A Matter of Duty Read Free

her, for to be sure you’re a truly delightful person, Miss Cherington, and had I known before that you were residing beneath the parental roof, I vow I’d have returned sooner.’
    She wished he wouldn’t speak to her like this, and she remained cool and unresponsive. ‘You wouldn’t have returned earlier, sir, you’d still have come for Cowes.’
    ‘Ah, cruel heart, determined to dash my romantic aspirations.’ His eyes were warm and dark, inviting so much. ‘But nothing will dash the fact that I find you a most enchanting diversion, my sweet Miss Cherington.’
    She drew warily back. ‘Sir, you shouldn’t—’
    ‘Say such wickedly improper things? Probably not, but then I’m a wickedly improper fellow.’
    She said nothing to this, and her silence was eloquent.
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘You have surprising spirit, for a governess. You intrigue me, for you’re obviously from a good family and yet you’re reduced to seeking a position. What happened? Did your father lose all on the turn of a card?’
    She flushed. She hadn’t said anything to anyone about her family background, for to do so would be like being disloyal to her brother Tom, who may have been at fault but was still loved very much. ‘My parents are both dead, sir, and neither of them was at fault.’
    He noted the emotion he’d accidentally tapped. Maybe he could throw her off guard by pressing the point. ‘Was it your brother, then? Or maybe a cousin? Who was it, Miss Cherington? I know it was the turn of a card, it always is. Devil take it, I should know the truth of that.’
    ‘I don’t wish to discuss it, Captain Lawrence.’
    ‘You may not, Miss Cherington, but I’m afraid I do. Come now, satisfy my vulgar curiosity. Who was the selfish bounder who squandered it all and robbed you of your chance to make an advantageous match?’
    The color still stained her cheeks. ‘Please, sir, I really don’t wish to discuss it.’
    ‘Humor me, Miss Cherington,’ he said softly, giving her not an inch. ‘Name the black sheep.’
    She knew he had no intention of dropping the subject. Perhaps it would be wiser to say. ‘It was my brother, and please don’t call him a black sheep.’
    ‘Your brother, eh? And is this disreputable sibling still with us? Or has he passed into the hereafter as well?’
    ‘He’s still alive, sir, and he most certainly isn’t disreputable.’ She was stiff and on the defensive.
    ‘Why, I do believe you’re still fond of the wretch. My dear Miss Cherington, the knave doesn’t deserve your affection, he deserves to be castigated for his sins, because instead of protecting you, he’s failed in his duty in every way.’
    ‘That isn’t so!’
    ‘No? Does he visit you? He doesn’t, does he? I’ve made it my business to inquire about you, and I’ve ascertained that you haven’t received a single visitor in the year you’ve been here.’
    Her eyes flashed at that. ‘Sir, you had no right to pry into my affairs.’ Her anger made her forget for a moment that she was only the governess, whereas he was the son of the house.
    ‘On the contrary, Miss Cherington, I had every right. You are, after all, employed in this house.’
    She colored, looking quickly away. Another echo of thunder rolled in the distance.
    He watched her. Dear God, how tempting she was, so virginal and fresh, just waiting to be aroused. And that spirit, oh, how satisfying it would be to master it, to master everything about her….
    She made to go on down the staircase. ‘Please, sir, I must get the glass of milk.’
    He remained firmly in her way. ‘We haven’t finished yet, Miss Cherington. I believe we were discussing your brother. Why doesn’t he visit you? Is he ashamed of having reduced you to this?’
    Her tongue passed nervously over her lips. How was she going to escape from him? She glanced back up the staircase.
    ‘My sister’s asleep, I’m sure of it,’ he said. ‘You haven’t answered my question, Miss Cherington. Why