Well, that wasn't too surprising. Nowadays, there were only two types of people to interact with James. Those who were desperate enough not to care about the rumors or those who were too stubborn to care. If Mrs. May was the latter, then Alicia was the former.
"Tell her I'll see her shortly," James instructed with a sigh, "but I don't appreciate her turning up so late. If it had been another five minutes, I'd have turned her away."
"Of course," Archie said smoothly, "I know you do so hate when people can't keep time. I shall tell her right away."
James watched as he slipped from the study and back into the cold foyer. He caught another glimpse of the mysterious Miss Sempill too - dark hair in a high bun and fair, delicate skin. She was surprisingly young for someone wanting to be a governess, and James couldn't help but wonder what had brought her to apply for such a position. Especially one here, no less.
Then the door closed, and he was alone again. Truthfully, after the disaster of Mrs. May, James wasn't sure if he could face another interview. Jenny and Samuel were upstairs now, in the playroom right above him. He couldn't hear their feet pounding on the floor or their laughter as they concocted some new mischief, but he knew they were there. It was where they spent most of their days when they weren't being homeschooled.
Well, he couldn't put off this interview forever. As much as he would have liked to, it was rude to keep someone waiting, even if they did arrive late. It was something he would have to mention; to make it clear that it was unacceptable. He hoped that Miss Sempill was at least polite.
Straightening his back, James flicked a strand of short black hair from his eyes and squared his shoulders. The least he could do was make himself presentable. Then he slipped from behind the desk and strode to the door, hand curling around the handle.
When it swung open, he was greeted by the empty foyer. Even in summer, it was always cold, the enormous space drafty even when there was no breeze. Today, it left a chill in the air that made him shudder, and he hoped that Miss Sempill wasn't too cold from waiting out here.
A moment later, her eyes landed on him. They were a bright, clear green visible even from this distance and shone in the dull light from the chandelier. Miss Sempill wore a simple navy-blue dress with long sleeves and a modest neckline, although it hugged her slender figure nicely as she hopped to her feet.
"My lord," she curtsied and spoke quietly, her voice barely even echoing in the large entrance. "It's good to meet you. I apologize for not turning up on time, but-"
"We can talk about that later," James cut in and led her to the study. She perched on the massive armchair that Mrs. May had recently vacated.
"Now," James said stiffly, "let's begin."
Chapter Three
"Do you have any children of your own?"
Heat gathered on Alicia's cheeks as she ducked her head. Straight to the point, then. "No," she replied softly, showing her hands, "As you can see, I'm unmarried."
Lord Arvill had such bright blue eyes they almost seemed to glow, especially in the light provided by the enormous windows behind him. Although the sky was still dull, the sun peeked from behind the clouds enough to give his skin and eyes a healthy glow.
"Any siblings or cousins? Perhaps you looked after your neighbor’s children in the past?"
Alicia knew where this was going, and already nerves swelled in her stomach. "No, my lord. I've never looked after children before, but I'm a quick learner and I promise I can do whatever you need. They're your family, and I'll follow your direction."
His eyes narrowed in thought, and for a moment, Alicia thought she had said something wrong. Then he hummed appreciatively and scribbled something down on the paper in front of him. From across the enormous, wide wooden desk, she didn't have a hope of reading what it was. "You are aware that most governesses have their own style of child- rearing? While they take note of what it is the family wants, of course, they usually follow their own style and rules."
Alicia flushed hotly, wishing the floor would just open up and swallow her into its maw. At least, then she wouldn't have to go through the embarrassment of looking so incompetent. This was exactly what she had feared, and yet Rachel had told her not to worry!
"Am I to assume that you've never had this position before? I did think you looked awfully young, Miss Sempill."
She wanted to sink into her seat and disappear but forced herself to stay professional. No matter how embarrassing this was, it was still her last shot at getting a much-needed job. Without this, she'd soon be on the streets; a thought that made her stomach turn. "No, my lord, I haven't, but I believe the best tactic for unruly children has to be patience and kindness to teach them the right way to behave." After all, wasn't that how her own parents had brought her up before their deaths?
"And where have you learned this belief?"
The questions kept coming, and although she should have expected it, it still had Alicia's mind stuttering to keep up. She must have seemed so ridiculous to him, a child pretending to be a nanny. "Well, my own parents believed that harsh punishment only promoted guilt and mistrust. My Papa brought me up with kind words and comfort, and he never had to lay his hand on me." She paused, lip caught between her teeth. "I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for me."
Another low hum, blue eyes drifting down as he took another note. Lord Arvill's voice was deep and smooth, like the most expensive coffee, and some of the tension eased from Alicia's shoulders as she listened to his soft mutterings. "I think," he said after a moment, "that I agree. I don't believe in raising a hand to children. My father was always soft with me, and I think I turned out decently. If Jenny and Samuel had the chance to be reared by him, I'm sure they would have been the same."
Alicia nodded mutely. Her words had dried up, and she didn't dare speak in fear of saying something wrong. She could not risk messing this up, and she had learned that the best way to avoid that was to speak only when directly addressed. The less she said, the less room there was for error.
There was a beat of silence while Lord Arvill wrote, broken only by the scratch of his pen against the parchment. Then he glanced up, and his gentle smile made Alicia's chest flutter. "You've never worked with children before, but I can already see that you have a passion for it. To me, that's the most important part. Now, if you work for me, it will be strict hours, often long. Are you all right with that?"
Alicia didn't suppose she had a choice. She would work twenty-four hours a day if she had to, just to get this job. She would work until she passed out from exhaustion, just to prove herself worthy of working for the Marquess of Warwick.
Although, a little part of her mind reminded her to think about those rumors. Are you sure you can trust him?
With some effort, Alicia pushed those thoughts aside. It was ridiculous to think this man had killed his own father, especially considering how he spoke about his family. His eyes lit up when he spoke about his siblings, and the gentle smile on his face was the sweetest that she had ever seen.
