Page 83 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
I imagined whatever look I thought I saw between mother and Balfour. He is too low in standing. She would never consider him, especially not when father has only just died.
Yet Nicholas could not deny the stricken expression on Rose’s face, nor the almost palpable gaze of affection between his mother and the captain to confirm what he feared.
She does not care about standing. She has encouraged me to marry anyone I choose and she already seems lovestruck by this shady, possibly dangerous man. How could this have happened, directly beneath my nose? Was this part of his scheme?
He needed to put a stop to whatever was happening before it was too late. His mother needed to understand that Captain Balfour was not the man she believed him to be.
“Children, you may take your supper in the kitchen,” he said abruptly, tossing his fork onto his plate with a derisive clang.
“They will do no such thing!” Duchess Buford snapped, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
“I say they will!” Nicholas retorted, his ears growing hot at being contradicted. “What I have to say is not suitable for them to hear.”
“Then you may say it when they have retired for the night,” Duchess Buford insisted. “This is a family supper and I will not have it ended abruptly when we have them so sparingly.”
“That will change, mother. For now, I insist that they go.”
“You may be the duke but I remain the head of this household…Your Grace,” the duchess replied and it was clear the matter was closed.
Mother and son stared at one another, a silent battle of the wills and Nicholas steeled his temper, knowing it would benefit no one if he lost control of himself, least of all the children.
“I think it is best that they stay also,” Rose offered and he met her eyes. What he read in their depth filled him with concern. She was silently pleading with him not to protest but he did not know why. Surely, she of all people would like the captain banished from the house.
“Very well,” Nicholas announced. He would wait until after the children retired before addressing the captain and his mother. Whether he had proof about Balfour’s misdeeds or not, the captain had overstayed his welcome in several ways.
* * *
He paced about the study, waiting for word.
It had taken every ounce of self-control to keep his wits together at supper, his innards rising to dangerous heat levels as he glared daggers at the captain and his mother.
They excused themselves before Nicholas was able to speak with them in private and when he searched for them later, neither was available for conversation. Whether it was deliberate or they had stolen away for a tryst in the courtyard, Nicholas could not know for certain but he would not permit them to get away with what was happening.
Not in my father’s home, so soon following his death.
Nicholas knew what his mother would say—that she was a woman deserving of happiness and that the wretched captain was providing her with comfort through a trying time.
I will not accept this,he thought firmly.It is a blatant slap in my father’s face. What has he done to my mother to make her forget that her royal husband has only just perished?
The hour was late and he hoped that Rose was still awake but he feared that she had fallen asleep and he needed to ensure the household had retired before he spoke with her.
There was something occurring that he could not see and it troubled him greatly. He felt as if Rose was the only one he could trust in those moments.
She spends more time about the manor house. If anyone was to understand the dynamic between the captain and my mother, it will be Rose.
A terrible sense of guilt consumed him as he realized how little he had minded his home.
Tis a small wonder that something like this has occurred. I have done poorly as duke. My father would never have permitted such a catastrophe to endure.
A soft knock at the study door stalled his silent lamenting and Nicholas called out for Rose to enter.
Cautiously, the door opened and she eyed him from the doorway.
“Your Grace? You asked to see me?”
“Come in, Miss Rose. We have matters to discuss.”
She slid inside, her eyes wide with concern and Nicholas could see that she had not been asleep. In fact, she still wore her daytime clothes, despite it nearing midnight. For a brief moment, Nicholas was taken aback by her beauty in the middle of the night.
