Page 6 of The Iron Duke's Flaming Christmas
Selene’s eyes widened. “Pardon?”
“There were three other candidates,” she said slowly. “But they all made excuses, cancelling their interviews.” She shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “It seems the reputation of our ill-behaved little lady has preceded her, and no one wants to take her on.”
Selene blinked rapidly. “I see.”
“Yes,” said the housekeeper, clasping her hands together, and gazing at Selene. “And that means that I am very pleased to offer you the position, my dear. Of course, you will still needto get final approval from the duke, but that should be a mere formality, given the lack of other candidates.” She shrugged again.
Selene gasped, her head spinning. She had tried to prepare for this interview, anticipating the questions that Mrs. Kittles and the duke might ask her, formulating her responses in her mind.
But it appeared that her diligence had been for nothing. Mrs. Kittles hadn’t asked her a single question. She was being offered the position on a plate, so to speak.
How can this be? I have no experience as a governess! I am as green as the grass. And I still haven’t decided if I even want it…or will be able to handle it.
Selene couldn’t help but wonder. If experienced governesses are running for the hills from this job, then how on earth could she handle it?
Lady Lenore is going to eat me alive!
She knew the little girl—or lady, as she was—was only about nine years old. How could a girl so young be so terrifying? What did she do to all her previous governesses that had sent them packing?
Oh dear. I thought that I would have to wait days to hear back about whether I was successful in getting the position or not. And now, I must decide instantly whether I do indeed want it and am able to take it on.
She felt sweat dripping down the back of her neck. Mrs. Kittles was gazing at her expectantly. The housekeeper was waiting for a reply.
Do not be foolish, Selene. Your family desperately needs the income.
She could only try. If she found the position impossible, she would leave, just like the other governesses before. No one would blame her. But she knew she would be a silly woman indeed to walk away from such an opportunity.
The strident voice in her head was strong. Selene knew she must listen to it and push her misgivings aside. She must make up her mind this instant.
“I am very happy to accept the position, Mrs. Kittles,” she replied, forcing a smile onto her face. “Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity.”
There. It was done. She couldn’t quite believe it.
“Oh, I am so pleased, my dear!” cried the housekeeper, her face wreathed in smiles. “As I said, we still need to talk to the duke before it is finalized, but I do not anticipate any problems.” She took a deep breath, gazing at Selene warmly. “You are beautiful, intelligent and articulate. He can’t have any objections to you, even if you are inexperienced. I will request an audience with him now. Wait here.”
Selene nodded as the housekeeper got up, leaving the room. Her head was spinning, and her hands were shaking. She had accepted the position at Trenton House and was now waiting for final approval from the duke himself.
I am about to meet the Iron Duke. What will it be like? Oh Lord, how am I going to manage any of this at all?
***
Ian stood at the window in the parlor, gazing out the window. He gritted his teeth. Fresh snow had fallen overnight, and the ground was five inches thick with it. He doubted very much that he would be getting out for a ride today. He was housebound.
Damnation. He despised being cooped up in the house and unable to ride. Although he supposed he must wait around to hear from the housekeeper about the new governess anyway. The latest one.
His hand fell from the curtain, striding to the fireplace, a wave of intense irritation washing over him. He was extremely tired of dealing with governesses. None of the silly creatures seemed to have the backbone to deal with Lenore, which was utterly ridiculous. She was an eight-year-old child. How fearsome could she be?
If you spent any time with her, perhaps you would know why governesses keep leaving Trenton House. There must be a reason, after all.
Firmly, he pushed the insistent voice in his head aside. It wasn’t his daughter’s fault. It was the fault of the silly women. It was their job to control his daughter and to teach her.
They weren’t dealing with a tribe of children—Lenore was their only pupil, and they still couldn’t manage it. Ian despised incompetence. And governesses seemed to be more incompetent than any of his other servants combined.
He gazed into the flickering flames of the fire. Suddenly, a vision of the beautiful chestnut-haired young woman with the wild green eyes from last night reared into his mind, as clear as day. He could almost reach out and touch that furrow between her brows when she had been scolding him.
Why are you thinking of her again? Why can’t you get her out of your mind? She was insolent to you. You don’t even know who she is. You will never see her again in your life…
The voice kept going in his head, but he wasn’t listening to it. His blood was warming at the mere thought of her, and he felt his loins stirring. It had been so long since he had such a strong reaction to a woman that he couldn’t even remember it. Or rather, he could remember it so clearly that it was an ache in his chest.
