A Governess for the faithless Duke (Regency Romance) (Regency Tales Book 3) Read Free Page A

between the master and any other women, especially ones under his roof.”
    They both sighed, thinking no doubt of the scandals attached to their master’s reputation. He had twice left women at the altar, and was becoming known as something of a rake in polite circles.
    “It will certainly do him no good to fool around with the hired help,” Mrs Thomson said. “In any case, he is hardly likely to see her, unless he calls for the girls, is he?”
    “I’m feel certain that he will at least want to meet the woman he has given the charge of his nieces over to,” Milton said, and then broke off to address the footman who was standing too close and obviously trying to listen in on their conversation. “Is there something that I can help you with, Thomas?”
    The footman shuffled guiltily away without responding. Milton shook his head disapprovingly and then turned to the housekeeper and said, “We shall see how it goes, Mrs Thomson. His Grace has asked to see me after breakfast. I will let you know what transpires.”
    They parted ways to continue the chores which awaited them, while the subjects of their conversation were above stairs variously employed in their usual morning rituals. His Grace the Duke of Marbleton was being helped into his riding boots by his valet, to whom he was giving strict instructions regarding his morning attire.
     
    “When I return, I wish to wear the grey suit. I must meet the new governess and then I have some business to attend to in the village.”
    “Yes, Your Grace,” the young man replied, brushing imaginary lint from his master’s shoulders.
    The Duke strode from his chambers and went out into the early morning air, while Charlotte for her part, having completed her ablutions, went up to the schoolroom to begin to ready it for the arrival of her charges. She had saved the apple from her supper, and once she was done arranging the room to suit her needs, she went to stand by the window and bit into it.
    Movement caught her eyes and she looked down to see a tall, broad-shouldered man striding quickly towards the back of the manor house. His hair was golden in the lightening glow of morning, and he cut a fine figure of a gentleman. She wondered idly if this was her new employer. No doubt she would find out soon enough. She had quite a list of things she would need to request that he purchase for her, so that she could provide the best education for his nieces. Turning away from the window, she finished her apple and went back down to her rooms, to read until it was time to return to start her day officially.

THREE
     
    When Edmund Roland strode into the schoolroom after breakfast that first morning, a number of things immediately became abundantly clear to him. First and foremost was the fact that he had brought a seductress into his house to teach his nieces. Her back was turned when he walked in, as she aided Mary Anne with some task, but she turned as she heard his approach, and his heart seemed to stall in his chest before galloping off in a frenzied beat once again.
    The young woman before him was a stunning beauty, with auburn hair that she had tamed into a severe bun at her nape. By the thickness of the bun, he could tell her hair was long, and by its shine he knew it would be lush, if he ever had the pleasure of seeing it unbound. He shook himself, aware that he was staring, because the second thing he noticed was her smile, which shone out like the sun at noon.
    “Good morning,” she said politely, smiling at him as she curtsied. “You must be the Duke of Marbleton. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”
    Her voice was sweet and pure, like the water flowing over the stones in the brook that bordered his gardens. And to hear it was to be stroked in all the places where a hand could not reach, and some where it could. He cleared his throat, trying to get his fuzzy brain to function, and returned her greeting, his own voice hoarse with his unexpected and apparently