Page 5 of Brazen Rogue
They entered a room that was front facing of the estate, with a large bank of windows, two open to allow the warm breeze to float inside. Reign smiled at the nanny, who sat on a rocking chair, reading a book, as a little girl dressed in riding attire sat on a wooden horse, rocking keenly and listening.
Upon seeing him, she squealed and ran over to his lordship, where she was hoisted up and spun about.
Lord Lupton-Gage kissed his daughter's cheek and smiled at her. Reign had never seen such a handsome smile in her life. For all the weeks she had known him in London, she had never seen him so happy. It was clear as the sky outside on this sunny day that the marquess loved his daughter dearly.
"Lady Alice, let me introduce you to your new governess, Miss Reign Hall. She is a lady whom I once knew, many years ago in London, who's to be your friend and guide and teach you. I hope you will be extra gracious and listen to everything Miss Hall has to tell you," he said, meeting Reign's gaze a moment, his attention dipping to her lips.
She swallowed the nerves that fluttered in her stomach at his look. She had seen that hunger before and recognized it well. That look had given her the courage to kiss him one balmy night in Town, and what a kiss it had been too.
"Hello, Miss Hall. Thank you for coming to teach me," the little girl's sweet voice said. She glanced back to her father with a small grin on her lips as if to seek his approval.
Which, of course, she received. His lordship was gracious to his little girl, it seemed. "Very good, Alice," he said.
Reign dipped into a curtsy. "It is lovely to meet you too, Lady Alice. I look forward to getting to know you and having our lessons. I'm certain we shall have lots of frivolities together."
"Not all levity, I hope," the housekeeper interjected. "Lady Alice must be intelligent and learned. We cannot have all fun and games afoot," the older woman said, her voice brooking no argument.
"Of course, Mrs. Watkins." Reign dared not say anything else. She would have to ensure they had such activity when not in front of the housekeeper.
ChapterThree
Bellamy excused himself and Alice and started for the stables. His heart beat far too fast for his liking, and he needed to go outside to get away from the temptation that was Reign Hall.
He may be a widower now, a man still young and virile, but he was not looking for a wife. He had suffered under the late Marchioness of Lupton-Gage and was not seeking to renew the role.
But Reign was nothing like Sally.
Where his wife had been cold and calculating, Reign had been warm and direct, not to mention loving, amusing, and sweet.
Hell, he had adored her.
He adored her still.
He ran a hand through his hair and inwardly swore. What the bloody, goddamn hell was she doing as a governess?
How the hell had such a blunder occurred?
"I hope it does not rain today, Papa," Alice said.
He turned and smiled at his daughter, whom he was still carrying. Deciding she could walk, he put her down, and she ran along at his side. "I'm certain it will rain at some point, but we shall make the most of it until it does," he said.
They arrived at the stables to find Misty, Alice's little pony, saddled. She lunged, more than ready for her afternoon ride.
As usual, Alice refused help into the saddle, preferring the mounting block instead. Bellamy let her go, willing to let her have the freedom to decide what was best for her. Without it, she could not learn.
He led the pony to the north field and unhooked the leading rope, allowing her to walk about the small, fenced area. For several minutes she walked and trotted before taking the pony up to a fallen tree log for the horse to study and sniff.
"She's very clever for a five-year-old," a feminine voice said at his side, startling him.
He turned to find Miss Hall staring at his daughter, a small smile playing about her kissable lips.
He took a deep breath and forced his attention back to his daughter. His body rioted, burned that she was beside him again, near him as she always should have been.
How had he not sought her out after his wife's death? How had he forgotten the sensations she brought to life in him whenever he was around her? Whenever he thought of her.
"She has been riding since she was three. Of course, her nanny did not approve, nor did the household, if I'm being honest. All were worried she would topple from the saddle and hurt herself, but she did not. I do not allow much, but I will allow her to try to jump the small log, and as you can see, it is barely ankle height."
Miss Hall chuckled, and he drank in the sound. It had been so long since he'd heard her laugh.
