Page 9 of Taming the Scot
Owen, however, did sense a stranger and came trotting from somewhere with a snuffling growl until Euan clicked his tongue. But the lass was kneeling and giving his hound an exuberant welcome that Owen seemed to enjoy. Considering the dog didn’t like most people, this was a good sign.
Miss Holmes stood, one hand resting on Owen’s head and the other clutching her valise. “Well, are ye going to introduce me to my charge?” She glanced about the foyer, her eyes flicking up the stairs, before settling back on him.
So, she had assumed her charge would be a child. Well…that was not a point in his favor.
“We have yet to complete the interview,” Euan said, stalling for time in hopes his sisters would appear and help him out.
“Oh.” Miss Holmes pursed her lips, clutched her valise a little tighter, judging by the white of her knuckles. “That’s right, the interview.”
The lass had spunk; he’d hand her that. She wanted the job without an interview. He supposed he ought to let her know now what was happening, so she knew what she was getting into before he wasted more of her time. There was every chance, given her no-nonsense demeanor, when she learned he was the one in need, she’d stalk right out, asking him for a refund on her ship’s passage.
Here it goes…
“Ah, as to your charge. Alas, I am him.” Euan exacted an exaggerated playful bow intended to break the ice between them and lessen the surprise that he needed her services, not a wee one.
Miss Holmes cocked her head to the side and stared at him with curiosity, not at all moved by his bowing. “Ye?”
Euan straightened. “Aye.”
Owen slumped to the ground, bored with their back and forth, it would seem.
“Ye need a governess?” She frowned, appearing ready to admonish him. And then her gaze took on a pitying look that he disliked immensely. “Are ye addled, then?”
Euan chuckled. That was not at all what he’d expected, and he took a lot of joy in her question. “Perhaps I am.” And he might be, given he needed a governess to begin with. He winked, hoping to soften her, and then was shocked once more when she didn’t even twitch. She seemed to be looking down her nose at him. “In truth, I need a governess to teach me the ways of gentlemen so that I can find a suitable wife for marriage. I’m afraid I’m a bit unrefined.”
Miss Holmes, ostensibly unmoved, studied him from the top of his head down to the tips of his boots. “Ye seem refined enough to me. Albeit, I would have expected ye to dress better.”
He raised a brow when she returned her gaze to his face. A flicker of something flashed on her countenance, and then she bit her lip, turning away from him, hiding whatever her stormy gray eyes might have revealed. What she didn’t know was that prior to her arrival, he’d been practicing his punches in his gymnasium.
Euan straightened, feeling uneasy and as underdressed as she’d pointed out. Usually, women were much easier to disarm than Miss Holmes—usually, they wanted him to be even more disheveled. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Alas, I assure ye, my sisters have informed me I need help, which is why I put the advert in the paper.”
From the way her breasts pushed against the blue bodice of her gown, he surmised she was taking a very deep breath. “And here I am. Have ye interviewed anyone else?”
His gaze snapped back up. “I’m afraid no’.”
She frowned, and he guessed she’d seen where his gaze had fallen a moment ago.
“I see,” she said. “Why do ye suppose that is?”
Euan was stunned for a moment into silence. The lass was quite straightforward, and he didn’t know how to respond. He felt as he had as a lad when his mother had been lecturing him on something stupid he’d done.
“My guess is no’ enough time has lapsed,” he said.
“Hmm. Perhaps. Or it’s because they know ye’re a grown man.” She set her valise at her feet.
“Well, I said as much in the advert.” He tried to remember the exact wording, fairly certain he’d said it was for himself, but now he was having doubts. There had been so many versions…
“Nay, I think no’. I was under the impression it was someone from your household.”
Well, there he had it. She wasn’t interested. “So ye do no’ wish to proceed then.”
“On the contrary.” Miss Holmes flashed him a winning, bright smile that revealed the tiniest chip in her front tooth. “I’d be delighted, Captain. And I accept. I think this interview went quite well. Now, if ye would show me to my room, we can discuss my salary after I’ve had a chance to freshen up.” She wagged her finger at him. “Lesson one—a gentleman always allows a lass to freshen up.”
That was indeed a lesson he knew well, given his six sisters had drilled it into his head many a time. Still, Euan was once again struck speechless. Had the lass just hired herself for the position? Because he did not recall…
Her foot started to tap against the tapestried rug, and Owen snuffled her toe.
Euan straightened. “Aye, Miss Holmes, this way.”
