“Allegra and I were on our way home from a family engagement. Hermia, our eldest, was unwell, and Allegra wanted to get home to her. We were going too fast, and then …”
His voice cracked a little. Beth had a sudden urge to reach out and touch him, offer some comfort. She clenched her hands in her lap.
“The carriage crashed.”
“One of the horses fell, took all the others down with it and the carriage tipped. The driver broke both his legs and cracked his skull, I got a broken arm, and Allegra …” He closed his eyes, a flash of pain in his face. “She died pretty quickly. She barely regained consciousness. Rosamund knows that her mother has gone, but she’s only six. It’s hard to comprehend at that age that she won’t ever see her mother again.”
Beth could imagine. She had been lucky enough not to lose either of her parents, but she had lost other relatives. The pain faded, but it never really went away. She swallowed.
“You have my condolences, Your Grace.”
“I should be the one apologizing, Beth.” Lord Rossdale shifted in his chair. “I didn’t mean to come straight out with that as soon as we were alone.”
“It was my fault. I did ask what happened.”
“Even so …”
It was clear that the event was still a struggle. Beth decided to leave it be.
“How many daughters do you have?”
“Three. Hermia’s fifteen, Isabel’s ten, and Rosamund’s six.”
“And I bet they’re a handful.”
Lord Rossdale sighed.
“You could say that. Rosamund and Isabel aren’t too bad, but without proper guidance they can become tearaways. Hermia is just a handful, full stop.”
“I’m sure their governess has an interesting time.”
“We don’t have one right now.” Beth saw the duke’s grimace. “They won’t stay long, and I’m afraid to say it’s mostly due to Hermia. Allegra did their schooling, so she didn’t want a replacement. The governesses can’t handle her.”
Beth was already forming an opinion of Hermia in her mind. And she hated that she was already coming to the opinion that Hermia was not a very nice girl. She was just a child, and from what Lord Rossdale had just said, it did sound like Hermia blamed herself for her mother’s death.
Hermia didn’t need a governess. She needed a finishing school. They could provide more stability and stricter rules for the girl. If she was becoming wayward, then that might be the best option.
Beth wasn’t about to say that out loud.
“Was Rosamund under a governess when she ran off?”
“She was meant to be, but I found the woman in bed with one of my footmen.”
Beth thought she had misheard him. She stared.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m afraid so.” Lord Rossdale shook his head. “Needless to say, she’s been fired. So has the footman. I can’t have that sort of slacking on the job.”
Beth didn’t know what to say to that. And she wasn’t entirely sure why he was revealing this to her. For all he knew, she would tell someone else and the gossip would spread around London so fast everyone would know by the end of the week. That was how things worked in Society, servants and nobility alike. Chances were, though, it was already making the rounds. Something like that wouldn’t stay secret for long.
She smoothed her hands over her dress.
“Why are you telling me all this, Your Grace?”
Lord Rossdale stared at her. Then he shifted to the edge of his seat and leaned forward.
“I had merely come here to thank you for rescuing my daughter. Anyone could have taken her, or she could have drowned. Rosamund’s not a strong swimmer. And then I heard who you were and that your family were down on your luck. Badly.”
Beth bristled.
“That has nothing to do with you, Sir.”
“Maybe it has.” Lord Rossdale spread his hands. “I like to think that I’m a generous person. That I will help wherever I can. My valet has a lot of contacts, and he heard that you studied at Bloomsbury School for Girls. That you did quite well. Maybe we can help each other.”
Where was he going with this? Then Beth cottoned on to what he was suggesting. Her mouth fell open.
“Are you offering me a job?”
“I am.” The duke didn’t blink. “I need a governess, and your family needs money. And it would give you some respectability to your character.” His eyes twinkled as they drifted over her. Beth stopped herself from squirming. “I’m willing to keep your family’s heads above water, for a little bit.”
Beth was at a loss for words. She had wondered a while back if it would be a good idea to get a job, but her parents had told her that it wouldn’t be needed. That would imply that things were dire. Their situation was dire, and Beth wanted to help whichever way she could. And this couldn’t have come at a better time.
