Page 24 of The Iron Duke's Flaming Christmas
You have gone too far this time. He will not stand for this. You are going to lose your position.
“You need to know your place,” he snarled. “My daughter is my own concern. You are here to educate her, not speculate about how she feels about her late mother. Do I make myself clear?”
“I… I am only trying to do the right thing by my pupil,” she replied, swallowing hard. “Her emotional state impacts her education, Your Grace. If she is continually having temper tantrums for her governesses, and driving them away, how will she ever learn?”
They were staring into each other’s eyes, neither backing down. Selene knew she should back down, say that she had overstepped the mark, that she was wrong. She should be groveling at his feet for mercy. Lord knows, he was intimidating enough. No wonder people feared him. He looked like a dark avenging angel, glowering with rage.
She raised her chin higher, feeling defiant. It was done now—she couldn’t take it back. The genie was out of the bottle… and beyond her fear, she felt glad now that she had brought up the difficult subject.
“You overstep,” he growled, moving an inch closer to her, so their noses were almost touching. His eyes flickered over her face. “Remember your position here.”
“I know my place,” she retorted, in a furious whisper. “And part of my duty to your daughter is managing her behavior. To make her feel safe and secure… and I truly believe that this is the root of her problems.” She stared at him. “Why is it so hard to just talk with her? To take her to watch some birds and lead the conversation in that direction? She needs her father, Your Grace. And you need her.”
His face was contorted with emotion. They were both so still that she could hear the rise and fall of his breath. Slowly, he reached out a hand, touching her lips, dragging his thumb at the corner of her mouth, so that it opened slightly.
Selene felt herself falling toward him, as if he was ensnaring her in a strange spell, or a web. He was going to kiss her again. How it had progressed to this, when they were so angry with each other, was beyond her. But it was going to happen… if she didn’t do something to stop it now.
Abruptly, she pulled her head back, snapping out of it. She turned, grabbing the book on the desk, rushing out of the library. She didn’t look back.
When she had reached the safety of her room, she closed the door, leaning against it, barely able to breathe. She blinked rapidly, unable to believe that it had almost happened again, despite her best efforts to avoid it.
A tremulous sigh escaped her lips. What on earth was she going to do?
Chapter 13
“Redford!” Ian walked toward the man who was standing near the fire in the drawing room. “How long have you been in the district?”
“Only a day,” said Captain Thomas Redford, bowing to him, smiling widely. “I am staying with relatives in the district for the winter.” His smile widened. “It is good to see you, Trenton!”
“And you, old friend,” said Ian, clapping him on the back. “Shall we have a brandy to celebrate your arrival?”
“Why ever not?” grinned Thomas, laughing. “Have I ever been known to refuse a brandy, especially on a bitterly cold day?”
“Never,” agreed Ian, walking to the drinks’ cabinet in the corner, pouring them both a large tumbler of brandy, before passing one to his friend. “I recall many nights when we had one too many brandies on a cold evening.”
“As do I,” laughed Thomas. “Or rather, I do not recall them.”
They both laughed, sipping their drinks. Ian gazed at him fondly. Captain Redford was his oldest friend, and his closest. They had served together in the army for a year, and then Thomas had risen in the ranks, becoming a captain, before leaving service two years ago. Now, he managed some of Ian’s affairs in London.
Thomas was efficient, resourceful, and meticulous. He was also the life and soul of any party, a dynamic, uncomplicated man… which was probably why Ian liked him so much, being far too complex himself.
“How is life at Trenton House treating you?” asked Thomas, smacking his lips, clearly enjoying the brandy. “And how is Lenore?”
Brandies in hand, they settled next to the fire. Ian sighed, shaking his head ruefully. He wasn’t sure how much to tell his best friend about how life was at Trenton House these days.
Thomas leaned forward, watching him intently. “Now that is not the reaction I was expecting!” He sipped his drink. “What has been happening?”
Ian took a deep breath. “Well, nothing much, really… Lenore is doing rather well, actually.”
“Go on,” said Thomas, smiling.
Ian hesitated, his heart thumping hard. “She has a new governess—a local woman. Miss Bomind.”
Even saying her name aloud made his heart thump harder. “Even though her methods are unconventional, and she is rather too forthright in speaking her mind, she has done wonders with Lenore. My daughter appears to have really settled with her and is most eager to learn.”
He realized the truth of his words as he uttered them. Lenore really was coming along in leaps and bounds with the new governess. His daughter wasn’t having as many temper tantrums, and whenever he looked into the library to watch her at her lessons, she was attentive and smiling.
His face reddened. He wasn’t just watching Lenore to see her educational progress. He was watching the governess, as well. He just couldn’t seem to stop doing it, no matter how much he chided himself, and told himself to stop it. It was as if he was being pulled by a magnetic force to her side.
