Derby wished he could ship his mother off to their holiday home in Wales and leave her there. But his mother had an ability to make him feel guilty for his actions and she ended up staying. He wondered what it would take to break the camel’s back.
“And we don’t want a governess, Grandmama.” Lucy pointed out.
Lady Derbyshire gave her granddaughter a smug look.
“I don’t think it’s your choice to make, Lucy.”
“But it is.” Derby put his book to one side and stood up. “It’s they who will be taught.” He smirked. “Unless you’re suggesting that 'governess' actually means 'caretaker' for you.”
Lady Derbyshire’s face went red, her nostrils flaring. In her early sixties, she was starting to get a little frail, a bit thinner, and her hair was turning white; but she still looked strong and able to take care of herself. Though she wasn’t showing signs of flagging just yet, Derby delighted in pointing out that she wasn’t a spring chicken anymore.
She turned to the children and scowled at them.
“Leave us.” She ordered.
Lucy and Michael looked up at their father. Derby knew there were many things he wanted to say to his mother, and he had no intention of saying them with the children present. He sighed and nodded.
“You’d best go, children.”
“But, Pa…” Michael protested but Derby gave him a look that silence him. Silently, the two children stood and left the room, Lucy glaring at her grandmother’s back before she shut the door.
Lucy was another reason Derby wanted them to leave; she often escalated the situation with her hot temper.
Derby swung around on his mother.
“That was uncalled for, Mother.” He growled.
The Countess blinked. She tried to play the innocent old lady, but it didn’t look right.
“What’s the matter? Your mourning period is over. You need to get on with your life and you can’t do that with your children under your feet.”
“I don’t mind. They’re good children and I wouldn’t change them for the world.”
And Derby meant that. His mother rolled her eyes.
“Spare me that. They won’t help you find a wife, will they?”
“Why would I need a wife? I’ve got two heirs…”
“Lucy doesn’t count.”
“I’ve got two heirs,” Derby didn’t even blink and bit back a smirk as his mother groaned. “Thus there’s no need for me to marry again for heirs. And I’m not lonely.” He raised his eyebrows. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you didn’t like them.”
His mother huffed.
“Of course I like my grandchildren. But you can’t find a wife when they’re under your feet all the time.”
Derby rolled his eyes. It was like his previous comments had gone completely unheard.
“I already told you, Mother, I’m not interested in looking for a wife. And I’m not interested in having a governess. I can teach them or Lucy can teach Michael. She’s much smarter than you give her credit for.”
Lady Derbyshire smiled. Derby tensed. He knew that look. It was the smile that said she had already done something and she felt as though she was going to win her way. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“Mother, what have you done?”
“I spoke to Lord Yorkshire about a governess. He recommended his niece Miss Cherry Hammortree. She’s arriving any minute now.”
Then Derby realized his mother had not only found someone to be a governess but had arranged for them to come to the house for employment he didn’t even know about. Since Henrietta had died, it was his decision who got hired or let go. His mother had no say in it and she knew it.
“You planned it this way, didn’t you? You did it all so when she gets here I can’t turn her away because it’s already been prearranged.”
Lady Derbyshire looked triumphant.
“I knew you wouldn’t agree, and I needed to do something to get things moving.”
Derby turned away and put space between them. It was either that or he was going to forget that he was a gentleman to his own mother. She had some nerve to do what she did and Derby was furious. His mother always thought she could do what she wanted.
Now Derby knew he was stuck in an awkward position. He had not hired this woman and the poor thing was about to come into the house expecting to look after his children. He couldn’t let her stay when he himself hadn’t hired her. But Derby didn’t want to be disrespectful and turn her away. Especially if she was the Marquis of Yorkshire’s niece. Derby got on well with the marquis so he didn’t want to get on his bad side. Yorkshire may have been a genial person but Derby didn’t want to push it.
He went towards his desk, scowling at his mother, who looked like the cat who got the cream.
“I’m not going to talk to her. But I’m not about to be rude to Yorkshire’s niece. She can stay the week and then leave. And you are telling her that.”
“I’m not going to ask her to leave.” His mother protested. “And you can’t make me.”
Derby raised his eyebrows as his mother flounced out of the room.
“I think you’ll find that I can.” He shouted after her.
Chapter 3
D erby groaned and resisted the urge to throw something. He felt like a little boy about to have a tantrum. That would be just what his mother wanted; Derby showing he had lost control.
That damn woman. She was pushing it far too much. Ever since Henrietta had died, she kept trying to undermine her son. Lady Derbyshire had never made it a secret she hated her daughter-in-law but Derby didn’t care; Henrietta made him happy and his father had approved of her so Lady Derbyshire had no say.
Now she was gone three years and even before mourning had finished for the family his mother had been trying to push women towards him. Specifically, one woman. A woman Derby despised and would not have in the house. He had banned her from his property several times but Lady Derbyshire always brought her back in as if the ban had never happened.
Derby hated that this woman didn’t seem to understand the reality of the situation. How she had gotten it into her head that they were going to marry, Derby couldn’t fathom. His mother had probably done it. She had set him up with a woman he didn’t want to be in the same room as.
