Page 10 of Last Night with the Duke
He was teasing her, but not in a mean-spirited way. She suddenly felt shy. If she could think of any way around telling him the truth, she would take it.
There was none, so she swallowed hard and allowed the words to tumble from her mouth before she could think twice. “I don’t have the proper clothing needed to chaperone young ladies to balls, parties, and other outings.” She looked down at her serviceable dress, which was one of her best, but nowhere near good enough to wear to a ball or an afternoon card party. She lifted her head and chin. Looking directly into his eyes, she swallowed her embarrassment and said, “I have women who do. Though you were kind enough to say I can bring my sister and her dog, I must ask again that you allow me to suggest someone else to chaperone your sisters.”
“Lack of appropriate clothing will not keep you from my employment either, Miss Swift.” He pushed his cloak aside and reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small drawstring bag. Once more he slowly reached around her, placed it on the desk behind her and picked up his hat.
Again, she sensed the warmth of his strong body. She caught a whiff of shaving soap and felt the brush of his arm against hers. This time, his nearness made her whole body feel as if it were melting.
“Surrender, Miss Swift. I have won this battle.”
Had he?
“There should be enough in there for gowns, day dresses, as well as anything else you might need. Go to Madame Donceaux’s Shop.”
“No, I couldn’t possibly take—”
“You will be working for me, Miss Swift,” he interrupted. “I provide livery for my driver and footmen. I provide work tools for my gardener, and pots for my cook. I will provide whatever you need in order for you to properly chaperone my sisters.”
Why did he have an irrefutable answer for all her arguments?
“I will pay you back every penny,” she insisted.
“Must you take me to task over everything I say?”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I am pleased that you want me to chaperone your sisters, but…” She stopped and took in another deep breath.
“Why do I get the feeling the final shoe has not yet dropped to the floor?”
“I must admit I’m suddenly feeling fearful that I am inadequate to properly chaperone two young ladies up to your expectations,” she admitted, knowing Miss Fortescue schooled her well but aware that she had no practical experience to draw from. Her mother had been ostracized from the family before Esmeralda made her own debut.
“If that is all that is bothering you now, then perhaps you should take your own advice, Miss Swift.”
A shiver of unease prickled her nape, causing a slight shiver. “What do you mean?”
“When you tell Lady Sara and Lady Vera what to do and they don’t do it, or when you tell them not to do something and they do it anyway, I expect you shall tie them to a chair and send them to bed without a crumb of bread to eat.”
Esmeralda’s back stiffened again, though from the expression in his eyes she could see he was teasing her. That bothered her all the more. “So youdideavesdrop on my conversation with Miss Pennywaite,” she accused. “I thought you had.”
“I didn’t eavesdrop. I overheard.”
“They mean the same and you know it,” she insisted as she once again tightened her shawl in indignation about her chilled shoulders. “Have you no shame for what you’ve done?”
“None whatsoever. But unlike Miss Pennywaite, I never considered you had done either to a child. I knew you were just trying to shock her into understanding what she must do.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me you’d listened to my conversation with her?” she asked crisply.
“And risk the wrath of someone I wanted to employ? That would have been foolish.”
“It would have been nice,” she countered. “You should have immediately cleared your throat to let me know you were there. Or, you could have said, ‘I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.’ Something!”
He smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders, irritating her even more.
“Neither of your suggestions crossed my mind. I wholeheartedly approved of the way you shook the governess to her core and sent her running from the room.”
“But there should not have been a witness to it.”
“On that I agree. But that said, you gave her good, sound advice and, like you, I hope she took it as you intended it. I’m sure you can take care of my sisters and if need be have both shaking in their skirts as well as you handled your employee.”
“If that was supposed to be a compliment, take my word for it, it wasn’t.”
