Page 20 of Her Beautiful Bastard
“Miss Darling was just telling me that she discovered a shortened bed sheet upon retiring last evening,” Charles said with a little chuckle.
“Henry,” he muttered.
While he stood at the sideboard, filling a clean plate to his satisfaction, a footman quickly filled the cup at his place at the head of the table. The scent of coffee made his mouth water from across the room, and by the time he arrived at his place, it had been laced with milk and nothing else, just the way he preferred.
“Thank you, John,” he said to the footman, who gave him a little nod before going back to his corner of the room.
“And how have you decided to repay him, Miss Darling?” Charles asked between bites.
Lydia’s lips twitched with amusement. “I once played this trick on my brother, Michael … stuffing a handkerchief into the toe of his left shoe, so that when he tried to put it on, it no longer fit.”
“And the right one does!” Charles exclaimed, roaring with laughter as he leaned back in his chair. “Very clever, Miss Darling. Do you not agree, Sin?”
He took his first sip of coffee and hummed with approval. It was perfect.
“Yes, quite,” he agreed, daring another look at Lydia. “It would seem Henry has met his match.”
She actively avoided looking at him as she went on eating. “Life with two elder brothers has prepared me for all contingencies.”
“Still,” he pressed, buttering a slice of toast. “If he makes too much a nuisance of himself, do inform me. I do not want him chasing you off.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, I do believe I can manage. Besides, it is all in good fun. None of his pranks have been harmful.”
Her perspective on his son’s predilections was refreshing, to say the least. There had been two governesses before her, and neither had found Henry very amusing. It was nice to know that Lydia would be able to give as good as she got with the lad.
The dining room fell into silence as Charles polished off his coffee while Lydia and Sinclair went on eating. Tension thrummed between him and the governess with such stunning force, he wondered if Charles could feel it. Her movements had become stiff, her back erect, her shoulders tense as she ate. He was unable to keep from stealing glances at Lydia whenever he could, though she seemed determined not to look at him.
“Well, I suppose I’d better get to work if I wish to earn those biscuits,” Charles quipped, wiping his mouth with his napkin and then rising from his chair. “Sin, I will be ready to go over those ledgers whenever you are.”
Sinclair nodded in response, mouth full of coddled eggs. Charles bid Lydia good morning, then disappeared through the open dining room door.
His absence seemed to suck the last of the fresh air from the room. Sinclair was suffocating, his every breath and movement stifled by the tension clogging the atmosphere. He turned to glance at the footman, who remained in his corner, watching like a hawk in case someone required more coffee or tea.
While Lydia had been adamant that he not try to accost her alone again, he did not want to leave things the way they’d ended the day before. As well, the mention of her family had him even more curious about her past and her reasons for seeking employment. He could not satisfy said curiosity with a footman lurking about, listening in.
“That will be all, John,” he said.
The servant obeyed, giving him the opening he needed.
“Miss Darling,” he ventured, setting his now empty cup in its saucer.
Still avoiding looking at him, Lydia lifted her napkin off her lap, then used it to wipe her mouth before laying it beside her plate. “I do believe I have finished. Mrs. Beecham ought to be waiting in the schoolroom with Henry now.”
He spoke before she could stand, hands braced on the arms of her chair. “This will only take a moment. Please, stay.”
While his words might be a request, he had used a tone that bordered on a command. To his surprise, she relented, folding her hands on the table before her and inclining her head at him.
“Yes, Mr. Clayton?”
“I was speaking with Lady Clayton last night, and she happened to mention that you have a family in Norfolk,” he began, plucking his words out of thin air and hoping he would not offend her.
To her credit, she maintained her bland expression as well as her even tone. “Yes. My mother, brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews reside in Norfolk.”
He nodded. “I simply wanted to say, should you ever wish to go to visit them, we would be happy to provide transportation. A coach could be prepared, a driver and footman sent along with you. In a few months, Christmas will be upon us, and Charles always takes that time to visit his own family. I … well, I realize that living with a family you do not know well can be difficult during such times. The offer will stand, should you ever wish to take advantage of it. As well, should you desire to send correspondence to them, simply deliver it to Charles’ office. He will ensure it reaches them through the post.”
At last, she looked at him, her eyes a bit wide, something like astonishment glimmering in the depths. Had he shocked her? Perhaps she’d never had an employer offer her such a kindness before.
Her expression softened, causing the tight knot of anxiety in his gut to ease.
