by Amelia Grey
Esmeralda forgot all about her resolve to tread lightly and not miss this opportunity to be of service to the duke and earn the much-needed money for now and the future with a good reference from him. Before she had time to reflect and consider how she should correctly respond to the duke’s manipulations, she stated, “I’m sure you will pay well, Your Grace, but I have just told you I can’t do this for you. And furthermore, you can’t come in here and start ordering me to appear at your house tomorrow, or the day after, or next week and take care of your sisters.”
He bent still closer. His lips mere inches from hers, he softly said, “It’s not an order, Miss Swift. It’s an offer. For employment.”
His tone, his words, his nearness swept the breath from her lungs, and compelled her to acquiesce to whatever he wanted. She had no will or desire to shift away from him. Instead, she only wanted to please him. But …
“Even if I could do it, which I can’t, I would need more time than that to make necessary arrangements here at the agency and get ready for an extended stay in your house. I must decline for myself but insist I have women who can do this position for you.”
He lifted his head a little and asked, “Is it my reputation that bothers you and causes you to deny me your services?”
“No,” she said without hesitation. “Though in truth I have no idea why. It should give me great pause.” Especially since his presence had all her feminine instincts on alert.
His gaze raked slowly down her face and then back up to her eyes once more. Her skin prickled deliciously.
“You sound as if you mean that.”
“I do,” she answered honestly. She felt no fear whatsoever concerning this man. “I have no uncertainties that I could take care of myself should I feel you were stepping outside the lines of propriety and forgetting that you are a gentleman.”
The duke took his time and smiled slowly. A low, attractive chuckle passed his lips.
He was such a handsome and devilishly arrogant man. She couldn’t deny that she found everything about him pleasing, from his powerful good looks to the tone of his mellow voice. It was maddening that she was attracted to him—a peer—considering her dislike for them. And yes, she could ward off any advance from him, but first she would have to want to. That would take reminding herself that it was because of a titled gentleman that her mother’s life had changed so dramatically. Esmeralda had no desire to ever become a member of Polite Society again.
“I have no doubt of that either, Miss Swift. You are the one I want watching over my sisters.”
What nerve he had to continue up this path, she thought. Even for an arrogant duke!
“I appreciate that you are a duke and—”
“That I’m used to getting my way,” he interrupted, finishing her sentence for her.
“Yes.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
“And it’s true.”
She observed him while she did her best to come up with an answer that would satisfy him. The way he was looking at her, the nearness of his body to hers, was playing havoc with her senses and she felt her resolve weakening.
But placating the duke was beyond her strength to accomplish at the moment, so she huffed aloud and said, “For the love of heaven, Your Grace. You are being obstinate.”
He blinked and looked as if he couldn’t believe she said that to him and, quite frankly, she couldn’t believe she had either.
He was a duke!
Covering for herself, and hoping to minimize the effect of her cutting words, she said, “You did give me permission earlier to speak my mind. I assume you meant always, right? Not just that one time?”
“Always,” he answered without hesitating. “I respect anyone who has the courage to speak their mind whether or not I agree with what they say. But you are the one being obstinate.”
He had an aura of authority that was fair and yet intimidating at the same time. She swallowed hard and answered, “I am being truthful.”
“If this is to be a battle of wills between us, Miss Swift, I must let you know that I don’t like to lose.”
Chapter 3
Do find a way to be reasonable. Everyone will appreciate you for it in the end.
MISS MAMIE FORTESCUE’S DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS, AND NURSES
It had taken a long time, but Esmeralda had finally met her match. The duke was not a person she could easily win over to her way of thinking.
“I don’t know of anyone who likes losing.”
The duke nodded once. “But I usually don’t. Accepting defeat is not in my nature.”
“Obviously it’s not in mine either.”
“Good. I enjoy a worthy opponent.”
And therein was the problem. So did she.
In spite of her obvious need for money, and her very real attraction to him, she resented his demanding way of not taking no for an answer. Why did he continue to refuse to compromise with her and accept another woman for the post of chaperone?
Her shoulders lifted automatically as her resolve strengthened. She responded, “So to that end, I can only continue to state, I’m not available but I have employees who are.”
“Something tells me you are one good game player, Miss Swift. You hold your cards close to your chest and drive a hard bargain. I’m willing to double your usual price.”
Esmeralda gasped. He thought she was holding out for more money when that couldn’t be further from the truth. She would happily accept the standard fee if only she could.
“One full payment the day you start,” he said. “And one at the end of the Season. And, I’ll give you until the end of the week to arrive.”
She took another step back, her legs hitting the desk. It did her no good to put distance between them again because it only made him move forward. He bent his head still closer to hers. She could go no farther.
Placing her hand on the edge of the desk to steady herself, she said, “That would be a lot of money.”
Oh, she was tempted.
Sorely tempted.