How many times did he have to say it before anyone listened?
Derby found it irritating that he was an earl and his mother just ploughed all over his decisions, especially his opinions on marriage, which he didn’t want. Not if it wasn’t Henrietta.
He was pouring himself a drink from the side cabinet when there was a knock at the door. Derby groaned. He didn’t want to talk to anyone but he couldn’t exactly shout; he wasn’t the type of person to be cruel to his servants. Derby didn’t think he had ever raised his voice at any of them.
Then the knocking started again. Derby gritted his teeth.
“What is it?”
The door opened and closed. Then he heard low, dulcet tones.
“Hey, Derby.”
That voice. A voice that grated on his nerves. Derby spun around. A tall, beautiful woman with jet-black hair up in the latest fashion was leaning against the door, giving him a smile that must have meant to be a come-hither smile. She wore her cream dress like she would wear jewelry. It looked a little on the tight side but it showed off her features well.
Derby turned away and downed his drink.
“Miss Velazquez. What are you doing here?”
He heard a sigh.
“When are you going to stop calling me Miss Velazquez?”
“When you get married, I’ll call you Mrs. Whatever-Your-Name-Is.”
But Derby knew exactly what she meant. Isabella Velazquez had been getting less and less subtle with her suggestions that they get married. Derby didn’t mind a woman being forthright with her opinions but he didn’t like women being this forward. Especially when she knew he wasn’t interested.
She had a thick head if she didn’t un
derstand that.
“Maybe that will be The Countess of Derbyshire.” Isabella sighed and Derby heard the skirts swishing as she walked into the room. “Lady Derbyshire. Sounds very appealing.”
Derby groaned.
“Not a chance, Miss Velazquez.” He moved away when he felt the air move, turning to see Isabella’s hand up where his head would have been. “I’ve told you time and time again, I’m not marrying you. Would you please get it into your head?”
“Jeff--”
“Stop calling me that! You don’t have the right to call me that.”
Henrietta had called him by name but only when they didn’t have guests. They kept up with the proprieties in public. No one else would have the chance to address him like this anymore.
Isabella frowned, but she did as she was told.
“My Lord Derbyshire, we are getting married sooner or later. It’s just a question of when.”
Derby stared at her. For two years Isabella had come to him and tried to seduce him into marriage, getting more and more bolder. He had turned her away so many times he had lost count. Three of them, that he knew of, had been in public with everyone staring at him. Everyone had laughed, which had embarrassed Derby.
Isabella Velazquez was like a puppy that wouldn’t let go.
“You’re a unique woman, Miss Velazquez.”
Isabella beamed and curtsied.
“Why, thank you, kind sir.”
“I wasn’t saying that as a compliment. Any other woman who got turned down once would keep away and accept the decision. A select few would keep coming back but after being turned down more than three times by the same man she would realize it’s not going to happen. You just keep coming back for more.” Derby shook his head. “Why do you do it to yourself? Do you like being turned down? Do you get a thrill out of it?”
“Because I love you.” Isabella approached him. “And your mother has said…”
Derby grabbed her shoulders and held her away from him. So, it was his mother driving this. He was going to have a few words with her later.
“Don’t listen to anything my mother says. She believes a lot of foolish things but she forgets I’m a grown man.” He gently pushed her away. “I don’t want to marry again, not now I’ve lost Henrietta. And if I did, it wouldn’t be to someone she keeps pushing in my direction. It’s not happening, Miss Velazquez.”
Normally, when he turned her away, Isabella would look at him like a fish out of water before wandering away in a daze. Then she was back a few days later sneering and smirking. This time she smirked straightaway, folding her arms and looking like she was in on a big secret.
“Are you sure about that?”
Derby stiffened. This couldn’t be good.
“What are you plotting?”
“You’ll see.” Isabella looked very pleased with herself. “I’ll be your wife by the end of the year, I promise you that.”
Derby let out a sneer and swung away, seeing Isabella flinch as he moved away. Good, he thought, she should be scared.
“Do I not have any say about anything in this house? I am not having a governess for the children and I am certainly not marrying you. Or is every woman in this vicinity deaf?”
Isabella looked annoyed. She started to say something when the loud tones of Lady Derbyshire reached their ears. Even with the doors shut her screechy voice still carried. Derby gritted his teeth and headed towards the door.
“Speaking of deaf…” He muttered, flinging the door open.
***
Cherry had been impressed as she went up the drive to the Derbyshire estate. It was a magnificent building, much bigger than her parents’ house, and in a better condition. She ended up leaning out of the window to stare in wonder as the drive twisted and turned until they pulled up outside the front door.
Bass, the butler, helped her alight and directed the servants to take Cherry’s luggage inside. Then he led Cherry into the house but before he could speak the dowager countess came parading out of a room further down the foyer, looking like she owned the place. She had accosted Cherry and waved Bass away before linking arms with Cherry and chattering away so fast Cherry almost couldn’t keep up with her.
