of the doldrums as I am.’
She shook her head. ‘It isn’t right. Just look at this gown.’