But Beth could still remember their intimate moments in Lovers’ Lane. The heat between them and how it had felt. There was something between her and the duke, and it was strong. Beth didn’t know how to feel about it, and being in close quarters to the man while she taught his children was going to make things very hot and bothered for her. She had no idea about him.
There had to be a catch somewhere in all of this. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you offering me a job?”
Lord Rossdale blinked.
“Am I not allowed to help? You and your family won’t be bankrupt if you manage to obtain a job.”
“But is there another reason why you want me close?”
His eyes darkened, and Beth felt heat snaking up her spine.
“You mean you think this is something to do with the kiss we shared that day.”
“You indicated that you wanted more, Your Grace. And I’m not simple.” Beth fixed a hard glare on him. “I am not a harlot. I don’t do that, and I certainly don’t go looking for it.”
“I never saw that of you, Beth. And I wouldn’t overstep my boundaries when you’re one of my household.” Lord Rossdale paused. “But the thought of having you close by ... well, I’m sure I can control myself.”
That didn’t make Beth feel any better. He may have been a gentleman, but Beth knew when they saw temptation, being a gentleman went out of the window. And Lord Rossdale wouldn’t be any different to anyone else in Society.
“You had better control yourself, Your Grace,” she said tightly. “You know that my sister was ruined by a duke’s son. I won’t be ruined by a duke.”
Lord Rossdale was shaking his head before she had finished.
“Believe me, Beth; I wouldn’t do that to you. I have too much respect for you to do that.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I’d like to think I know enough about you.” He sat back. “You have a chance to redeem your family. It may mean swallowing your pride, but you can bring things back for the family. I’m willing to help you with that.”
He was giving her an out. An opportunity to stay in London. Beth did enjoy living in London for most of the year, even with the whispers going on around them. It was better than being in Brandeston, where there was practically nothing to do. It did mean a little bit of money for herself, and she could put that towards her family. They wouldn’t be able to get their businesses back, but they wouldn’t be on the verge of bankruptcy.
Besides, how could she refuse when the man who set her pulses racing was asking her so nicely? Beth always liked good manners, and she was more inclined to do their bidding. It was something her mother had raised in her: good manners were more likely going to get you anything.
Lord Rossdale seemed to have been raised the same way.
Even so, Beth was still conflicted. If it was a decent man giving her a chance, then she would happily accept. But this was the Duke of Rossdale, and while he had been gentlemanly towards her, for the most part, it seemed that his intentions were far from decent.
And Beth didn’t trust herself around him, not when she was feeling lightheaded and her heart was doing double the normal pace.
He was dangerous to her. Beth knew it. But was that enough to turn him down? She wasn’t exactly in the position to turn him down. She licked her lips.
“Would you mind if I thought about your offer, Your Grace?”
The expression in his eyes warmed, and a smile tugged at his mouth. Beth had to stop herself from staring at it. Now was not the time to think what would happen if she leaned forward for another kiss …
No, she shouldn’t be doing that.
“I’ll let you think it over.” Lord Rossdale’s voice almost sounded like a purr. “I’ll wait for your answer, Miss Campbell. Just don’t take too long.”
#
“Beth!”
Beth gasped and spun around. Flora was standing in the doorway to their bedroom. Beth hadn’t realized that she was there. She retrieved her book, where it had fallen between the bed and the wall, and closed it. Her hands were still shaking.
“Don’t do that, Flora. You scared me.”
“I thought you knew I was here.” Flora was looking at her curiously. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
In reality, Beth wasn’t fine. It had been some time since Lord Rossdale had left the house, holding on to Beth’s promise to let him know when she would take up the position of governess. If she would take up the position.
The idea of having a job, something that would be fulfilling and would help her family, was very tempting to Beth. She liked to be kept busy, and she loved children. This would be perfect. And working for a duke would mean more doors would be opened.
However, it wasn’t just any duke. It was the Duke of Rossdale. And that was not good at all. Not when Beth had experienced him on an intimate level already. If it had just been one kiss, then maybe they would be able to work out a master-servant relationship.
But it wasn’t just about the kiss. It was about the way Lord Rossdale made her feel. That’s what was making Beth pause. She was scared that the more time she spent around the duke, the more she would be tempted to break the rules. From the way he was around her, from the way he looked at her, Lord Rossdale could feel the attraction as well.
