Page 27 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Nevertheless, he moved his black knight just under his second pawn and wondered what she was going to do.
She moved her bishop then, resting it in line with the square now unoccupied by his knight, where she could easily infiltrate his side of the board. Frowning slightly, Moses captured her pawn with his, only to have her take his pawn with her knight.
Shocked, Moses felt his lips twitch. “I did not anticipate that.”
Mirroring the smile on her face, he advanced another pawn and she then moved her Queen into an attacking position of his Queen. Tempering a grin, Moses took her Queen with his knight and smiled fully at the look of irritation, evident by a delicate wrinkle of her nose.
Her bishop then contested his King and he moved one square forward to avoid her attempt. A triumphant smile lit up her face as she dropped her knight in checkmate position to his King that was backed up on all sides.
“Checkmate, Your Grace.”
The Duke peered at the board in shock and when he saw that he was beaten, allowed a delightful laugh to leave him. “Well played, Miss Robins. I must now add ‘master of strategy’ under Virtuoso on your list of accomplishments.”
Moses felt his face relax into a smile. He truly did respect and admire the governess. “I have lost and by my own wager, you are free from any admission, Miss Robins. You may leave if you wish.”
But she stayed, pointedly with eyes on her lap, and Moses felt a burgeoning feeling of curiosity settle in his chest. The evening light was shimmering over her auburn locks and rendering her pale skin into alabaster.
My God, she is a beauty.
“I was scared.” Her voice was so soft that Moses almost did not hear it, but when he understood, he felt perplexed.
“Scared, of what?” he pressed.
Another fleeting biting of her lip, “That my presence would cause more problems between you and Her Grace. I know she is not partial to me and I…I adore working here, so I thought it would be best to keep my distance.”
Dark eyebrows lifted before Moses shook his head, “Miss Robins, I cannot stress enough that your position with us is secure. Why don’t you believe me?”
“But what about you!” Her words were so rushed the Moses knew they had not been evaluated before she had said them. “How are you secure?”
Instantly, her hands were slapped over her mouth and her eyes had gone wide with perceived audacity. The riveting blush on her face enhanced his suspicion of spontaneity.
Moses did not mind in the slightest. Those words spoke volumes—epistles, actually. Never in his adult life had Moses heard such concern for his wellbeing uttered in such short a statement. He was assured she did care for him.
She ducked her head, “Forgive me, Your Grace, that was too bold. My apologies.”
“No…” Moses replied while leaning forward, making sure to meet her eyes and keep them, “No, it is not. Tell me, what do you mean by ‘what about me’?”
* * *
Caroline felt trapped. Why in God’s name had she spoken? Why had she even used those words, and now the Duke—the object of her affection—was looking at her so closely that the air in her lungs had vanished.
How can I divert the issue? Should I divert it?
“I feel that, on some level, I am a point of contention between you and Her Grace,” Caroline added, “Especially recently.”
The Duke sighed, “You have voiced these concerns before, Miss Robins. But as I have told you, my wife and I are not the…”
A pregnant pause stifled the Duke’s next words but instead of a pained look—one that would be deserving of a man losing his love—only a resigned expression painted his features, “…embodiment of wedded bliss. We never were.”
Caroline felt sad for him. She knew that she did not have much to her name—a modest income, a roof over her head, and little to no chance of marriage, however, she did know that she would rather be a spinster than being forced to live with one she could never love.
“I am…eternally sorry, Your Grace,” Caroline murmured.
The edges of his lips curled, “I appreciate it…now, let us stop rehashing old matters. Fancy another game, Miss Robins? I am intrigued, your playing style is calculated and you do not hesitate to sacrifice what you want to get the victory. That is very…”
“Masculine of me, Your Grace?” Caroline suggested.
“Your words, not mine,” the Due replied genially while resetting the board. “Your move, Miss Robins.”