When Cherry had witnessed Lady Derbyshire before, she had been graceful and vibrant, albeit a bit full-on with her attentions. And she had heard stories from Yorkie that Lady Derbyshire was obsessed with controlling her son to the point she was pushing women on to him when he was in mourning for his wife. She hadn’t even been cold for a week before Lady Derbyshire was attempting to plan another wedding.
After hearing all of that, Cherry not only felt sorry for Lord Derbyshire and his children but she didn’t want to be in the presence of this woman for longer than she had to. She was almost the exact copy of her mother without the physical violence and Cherry didn’t think she would be able to hold her tongue. That would lose her this position very quickly.
Lady Derbyshire was almost dragging her towards the stairs, still talking away about her family and how she was so pleased about her son’s accomplishments, when Cherry was aware of someone watching them. She looked around and met the eyes of a man that had her stopping in her tracks. The expression in those eyes, belonging to a man in his thirties as he stood stock still in the middle of the foyer, were of anger, surprise and appreciation.
Appreciation? Cherry knew she was attractive, but she wasn’t exactly one to receive appreciation. Certainly, not once she opened her mouth.
And he was handsome. A little shy of six feet with dark hair cut close to his hair and a moustache and beard trimmed neatly around his mouth. Broad shoulders, stocky frame and hands that looked like he did a lot of manual work. Wearing the finest silks and clothes that were clearly tailored for him, he looked like a walking contradiction. Men of nobility didn’t have calloused hands.
He was handsome, and he was imposing.
Chapter 4
C herry found her pulse tripping, and she momentarily forgot how to walk as she stared at him. Lady Derbyshire stopped and looked over. She beamed when she saw the newcomer.
“Oh, Derby, darling, you decided to join us at last.” She patted Cherry’s arm. “This is Miss Cherry Hammortree, the Marquis of Yorkshire’s niece. She’s agreed to be Lucy and Michael’s governess. This is my son, Lord Derbyshire.”
Cherry knew she was staring more than she should and snapped herself out of it, lowering her eyes to the floor and giving a low curtsey without falling over.
“My lord.”
“Miss Hammortree.”
He had such a nice voice. Cherry glanced up and saw the softening of the anger in his eyes. Then a thought hit her: was he even aware that she had been hired as a governess? Yorkie had mentioned several times that Lady Derbyshire a habit of making decisions for the house, even though it wasn't her place to do so. Cherry knew she must tread carefully and make sure to approach the earl himself when she had questions; not his mother.
Then they heard footsteps. Derbyshire glanced off to the side and then the anger was back, this time more visible. Cherry straightened up and saw a tall, beautiful raven-haired woman sashaying towards them. She carried herself as if she was the lady of the house. Lady Derbyshire was still beaming.
“And this is Miss Isabella Velazquez, my son’s lovely betrothed.”
A growl came from her son that made Cherry jump.
“Mother, I’ve told you far too many times. We will never marry and you know it. Stop trying to fulfill a fantasy.”
He said it with such venom. Cherry believed him. Miss Velazquez looked like she had an unpleasant smell under her nose. Lady Derbyshire laughed a little too loudly, the laugh making Cherry wince.
“Now, now, Derby. No need to joke like that in front of Miss Hammortree. She doesn’t know our sense of humor.”
From the look on the earl’s face, he didn’t see it as funny. Cherry coughed and managed to extricate her arm from Lady Derbyshire’s.
“If you don’t mind, Lady Derby
shire, Lord Derbyshire, I’d like to take my things upstairs and get my bearings before dinner tonight.”
“Of course.” Derby tilted his head a little, the anger abating a little but not pulling back completely. “I’d like to talk to you shortly, Miss Hammortree. There are a few things we need to discuss.”
He was going to send her away. Cherry knew it. If not immediately, then at the end of the week. She didn’t like being tossed about from pillar to post.
But it did give her a week, at least, away from her parents. Yorkie would put her up if the earl turned her away.
It was nice while it lasted.
She merely curtsied and went up the stairs. Out the corner of her eye she saw Derby take his mother by the arm and pulled her into a room, the door slamming behind them. There was going to be some words said there. And Cherry felt bad she had put Derbyshire in that situation.
“Miss Hammortree.”
Cherry turned. She had forgotten about Miss Velazquez. The woman was coming up the stairs after her, her dark eyes flashing a cool fire. She looked like a goddess of ice.
Cherry didn’t want to talk to her. But she was, for now, one of the servants. She would have to do as she was bid. So, she waited until the other woman was on the stair above her. It was like Miss Velazquez was showing who was in charge.
Miss Velazquez gave her a haughty look, her nose almost up in the air.
“Don’t get any ideas about Lord Derbyshire. He’s mine.”
Cherry blinked. She hadn’t expected that bit.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I saw the way you looked at him. You find him attractive, don’t you?”
Cherry wasn’t going to have a debate about something so ridiculous. She wasn’t looking for a husband and while the Earl of Derbyshire was a handsome man, she wasn’t looking to marry him by the end of the week.
“I may be related to a marquis, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in a nobleman.” She said stiffly. “I’d rather not marry at all.”
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