Page 22 of The Defiant Governess
“Yes, actually I would.” To Jane’s amazement, he reached out his hand to the boy and the two of them headed for the stairs together, leaving Jane to follow behind.
When Peter was settled into his bed, Jane placed the candle on the nightstand and moved her chair closer to the light. Opening the leatherbound volume to where they had left off, she began to read, furious with herself that her voice seemed a trifle unsteady.
Saybrook had at first moved to take a chair, but then simply leaned a shoulder against the wall near the foot of the bed. He had placed his own candle on the dresser so his features were unreadable in the flickering shadows, but his very presence was unsettling. She was sure he was intent on rattling her—why else had he sought their company when he had never done so before.
She read on, never raising her eyes from the pages, fighting to keep her voice even so that he wouldn’t have the satisfaction of knowing he made her nervous.
The chapter seemed to go on forever. But thankfully she noted that the boy’s eyes were beginning to droop and closed the book.
“I think that’s enough for today, Peter.”
Peter voiced a sleepy protest, which was cut off in mid-sentence by a big yawn. She ruffled his hair. “It will wait until tomorrow.”
“Very well,” he sighed. “It’s a ripping yarn, isn’t it, Uncle Edward.”
“Quite,” came the reply from the shadows.
“Do you think I might ride with you sometime?” continued the boy. “Like tomorrow?”
“Peter,” said Jane in a low voice. “You mustn’t pester your uncle.”
“I beg your pardon …” apologized Peter, but Saybrook interrupted him.
“I must ride out with my steward in the morning but perhaps after lunch you would like to accompany me to see Fleming’s sheep. I believe they are shearing tomorrow. That is, if Miss Langley agrees that it will not interfere with your lessons.”
Jane could feel his eyes upon her.
“Oh, Miss Jane, may I?”
“If it pleases His Lordship, of course you may. But only if you promise to go to sleep now. You’ve had quite enough excitement for one day.” She couldn’t refrain from smiling when she saw that the boy’s eyes had closed before she had finished her sentence.
Once in the hallway Jane meant to hurry off to her room. For her, too, more than enough had happened to occupy her thoughts. But she was stopped by Saybrook’s voice, low and quite close behind her.
“Do you play, Miss Langley?”
She turned in confusion. “Sir?”
“Chess,” he replied. “It was a clever and thoughtful move you made with Peter. I wondered if perhaps you have any skill in the game. Or was it merely luck? Would you care to try? I find I don’t feel quite ready to retire.” His eyes locked with hers andthe corners of his mouth quirked up in a faintly mocking smile. “But of course you may be tired after such a … trying day.”
Jane could see the challenge in his gaze and sensed that he expected her to decline. So, though she had no desire to spend anymore time in the marquess’s company, she answered coolly, “I am not at all fatigued. If you command, I shall try to oblige you with an adequate match.”
“It was not an order Miss Langley,” he said softly. “It was a request.”
“As I said, I am willing.”
Saybrook led the way, to the library this time instead of the drawing room. He banked the fire into a roaring blaze and pored himself another brandy. On the corner of his desk was a magnificent ivory set arranged on a board of black and white marble. He motioned Jane to take a seat across from him and spun the board to offer her white.
She shook her head. “We shall draw for sides.”
A slight smile creased his face. “As you wish.”
Taking a pawn in each hand, he shuffled them behind his back and held out both fists towards her. She pointed to the right one. It opened to reveal a white one.
They played for over an hour in silence, each so intent on the play unfolding before them that their eyes never once met. Jane had been deliberating her next move for some minutes. She finally made up her mind and went to move her rook when suddenly the marquess’s hand shot out, his long fingers covering hers. She was so taken aback that she nearly knocked the remaining pieces from the board. He didn’t release her, however, but said under his breath, “I should think you might want to think a moment more.”
Flustered, her eyes roamed the board, but all she was aware of was the feeling of strength he radiated, even though his touch was light, and how warm his fingers felt on hers. A faint flushstole to her cheeks and she bent her head lower, praying he wouldn’t notice. Finally, his hand slipped from hers. He waited patiently, saying no more.
She gathered her wits enough to correct her mistake and was relieved that Saybrook continued on without another word. The end took no more than ten minutes. He executed a series of sophisticated attacks that left her defenseless.