What was his plan? What did he get out of all of this? Beth didn’t know, but part of her was telling her that she needed to keep away.
A small part of her. Not enough to completely turn the offer down.
Flora looked out into the hall and then closed the door. She crossed the room and sat on Beth’s bed, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“So, that’s the man who kissed you in Lovers’ Lane? He’s the Duke of Rossdale?”
“That’s him.” Beth swallowed. “I had no idea who he was, I promise you. I didn’t know.”
“I know you didn’t. It was plain from the way you reacted the moment you saw him.” Flora frowned. “What did he want with you?”
Beth took a deep breath.
“He came to offer me a job.”
“A job?”
“As his new governess. Their old one was ... not up to scratch, and she let Rosamund get out of the house. He offered me the open position.”
Flora’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open.
“He did what?”
“You’re not hard of hearing, Flora. You heard me.”
“And I was hoping I hadn’t.” Flora shook her head. “You kiss a man, return his daughter, and you get a job offer in return. What’s he up to?”
“I’ve been thinking about that as well.” Beth stared at her book, turning it over in her hands. “A job would be great. It would mean a little something coming in for the family, and I would be paid very well. The salary for a governess is not something to be sniffed at.”
“But you’re wondering what you have to do in return for all of this,” Flora murmured.
“Not quite, but close enough.”
It was more being close to the duke, knowing that he made her pulses race. Beth could appreciate a good-looking man, but none of them could make her feel like this. No man had openly undressed her with their eyes, and no man spoke like there was a connotation to every other sentence that came out of his mouth.
That was not a good situation at all. But Beth had been touched by his story about losing his wife and having to, in a roundabout way, raise his children on his own. Using servants to do it, granted, but he wanted their welfare looked after. It wasn’t often that a man would consider that for his daughters.
She would take the job on that alone. The few moments she had spent with Rosamund Thinesley had Beth softening towards her. Rosamund was a sweet little girl, and it broke her heart to see her crying so much. Beth wanted to see her smile, watch her sparkle.
Beth wanted Rosamund to be the one to help with her decision, not her handsome father.
“I don’t know if going to his home to be a governess is a good idea, Beth,” Flora said quietly.
Beth sighed.
“What’s the alternative, Flora? We become reclusive spinsters. Nobody will want to marry two women who were practically shoved onto the shelf. This is a chance to keep a foot in Society instead of being exiled to the country for good. You don’t want that as much as I don’t.”
“But …” Flora’s mouth opened and closed. “What if it gets out that the Duke of Rossdale and you …?”
“It’s not going to get out.”
“How do you know that? He could be going around telling people what he did with the second Campbell daughter now he knows your identity.”
Beth didn’t believe that. Lord Rossdale didn’t seem to be the type to tell all about his little secrets in secluded pathways. Then again, the young man who had seduced Flora and promised a life together once they had eloped hadn’t sounded like the type who would suddenly desert her in the middle of the night. You couldn’t guess what anyone was going to do.
Flora seemed very set against it all. Perhaps she wanted to be a spinster and grow old and alone. Beth didn’t want that to happen to her. She sat forward and took Flora’s hand.
“Let’s not focus on that, Flora. This is our best chance at redeeming our family honour. Your honour. And it’s going to be a professional relationship. I will go to every step to make sure I am not alone with the duke if I can avoid it.”
“I hope you can,” Flora grumbled. “I don’t want you to end up as I did.”
“I understand.” Beth squeezed her hand. “But I won’t. I’ll be safe.”
But even as she said it, Beth had a feeling that she was going to find it a struggle to be safe. She would have security in a job and finances, but her employer would be something else entirely. He made her feel unsure about herself, wondering if the ground underfoot was going to heat up. Beth was in dangerous territory regarding the Duke of Rossdale.
However, she wasn’t one to pass up an opportunity like this. Anything to stop them ending up disappearing into the countryside.
Chapter 9
Gerard groaned as Rosamund let out a fit of giggles, darting out of Isabel’s reach and running up the path. Not this again. He was worn out after chasing them around the park for the last half-hour.
What A Wicked Duke Demands (Historical Regency Romance) Page 12