She needed that money. With that amount she could pay off all her debts, and have a little left over for next winter’s coal payment too.
She wanted to say yes.
But how could she?
“Perhaps it is only a fair amount anyway,” he continued. “I do have two sisters after all. Their welfare is important to me. Surely you know that some things are worth the price you have to pay.”
“Very well, I do know that, Your Grace. And probably more than most. I want to help you. I have capable women available and urge you to at least take an interview. But I can’t do it.”
His breath glided across her heated cheeks when he said, “There will be a handsome bonus.”
“A bonus?” The spinning wheel of her heart made her legs go weak. Her breathing became so choppy she could hardly speak. Her eyes searched his to see if she could fathom the reason for his insistence other than he simply didn’t want her to best him in this situation, but she found no answer. “You are not playing fair, Your Grace.”
“There is no need to, because I am not playing, Miss Swift. I’m fighting for something I want and will use all that is available to me in order to get it. I aim to win this battle. Aside from the fact I don’t like to lose whether it’s an argument, a wager, or a card game, this is business to me. I’m serious. If one of my sisters becomes engaged by the end of the Season, you’ll have a bonus. I’ll double it if both are.”
“That sounds unbelievably generous, Your Grace, considering it would be easy money to earn.” She paused to weigh his offer again. “Surely, I don’t have to tell you that the hand of a duke’s sister is always highly sought. If either of your sisters want to marry, there will be an enormous amount of gentlemen eager to offer for her hand.”
“You’ve not met my sisters, Miss Swift. The task will not be as easy as you might think.”
There was only one way she could s
ettle this with the duke. She had to make him be the one to back away. “All right,” she said before she could talk herself out of the plan that suddenly came to her. “You have made the offer very appealing. Regrettably, it’s not only my responsibilities here at the agency that hold me back. I have obligations at home that I cannot neglect.”
A frown creased his brow and he grunted suspiciously under his breath. “What are they?”
“Well, there’s Josephine.”
“Josephine?” he questioned.
“My sister. She’s my responsibility and I can’t leave her alone all day and at night too. I will come to your house and chaperone your sisters if I can bring my sister with me.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed as he searched her face so intently she thought she might take back the demand.
“That would be unconventional to say the least.”
“I know, but that is the way it will have to be,” she said, hoping that now he would agree to letting her provide someone to help him rather than going elsewhere to secure a chaperone.
“Do you have no one to help you with your sister?”
Her cousin who was now Viscount Mayeforth could help them, but since his father had disowned her mother several years ago, Esmeralda had never considered asking him for help with Josephine after Josephine’s father died. Esmeralda remembered quite vividly the loud and hurtful row between her mother and her mother’s brother, who was the viscount at the time. He’d told her mother if she went against his wishes and married the Irish poet, she would never be welcomed in the family again.
As far as Esmeralda knew, her mother never had contact with her family after she left. And neither had Esmeralda. She had no reason to believe the current viscount felt differently from his father. If they didn’t want her mother in the family, surely they wouldn’t want her daughter by an Irishman. In any case, Esmeralda had no plans to find out. She would take care of her sister.
“No one,” Esmeralda said firmly with a shake of her head, feeling no guilt about not acknowledging her relationship to Viscount Mayeforth or any of her mother’s family.
“How old is your sister?”
“Twelve. So you see I couldn’t possibly leave her here for weeks to go and take care of Lady Vera and Lady Sara for you.”
His gaze searched her face. Assuming he would reject her requirement, Esmeralda started breathing a little easier and said, “Now may I select a chaperone for you?”
“No. She can come with you.”
Esmeralda felt as if her heart jumped up into her throat and she coughed. “You don’t mean that?”
“I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean.”
What could she say? She never expected him to agree to her preposterous demand. Thinking quickly, she added, “There’s Napoleon too. I won’t leave him either.”
A slow grin spread his masculine lips, and her heart tripped again.
“Josephine and Napoleon?” He straightened, putting a little more distance between their faces as he rubbed the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb. “I suppose he is your brother?”
“No. Napoleon is our dog. He is my sister’s responsibility. But I won’t leave either one of them behind for anyone.”
“I’m curious, Miss Swift. Was the dog named out of admiration or contempt for the emperor?”
“Neither, of course,” she told him. “When we found him wet and shivering by our back door, his long hair was so dirty and matted he looked as if he were wearing the kind of hat Napoleon wore in a painting we’d once seen of him. The poor thing was starving, so we brought him inside to nurse him back to health. Josephine fed him and washed and trimmed his long hair. She adored him on sight and thought it would be clever to name him Napoleon.”
The duke seemed to study on what she’d said and then asked, “What breed is the dog?”
“Skye Terrier. He must have belonged to someone for a time because he was already trained. After he was well enough, we walked him in the mornings and afternoons hoping to find his owner, but no one stopped us to inquire about him. He’s never tried to leave.”
