Page 8 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘You don’t suppose that Redrow…’
The possibility had briefly crossed Amos’s mind. Redrow wouldn’t be the first gentleman to get carried away by the charms of a member of his female household. Martina was maturing into a rare beauty, with a glorious figure and a grace to match Ariana’s striking elegance. If Amos had not still been stricken with grief over his loss, Ariana’s charms would have tempted him many times over. But as a gentleman he would not have exploited her dependence upon him by forcing himself on her and was absolutely sure that Redrow would have curbed his passions similarly when it came to Martina.
But how well did a person ever understand their neighbours, Amos wondered. Every man had public and private faces. In society, one saw only what others wished a person to see. He knew nothing to Redrow’s detriment and Frankie was acquainted with his wife, which is how Martina’s appointment had come about, but even so…
‘I certainly hope not.’ Amos scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable with the subject matter. ‘You must get her to talk to you when she is feeling less distressed. You know very well that she is welcome to stay here for as long as she likes. If she really has given up her position then we will find something else for her that suits her better.’
‘Thank you.’ Ariana looked up at him with tears sparkling on her long lashes. That surprised Amos. She had learned to be self-contained and seldom allowed her emotions to show. If they had been discussing her own welfare, Amos was convinced that she wouldn’t have shed a tear. But Martina was her responsibility, her Achilles heel. ‘I don’t know why you are so good to us. So kind and understanding. I should have thought that you would be thoroughly fed up with us by now. We have been a dreadful trial to you.’
‘Nonsense! None of the things that have happened to you are your fault. My children adore you and have come back to life since you arrived. If I require thanks, seeing them happy and smiling again is more than reward enough.’
‘You are very kind,’ she said, looking away from him. Amos assumed that she required a moment to regain her composure, so he walked beside her without attempting to engage her in conversation. ‘You must excuse me from our ride today. It’s too hot and anyway, I must go to Martina.’
‘Of course you must.’
She continued to walk but showed no immediate signs of wanting to join her sister. ‘It’s so peaceful here,’ she said, as she so often did, and Amos assumed she must be comparing the tranquillity of the Park to the horrors of post-war Spain.
‘It occurs to me that my brother Vince’s nanny is about to return to Ireland to marry. There will be a vacancy for a children’s nurse just next door.’
Ariana’s face lit up, eradicating the worry lines that had formed around her eyes. ‘Do you think they would consider Martina for the position?’ she asked, cautious hope reflected in her expression.
‘I am sure of it. Who better? Then she would be just a few minutes away from you, but still able to maintain a certain independence. And,’ he added emphatically, ‘she would be treated with respect and decency. I’ll have a word with Vince, if you like.’
She touched his arm, then astounded him by standing on her toes and placing a delicate kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you,’ she said with heartfelt sincerity. ‘I don’t know what I would do without you.’
‘Your position here is secure so you need never find out,’ he replied.
‘I had best go and see to Martina, if you will excuse me.’
Amos did so and watched her walk away with swift and agile grace, her hips swaying beneath the flimsy muslin of her summer skirts. He felt himself stirring, something that hadn’t happened for a while, and for which he held Ariana entirely responsible. She was more tempting than she had any right to be, mainly because she had always held him at arm’s length. She treated him with the respect due to an employer but was also able to tease him out of his curmudgeonly moods when appropriate. She had certainly not shown the least interest in kissing him before now.
She must feel conflicted in this place, Amos thought. She was paid to look after his children, but Frankie also insisted that she dine with the family and ensured that she had the appropriate clothing to make that possible. He knew that she was anxious for news of her brother, lost somewhere in Spain since the war. No one knew if he was alive or dead but Amos had instigated investigations in that respect. These things took time and he would not raise Ariana’s hopes by discussing what he had done until he had positive news to impart.
He wondered if she would eventually decide to return to Spain and found himself feeling decidedly opposed to the idea.
‘Damn it, Crista,’ he muttered aloud. ‘I don’t want to think like that and it’s all your fault for leaving me.’
Disgruntled, he slowly made his way back to the house, touching the side of his face where Ariana’s lips had briefly made contact with it as he did so.
Chapter Three
‘I thought the countryside was supposed to be all peace and quiet,’ Ramsay complained as he helped Jared to dress the following morning.
‘Good heavens, whatever gave you that idea?’ Jared asked. ‘There’s just as much skulduggery in the country, but everyone knows everyone else’s business so there’s less chance of getting away with it.’
‘Blimey, I haven’t even met the locals yet. I was referring to the wildlife.’
‘Same thing,’ Jared replied, chuckling.
‘Damned foxes barking and owls doing whatever owls do and making a fine old racket about it. Kept me awake half the night. Then, damn me if the birds don’t start singing their blasted heads off right outside my window at first light.’
‘Less intrusive than the sounds and smells of Paris,’ Jared pointed out, not without sympathy for his man, who’d been a town dweller his entire life and had convinced himself that country life was dull in comparison. ‘Safer too. Give it time. It might grow on you.’
Ramsay pulled a doomed expression. ‘Anything’s possible, I suppose.’
‘Right, let’s to it.’
Dressed in shirt sleeves and ready to confront his first day as a country landowner, Jared made his way downstairs with the ever-faithful Thor close at his heels. Thor didn’t care where he went, just so long as he wasn’t parted from Jared. Since Jared had no objection to his company, the arrangement worked well.
