Christine Merrill - Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess

‘Oh, really? My presence unnerves you?’ And he took a step closer, until there was very little space between them at all. ‘Is it just me, I wonder? Or are you flustered by other men as well ?’

‘Not you at all, My Lord. It is just that I am unaccustomed to such attention. While teaching.’

He laughed softly, and the hairs on the back of her neck rose as he whispered, ‘You are lying again, and not very skilfully.’

‘I swear I am not.’ But her voice became breathy as she said it, with a tone that was all wrong for the earnest denial she should mount.

‘I will agree that you are not accustomed to teaching. But, looking as you do, I find it hard to believe that you are unaccustomed to masculine attention.’ He was making no effort to hide an interest that she suspected had little to do with her knowledge of geography. ‘A simple governess would not dress the way you do.’

He stood very close to her. Too close. For she could feel the heat of his body on the bare skin of her throat. ‘Perhaps I shall not have to remove you. It will be better if you decide to remove yourself. For you must realise that it is dangerous for you to remain under this roof with me.’

Christine Merrilllives on a farm in Wisconsin, USA, with her husband, two sons, and too many pets—all of whom would like her to get off the computer so they can check their e-mail. She has worked by turns in theatre costuming, where she was paid to play with period ballgowns, and as a librarian, where she spent the day surrounded by books. Writing historical romance combines her love of good stories and fancy dress with her ability to stare out of the window and make stuff up.

Recent novels by the same autho r:

THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS

AN UNLADYLIKE OFFER

A WICKED LIAISON

*MISS WINTHORPE’S ELOPEMENT

THE MISTLETOE WAGER

(part of A Yuletide Invitation ) *Linked to DANGEROUS LORD, INNOCENT GOVERNESS

Somewhere in the writing of MISS WINTHORPE’S ELOPEMENT, it became clear to me that I was only telling half the story. The more I wrote, the more I became convinced that there was another whole book that would explain the behaviour of Tim Colton and his wife Clare.

Perhaps Clare secretly had a heart of gold. Perhaps things weren’t as they appeared between her and the Duke of Bellston. Perhaps she only needed love, and if I gave them a little time Tim and Clare could work out their differences and live happily ever after.

Or perhaps not.

And as I wrote, I discovered that I’d been leaving myself little clues as to how unhappy they really were together, and what might happen between the two of them once they were alone in Wales.

Once I stopped fighting the truth, the book all but wrote itself. My research became a weird mix: the nineteenth century, British horticulture, conservatory design, and old-fashioned gothic romances. The result was the story you are about to read.

Christine Merrill

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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To Jo Carr. May it always be this easy.

Chapter One

‘Her Grace will see you now.’

Daphne Collingham followed the servant to the door of the sitting room, and took an involuntary breath as she was announced. Was it always this intimidating to seek employment? She certainly hoped she would never have reason to know.

Once her mission here was finished, she could return to her real life in London. And she would miss none of the Season: the parties, the balls and the tiresome chore of hunting up a husband who would meet with her father’s approval. But for now she must remember that she was a humble governess, whose only intent was to make a future in caring for the children of the Colton household.

She tried not to shudder at the idea.

Perhaps it was worse for her because she knew that her petition was a sham. And while it might be rather nerve racking to meet a duchess on a social occasion, it was much more so when the duchess stood as gatekeeper to a place one wanted to enter. Even more so when one was still trying to memorise an employment history that one had bought off a stranger on a northbound coach.

The Duchess rose as Daphne entered, which was entirely unnecessary, given their difference in class, and reached out to take her hand. ‘Miss Collins.’

‘Your Grace,’ she responded with what she hoped was appropriate subservience.

The Duchess sank back on to the divan, and gestured her to a nearby chair. The woman in front of her looked more like a schoolteacher than the wife of a peer. But looks could be deceiving. Daphne hoped that the Duchess believed the same, for she doubted very much that she was managing to look the part of a prospective governess. Her curtsy alone should have given her away. It would have suited in a drawing room, she suspected. But she had practised curtsying like a governess in front of a mirror at the inn, and could not seem to manage it.

The Duchess narrowed her eyes as Daphne bowed to her, as though she had recognised the deficiency. It had not been unfriendly. Merely a sign that the fact had been noted, recorded and filed appropriately. The Duchess of Bellston suspected she would prove difficult.

But now, the woman was examining her references, and smiling. ‘These seem to be in order. Although they refer to you as Daphne. I understood, from your original letter, that your Christian name was Mary.’

‘There was already a Mary in the last house, your Grace. So they called me by my middle name, Daphne. I’ve grown to prefer it.’

The Duchess nodded. ‘Daphne. Very pretty. And it suits you much better than Mary.’

She certainly hoped so.

The Duchess was reading more carefully. ‘These are most exceptional.’

‘Thank you.’ She had laboured long to erase the name of their previous owner, and insert her own. The fact that they were exceptional forgeries needn’t enter into the conversation.

‘You have been in service long?’ There was a definite upturn at the end of the sentence, as though the Duchess had her doubts. Probably the fault of that damned curtsy.

‘When one enjoys one’s work, the time passes quickly.’

‘And you do enjoy your chosen profession, and are not doing it solely from duty, or a need to make a way for yourself?’

‘I adore children.’ And there was the biggest lie of all. For while she hoped that she would manage to adore her own, she had never found the children of others to be better than a necessary evil.

‘Excellent,’ said the Duchess, eager to believe her. ‘For that is just what this family needs.’ She looked at Daphne with the same searching expression she had used upon the paperwork. ‘The residents of this house have undergone a loss, and the children’s behaviour has been somewhat…’ she paused significantly ‘…difficult.’