“Then he must be home.”
“Yes, that’s a comforting way to look at it. And I’m glad you can see why I can’t be your sisters’ chaperone. My responsibilities here are too great to accept more.”
The duke stared at her for a long moment before finally saying, “Napoleon is a small dog.”
“Reasonably,” she said cautiously.
“Fine. They can both come with you.”
Esmeralda’s stomach clenched so hard her hand jerked to her abdomen. “You jest, Your Grace.”
He slowly shook his head as her thoughts whirled.
“I’ll need you to be in a room on the floor with my sisters,” he continued as if he considered their bargaining done. “Josephine can have the room in the nursery. There are always servants in the house, so she won’t be alone when you go out with the twins in the evenings. Napoleon, of course, will continue to be her concern.”
It was impossible to calm her ragged breathing, but she managed to say, “My sister and Napoleon can live with me in your house?”
His eyes softened indulgently. “I’ve already said they can come. You don’t have to convince me all over again.”
“Oh, yes, I know. I just can’t believe it. That’s more than I could have wished for.”
“However, I don’t expect your sister to hinder your duties or to have neighbors complaining about being awakened in the middle of the night by a howling dog.”
“No, no. Napoleon seldom barks, but…”
What was she thinking? She couldn’t do it. The duke was being more than fair and she needed the employment he offered, but she couldn’t.
As if sensing her trepidation, he said, “I haven’t heard a yes from you yet, Miss Swift.”
“I can’t,” she whispered earnestly. “I’m afraid there is still one thing holding me back, Your Grace.”
“Your dog has a sister too?”
In spite of her spinning heart, Esmeralda smiled. And so did the duke. “No.” She truly wanted to take this position, knowing there was no easy way to say what must be said.
He cocked his head. “A brother?”
He was teasing her, but not in a mean-spirited way. She suddenly felt shy. If she could think of any way around telling him the truth, she would take it.
There was none, so she swallowed hard and allowed the words to tumble from her mouth before she could think twice. “I don’t have the proper clothing needed to chaperone young ladies to balls, parties, and other outings.” She looked down at her serviceable dress, which was one of her best, but nowhere near good enough to wear to a ball or an afternoon card party. She lifted her head and chin. Looking directly into his eyes, she swallowed her embarrassment and said, “I have women who do. Though you were kind enough to say I can bring my sister and her dog, I must ask again that you allow me to suggest someone else to chaperone your sisters.”
“Lack of appropriate clothing will not keep you from my employment either, Miss Swift.” He pushed his cloak aside and reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small drawstring bag. Once more he slowly reached around her, placed it on the desk behind her and picked up his hat.
Again, she sensed the warmth of his strong body. She caught a whiff of shaving soap and felt the brush of his arm against hers. This time, his nearness made her whole body feel as if it were melting.
“Surrender, Miss Swift. I have won this battle.”
Had he?
“There should be enough in there for gowns, day dresses, as well as anything else you might need. Go to Madame Donceaux’s Shop.”
“No, I couldn’t possibly take—”
“You will be working for me, Miss Swift,” he interrupted. “I provide livery for my driver and footmen. I provide work tools for my gardener, and pots for my cook. I will provide whatever you need in order for you to properly chaperone my sisters.”
Why
did he have an irrefutable answer for all her arguments?
“I will pay you back every penny,” she insisted.
“Must you take me to task over everything I say?”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I am pleased that you want me to chaperone your sisters, but…” She stopped and took in another deep breath.
“Why do I get the feeling the final shoe has not yet dropped to the floor?”
“I must admit I’m suddenly feeling fearful that I am inadequate to properly chaperone two young ladies up to your expectations,” she admitted, knowing Miss Fortescue schooled her well but aware that she had no practical experience to draw from. Her mother had been ostracized from the family before Esmeralda made her own debut.
“If that is all that is bothering you now, then perhaps you should take your own advice, Miss Swift.”
A shiver of unease prickled her nape, causing a slight shiver. “What do you mean?”
“When you tell Lady Sara and Lady Vera what to do and they don’t do it, or when you tell them not to do something and they do it anyway, I expect you shall tie them to a chair and send them to bed without a crumb of bread to eat.”
Esmeralda’s back stiffened again, though from the expression in his eyes she could see he was teasing her. That bothered her all the more. “So you did eavesdrop on my conversation with Miss Pennywaite,” she accused. “I thought you had.”
“I didn’t eavesdrop. I overheard.”
“They mean the same and you know it,” she insisted as she once again tightened her shawl in indignation about her chilled shoulders. “Have you no shame for what you’ve done?”
“None whatsoever. But unlike Miss Pennywaite, I never considered you had done either to a child. I knew you were just trying to shock her into understanding what she must do.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me you’d listened to my conversation with her?” she asked crisply.
