Page 11 of The Iron Duke's Flaming Christmas
He took a deep breath, waiting a moment before leaving the room, heading down the hallway toward the library. He would observe them there, as well. Even though he had told Miss Bomind he would give her until Christmas to win over his daughter, he would turn her out without a moment’s notice if he thought it necessary.
Suddenly, he stopped, gazing at an oil portrait on the hallway wall, his heart beating fast. His skin started prickling. Usually, he never lingered long gazing at this painting, for it was far too painful. But today, for some reason, he needed to do it.
His heart swelled. There was Mary, looking particularly beautiful in a shining blue gown, her auburn hair swept up in a dramatic fashion. She was wearing the jewels of the Duchess of Trenton. Her dark eyes were glowing and there was a slight smile upon her lips, as if something was amusing her.
How beautiful she was. And how spirited. She was the most vivacious, feisty woman I ever encountered. She bowled me over from the moment I first set eyes upon her.
He realized, with a jolt, that Lenore had inherited her mother’s feistiness. His daughter was as spirited as her mother. Lenore didn’t look like her mother —his daughter had inherited his dark hair and eyes—but she was like her in spirit. Would they have recognized that in each other if Mary had lived? Or would they have clashed?
His heart filled with sorrow. He would never know the answer to that question.
Abruptly, he turned away, unable to look at his late wife’s beautiful, beloved face any longer. She should have lived to a grand old age. She should still be there now, being a mother to their daughter.
Perhaps they would have had more children, a tribe of them, crowding the nursery. Perhaps Lenore wouldn’t have been a lonely only child. Perhaps his daughter wouldn’t have felt the need to push governesses away.
His thoughts turned to the new governess. His heart lurched again. She was spirited, too. Miss Bomind reminded him of Mary in many ways, although she didn’t look like her at all, either. Maybe it was that flash of challenge in her eyes. Maybeit was the fact she couldn’t stop herself speaking her mind, even when she knew it might not be well received.
He was starting to grudgingly admire her, very much indeed. He kept walking. He was almost to the library when he stopped, staring at a statue of a Greek goddess, splendid in her nakedness. He had seen this statue a million times but somehow, he had just noticed it. Astonishingly, he was imagining Miss Bomind as the statue.
Look at how she stands there, thrusting her breasts forward, brazenly showing her belly and mound of Venus… a beautiful, sensual seductress, enticing a man to her bed. How wonderful it would be to lose myself within her…
He jumped, shaking away the inappropriate thought. His mouth was dry and his loins tight with need.
He kept going, reaching the library, peering through the doorway. Miss Bomind and Lenore were looking at books together. His eyes widened. Amazingly, his daughter was actually listening to her new governess as Miss Bomind talked to her, nodding her head. Eventually, they selected a book, taking it to a table in a far corner, sitting down together side by side.
Ian kept gazing at them. They opened the book. Miss Bomind pointed at the pictures. Lenore kept nodding. All was calm. Ian shook his head incredulously. After a few more moments, he turned around, heading back toward his study.
He sat down, gazing out the window, deep in thought, trying not to conjure Miss Bomind as the Greek goddess in his mind again, and focus on why she was here: to teach his daughter.
The new governess might actually work out this time. And with another flip of his heart, he realized he wanted it to work out. Already, Miss Bomind was changing Trenton House, and it was definitely for the better.
Chapter 6
“You may need to slow down,” called Selene to the little girl, as Lady Lenore rushed ahead, flying across the ground, her feet leaving small dark marks in the thick snow. “I am older than you, my lady, and cannot run as fast as you can through snow.”
Lady Lenore glanced back at her, with a mischievous look in her eyes, her red scarf flying in the breeze. The little girl didn’t slow down her pace. If anything, she started running faster or at least, as fast as anyone could run through thick snow, that is.
Selene sighed, but didn’t call again. Instead, she hitched the skirt of her gown, with a determined look on her face, tromping through the snow, trying to keep up.
Perhaps I should not have suggested this walk before starting lessons for the day. I thought it might settle her and make her focus better, but perhaps she is using it as an excuse to run away from me entirely.
She kept following the little girl, trying to quell her apprehension. This was the first day of official lessons with Lady Lenore. It had all happened so quickly it was still a bit of a blur. One moment she had been living a peaceful, albeit ratherdull, life in her family’s cottage—and now, she was ensconced at Trenton House as the governess.
She had moved into the small room allocated to the position yesterday. Emma and a neighbor had promised to keep an eye on the cottage until her parents returned, but she would try to get there from time to time as well, of course.
She breathed heavily through her nose, staring at the little girl, who was gaining ground, and fast becoming a dark speck in the distance. By the look of it, she might not get any free time at all. Her pupil was spirited, full of energy and didn’t like listening to instructions.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck started to bristle. She glanced up at the house, jumping in alarm. The duke was standing at a window, watching her. He looked like he was glowering at her. His dark eyes were so intense that a surge of alarm—and something else—which she didn’t quite recognize—shivered down her spine.
Oh dear. He is watching me. He looks so powerful and commanding… it is stirring something within me. I want him to touch me where no one has ever touched me before.
She hesitated, frozen to the spot. What should she do?
Her heart pounding, she plastered a wide smile on her face, giving him a jaunty wave. His frown deepened and he didn’t wave back.
Selene groaned, turning away, resuming her chase of the little lady. If the duke disapproved—which he clearly did—there was nothing she could do about it now. The most imperative thing was catching up to Lady Lenore before she lost sight of her entirely.
Luckily, she reached a point where there was scarce snow on the ground, and she was able to pick up her pace, flying across the ground, her heart thumping. Her cheeks were bright pink with exertion, and she was panting hard by the time she caught up to the girl, who was crouched near a frozen pond, staring at something on the ground.
