Page 6 of A Lord's Bet of Desire

Chapter 3

Laura couldn’t help smiling to herself. Even though it was a gloomy day, she enjoyed the sound of the rain at Sage Brook, and it was humorous that she’d managed to sweep the same bit of floor four times. She was at a loss for what to do next. It occurred to her that the parlor could perhaps use some dusting, and Laura made her way there.

The rain caused her to be dreamy. She thought of her future life as a governess. Herimaginaryfuture life. Laura would finally no longer feel like a girl but a woman, rich with thoughts and learning. Perhaps because of her rise in station, she’d enjoy a bigger room with a remarkable view. Maybe she’d be able to take tea with the children and even dine with the family on occasion. Was she reaching too far? Although she knew these were only thoughts, they helped pass the time and monotony of the day.

What would she wear? How would she do her hair? What books would be awaiting her in her bedroom at night? The story unfolding in her mind was like a novel all its own. Her mother, Constance, always told Laura that dreaming and imagining were very important. After Laura’s father died, Constance said that she would dream of being reunited with him in heaven. She’d visualize every last detail of when they would be reunited again. Laura learned so much from her mother, and she was grateful that Constance taught her to dream.

Laura reached up to grasp her locket once more and was reminded of the horrible thing she overheard Percival say. It would be a tragedy if she lost her job. To push these troublesome thoughts away, Laura focused on the task at hand. In the parlour, she began to dust. It was an exquisite room, and Laura considered how delightful it would be to sit there all afternoon with a book and tea. That’s when she spotted the empty teacup sitting on a side table.

Laura went to fetch it to return it to the kitchen at once. Just as she picked it up, Laura heard footsteps enter the room, and she paused. They were heavy boots. Fear filled her as she considered that it was most likely the duke, and he’d be perplexed seeing Laura picking up a cup. Would he think that she was stealing? No, that was nonsense. Laura was merely doing her job.

Mustering courage, Laura turned quickly to rush out of the room. Her turn was so forceful that she found herself barrelling into the fellow’s chest. Laura gasped, embarrassed that she had done such a thing. Then, Laura looked up, expecting to see the duke.

What she found was a man taller than the duke and even more handsome. In fact, it was the most handsome gentleman that Laura had ever laid eyes on. Physical instinct took over, and Laura felt her legs go limp. The teacup dropped from her hands and crashed to the ground as Laura felt herself falling towards the floor. Just then, the man’s arms grasped her tightly to prevent the fall.

“Are you all right?”

“My word.” Laura brought a hand over her mouth.

“Are you faint?”

“I fear that I’m terribly sorry.” Once on her feet again, Laura looked at the shattered teacup on the ground and then back into the stranger’s dazzling eyes. It had to be Edward Pembroke. He took her breath away. Perhaps the most dashing man she had ever seen. Laura shook her head in confusion and disbelief. He slowly pulled his hands from her, and Laura regretted it. She wished to feel his grasp still. Then she felt shame.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for. It was a simple accident.”

“I’ve never broken anything in this house before.”

Edward smiled and chuckled. “I’ve broken plenty of items in my day.”

Laura had to wonder whether or not he was referring to female hearts. “Allow me to clean this up at once.” She got down on her hands and knees, picking up the pieces but felt his large, warm hand on her back, halting her.

“Surely, that’s dangerous.”

Laura watched as he knelt next to her, helping to clean up the shards. “I can’t allow you to do that, M’Lord.”

He looked deep into her eyes, as though he saw something fascinating there.

“What the devil is going on?”

She looked up, her heart racing in her chest. It was Percival standing in the doorway. Laura hastily got up off the ground. The situation had gone from bad to worse. First, she was speaking to a lord. Next, she was caught crouching with him on the floor. If Laura wasn’t going to lose her job before, she would certainly lose it now.

Edward spoke. “It was a harmless accident. The girl was cleaning, and I startled her.”

Percival knit his brow. “Surely, Your Grace, we can find someone else to clean that up.”

“As long as it’s not the girl.” Edward nodded towards Laura, his gaze still warm. “I fear that it’s dangerous.”

“I’ll get a footman,” Percival said. He paused and waited in the doorway, certainly waiting for Laura to leave the room. She hastily made her way to the door of the parlour.

Edward got up from crouching on the floor. “We could use some more tea in the library.”

Percival turned to Laura before she made her exit. “Laura, could you go fetch the tea while I get the footman?”

Laura curtsied. “Yes, sir.”

“And apologize to him for this interaction.”

Laura’s jaw dropped open, and she felt her cheeks flush. She turned to Edward and tried to speak, but Edward prevented it. “She need not apologize. There was no harm done.”

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