Page 23 of Enthralled in the Governess' Gaze
Victoria could not help her small smile. The three continued to work, and it was not too long before Lily started to show signs of exhaustion. Soon, she was curling up in the corner of the fort and tucking her head into her arms. Victoria knelt next to her and stroked her hair.
“Lily, darling,” she whispered. “Shall I take you to bed so you can nap more comfortably?”
The little girl mumbled something that Victoria could not understand, so she decided to take it as a yes. She moved to pick Lily up, but Lord Harford put his hand on her shoulder. Victoria froze at his touch and looked up at him, her cheeks flushing. It was a reaction she could not control, which only made her more anxious.
“Let me help you,” Lord Harford said. “I can carry her.”
Swallowing, Victoria nodded and murmured, “All…all right.”
She moved so that he could bend down and pick the little girl up off the floor. Lily immediately snuggled into his chest, her eyes still closed and her breathing growing even and steady.
Lord Harford carried Lily out of the fort, and Victoria followed close behind. They made their way out of the library and down the corridor toward Lily’s room. Neither Victoria nor Lord Harford spoke a word as they walked.
Victoria found herself growing anxious as the silence stretched between them. She did not like how nervous Lord Harford was making her. She was not the type of young lady who was so easily intimidated, but there was something about him that put her on edge.
Entering Lily’s room, they crossed to her bed, and Lord Harford waited until Victoria pulled the covers back before he put Lily down. Victoria tucked the little girl in and brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over her forehead.
Smiling softly, Victoria straightened and turned to find Lord Harford watching her intently.
Startled, she murmured, “Is…is something wrong, Lord Harford?”
The corner of his lips twitched as though he were trying not to smile.
Shaking his head, he answered, “No, Miss Clifford, nothing is wrong. Quite the opposite, actually.”
Victoria arched a brow. “Indeed? What does that mean, exactly?”
At that, he chuckled. “Only that…well, I wish to thank you, Miss Clifford.”
“Thank me?” She flinched at how surprised she sounded. How could he not take that as some sort of insult?
To her relief, his grin only widened. “Yes, indeed. I do not remember the last time I had so much fun, and I have you to thank for it. For allowing me to join you two.”
Victoria stared at him a long moment before she managed to murmur, “Oh, well…you are quite welcome, Lord Harford. I know Lily enjoyed having you help us.”
He nodded. “Yes, well…it was a delight.”
For a moment, the two stared at each other, and Victoria felt as though there was something unsaid hanging in the air between them. What that might be, she was not certain, but she waited to see if he would say anything more. For a moment, it looked as though he might. His lips parted, and his shoulders tensed, but before any words left his mouth, he cleared his throat and glanced away from her, breaking the connection.
“I will let you get back to your day,” he said. “Thank you again, Miss Clifford.”
“You are very welcome, my lord,” Victoria replied in a soft voice.
She watched him turn and walk out of the room. A part of her wished to stop him, but she could not say for certain why. What more could she possibly have to say to him?
Giving her head a quick shake, Victoria tried to push Lord Harford from her mind. He was right. She needed to get back to her duties, and she could not let herself be distracted by him.
A single pleasant afternoon together did not change her opinion of him…that would be silly.
Stealing a glance back at Lily to make sure the girl was still asleep, Victoria made her way out the door and into the corridor, determined to think of Lord Harford no more.
Chapter 14
That night, Victoria went to dinner, nervous about seeing Lord Harford again. Would he bring up their afternoon together? Would he return to being arrogant and exasperating? Or would he continue to be sweet and engaging? The uncertainty of it all had her stomach in knots when she walked into the dining room.
To her surprise, Mrs Radcliffe was the only person inside. There was no sign of Lord Harford.
Mrs Radcliffe smiled when she saw Victoria.
