“Such a large house?” she demanded. “For one man?”
“Now one man, two girls, one governess, and several other servants.” Nick nodded at the maid who’d left off sweeping the steps and sprung to one side.
Charlotte was craning her neck to see the façade of the house. He had to call her to follow him inside. He handed over his hat to Pearce and motioned for Charlotte to remove her bonnet. With a startled chirp, she did, blushing furiously.
“Pearce,” said Nick, “this is my ward. Charlotte, this is Pearce, our butler.”
He wasn’t sure who was more startled, his sister or his butler. He was a little surprised himself, that the wordourhad come to his tongue so easily. The butler recovered first, bowing deeply. “Welcome.”
Charlotte goggled at him, but gave one of her better curtsies in return. “Thank you, sir.”
“Take her things up to the schoolroom, next to Miss Sidney’s room,” Nick told the footman waiting behind Pearce. “Where is Miss Greene?” It was early still. The governess and Lucinda might be abed for all he knew.
“In the morning room, sir, at breakfast.”
A thrill shot through him. Of danger, he told himself, not anticipation. It was breakfast, with two observers.
It didn’t matter. His nerves tingled and his heart thudded hard. He led the way to the morning room, Charlotte trailing behind him.
Miss Greene rose at his entrance. “Good morning, Mr. Dashwood,” she said politely. The window was behind her, giving her a halo of light that outlined every curve of her figure so brightly his eyes burned.
Ah Lord. He was in deep trouble.
Lucinda slid off her chair and made a wobbly curtsy. “Good morning, sir.” She barely looked at him, her eyes flying to regard Charlotte with hopeful curiosity.
Nick swept out one arm. “Miss Sidney, may I present to you my ward, Charlotte. Charlotte, this is Miss Lucinda Sidney. You know Miss Greene already.”
Lucinda bobbed again. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Charlotte.” She glanced sideways at her governess.
“And I yours, Miss Sidney.” Charlotte looked more cowed than Nick had seen her in years. The two girls did not seem to know what to make of each other.
“How lovely to see you again, Charlotte,” said Miss Greene warmly. “I beg your pardon, we did not know when you would arrive, and had already sat down to breakfast.”
“Of course.” Nick took his seat at the head of the table, which suddenly seemed rather small. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d dined at home with anyone else. He ate alone, or at the Vega Club, or with Charlotte.
They sat in silence. Starving, Nick loaded his plate and waved the footman forward with the pot of coffee. Lucinda kept peeping at Charlotte, who gave a tentative smile in reply. Miss Greene buttered another slice of toast.
They ate in silence, though everyone seemed to be stealing glances at everyone else. Nick caught Miss Greene eyeing Charlotte, then Lucinda. Charlotte was looking from him to the governess and back again. At one point he caught Miss Greene’s eye on him, and he winked, inwardly pleased to see her eyes widen before she looked away.
After the uproar in the Vega kitchen, Nick had been braced for more tumult at home. He was pleasantly surprised that there was none. Perhaps he’d been wrong about the upheaval this would cause in his life. It was lovely to be home already, he acknowledged, but still have Charlotte’s company. Lucinda was exquisitely behaved, and if he didn’t look directly at her, he could even imagine he and Miss Greene were in perfect harmony as well.
The governess cleared her throat. “I thought we might walk in the park this morning. It’s very near, and it promises to be a lovely day.”
“No,” said Nick without thinking.
Charlotte’s and Lucinda’s heads came up in dismayed, mirror images of each other. Miss Greene looked at him in astonishment. “May I ask why not, sir?”
He already knew he’d made a mistake. His instinct to protect Charlotte and keep her sheltered ran too deep, and had been too long held. But something made him dig in his heels instead of backing down. “Why should you go out so soon?” he asked in reply.
Her chin set. Her eyes sparked with something dangerous, and dangerously alluring. “Well,” she said in a tone that put him on guard even as his heart thumped in anticipation. “Exercise is very beneficial to young people—to all people, really—and a long stroll in the park is eminently proper exercise for young ladies. The park is also near, yet removed from the dirt and traffic in the streets, making it safer than parading up and down Portland Place. I believe it was built for the very purpose of allowing Londoners a pleasant place to walk, and therefore it seems ridiculous not to make use of it when the weather is so fine. In addition, it will leave the house quiet, which I have learned from Mr. Pearce suits you. And lastly,” she finished, “there is your agreement that you would not interfere in matters ofgovernessing,which I certainly consider this to be.”
At the last, she widened her big blue eyes as if to saythat’s why, you damned idiot,like the final flourish of a swordsman who had just disarmed and impaled her opponent. Charlotte’s mouth was hanging open. She and Lucinda were watching with a mixture of alarm and glee.
Nick was enthralled. In fairness, he was distracted from her meaning by the way her ripe pink lips formed each skewering syllable.
“Millie,” whispered Lucinda, “isgovernessinga word?”
“Yes,” she said firmly, the determined smile glued to her face. That smile pulled out small dimples right beside her mouth. They were magnificently appealing.
