Dangerous Lover, page 4
“Oh, sorry, I can’t. I already gave it to him, and he read it and asked me to give you this. I was going to bring it up when I had finished in here.”
Alexandra wanted to close her eyes and slide down the wall. Why could she never control her wretched temper? She seemed to have survived last night’s encounter only to be dismissed, deservedly, for blatant rudeness—however stupid and pompous her employer’s instructions.
She took the note and trudged back to her room, stepping lightly as she glanced warily toward the closed library door.
In her room, she shook out the note.
That would be acceptable. Feel free to leave the information in the library.
Her face flamed. Was that a reference to last night’s encounter there? And did he have to be so wretchedly concise?
She sat down at her desk once more, and so as not to waste her own precious paper, she wrote on the back of his.
Lady Grizelda Tizsa, Half-Moon Street Lane.
Viscountess Trench and her two children, Michael and Elizabeth.
Lady Grizelda’s dog, and, briefly, her husband.
She thought of explaining about the guitars and the hackney but then decided his conciseness required the same of her. So, she merely folded the note, and then, reluctant to disturb Clara yet again, she drew in her breath and crept down to the library.
A light shone beneath the door, but she heard nothing from inside. She crouched, slid the note under the door, then rose and walked away, determined not to run.
She had reached the upstairs landing before she heard the library door opening, but she kept on walking to her room. He didn’t call her back.
*
On waking the following morning, Alexandra still felt uneasy and again expected the fall of the axe on her position here. But after pacing in her room for an hour last night and realizing Sir Nicholas had no intention of replying further, she had gone to bed and slept peacefully all night. So, at least she was well-rested and ready for anything.
Accordingly, she washed, dressed, brushed and pinned her hair, and sallied forth to the schoolroom where she ate breakfast with Evelina and drank a welcome cup of coffee, which was brought by Clara without an accompanying note of any kind.
It was after Evelina had impressed her with her reading skills and while the child was copying from a book to practice her handwriting that Sir Nicholas dropped into the schoolroom.
Alexandra was raking through her books at the time, looking for passages that would challenge Evelina without overwhelming her, when Evelina emitted a squeak of joy and rushed from her desk to greet the man strolling into the room from the passage. Unlike their only other encounter, he was fully dressed in dark trousers and coat, his tie neatly in place, and his hair brushed off his face. He appeared to be freshly shaven.
Despite the lack of space, he seized his rushing daughter by the waist and spun her high into the air before depositing her on her feet once more and taking her by the hand to lead her back to her desk.
Alexandra had jumped up in surprise and was now annoyed by her reaction. A slower rise would have fitted more with the dignity she had intended to maintain. But he barely glanced at her.
“Look, Papa, this is my writing,” Evelina said proudly as her father pushed her gently into her chair.
“Very fair, in my opinion,” he said. “What does Miss Battle think?”
“She hasn’t seen it yet, but she liked it yesterday. Mostly. She likes my reading, too.”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” Sir Nicholas said lazily and at last looked up at Alexandra. “Miss Battle.”
“Sir Nicholas.”
“Carry on with your work, Evelina,” he said without releasing Alexandra’s gaze, “while Miss Battle and I talk.”
Nerves shot through her as he walked toward her, but she lifted her chin and forced herself to wait calmly for whatever was to come.
“Please, sit,” he invited, coming to a halt beside her desk. She sat, which annoyingly meant she had to crane her neck to look at him. There were other chairs he could have brought up, but he chose instead to perch on her desk.
“I felt we should understand each other,” he remarked, watching her.
“I thought we did. Now.”
His lips quirked. “I doubt it. First of all, I have no objection to fresh air or exercise. In fact, for Evelina, I fully endorse it.” He pronounced his daughter’s name with an Italian inflection that was both unexpected and endearing. “But I would like to know in advance where you take her.”
“You were not, to my knowledge, at home at the time,” Alexandra said. “You may think I should have planned it better to secure your permission, but the day-to-day teaching of a child does not conform to such plans. If she is restless, there is no point in confining her to the schoolroom beyond a certain point. It may be she is lethargic or tired at the time I proposed to take her out and must change my plans accordingly.”
“I understand, Miss Battle,” he drawled with apparent amusement. “Which is why I propose we agree to a list of places you may take her at your discretion. Providing you tell at least one of the servants when you leave.”
“I told Anna,” Alexandra said.
His eyes flickered. “I see.”
So did Alexandra. Anna had told him only that the governess had taken his daughter out.
“I have heard lots about luncheon on a blanket in the park and about a house with a highly entertaining dog and two children.”
“Lady Grizelda’s house. She is the Duke of Kelburn’s daughter.”
“I know who she is,” Sir Nicholas said tartly. “I was unaware you are connected to the family.”
“I’m not. Lady Griz—Grizelda—is a friend I made when I returned from Europe. We and some amateur musicians play music together when we can.”
“Is that why you went there yesterday?” he asked steadily.
“No, I went to see if we could borrow a guitar for Evelina’s musical instruction. I understand there is no pianoforte—which situation I would like to ask you to remedy at some point, if at all possible. In the meantime, I shall begin teaching her on the guitar.”
For an instant, he frowned as though to forbid it, but his brow cleared almost immediately, and he only nodded. “I will see to it. You are also acquainted with Lady Trench.”
“I met her for the first time yesterday. Unfortunately, she is taking her children to the country today, for it would be good for Evelina to have friends to play with.”
An arrested look crossed his face. Again, he merely nodded curtly. “What of Lady Grizelda’s brothers? Do you know them?”
“No. But as I told you, we met Lady Grizelda’s husband.”
“Dragan Tizsa,” he murmured thoughtfully. “Interesting man.”
“You know him?” she asked, surprised.
“Not yet. Lord Trench and I have some common business interests. I have no quarrel with the places you have already taken Evelina. Where else do you imagine taking her?”
“To Hyde Park and the Exhibition. Perhaps to the museum. A walk along the river, perhaps to the market if Mrs. Dart requires anything. I shall keep her with me at all times,” she added, sensing his sudden concern.
His lips twisted into a deprecating smile.
She continued hastily. “I would also like to meet up with other governesses and their charges to let Evelina play with other children. I am acquainted with a governess in Mayfair, one in Belgravia, and one in Kensington. Again, their play would be supervised.”
He regarded her, unblinking, for so long that she thought she might have missed a patch of jam on her face from breakfast or be growing a pair of horns. “You really are eminently sensible, are you not, Alexandra Battle?”
“Most eminently,” she replied, trying not to blush at his mode of address which recalled, as he clearly meant it to, their meeting in the library.
A breath of laughter issued from his lips. Her awareness of him increased tenfold. But fortunately, before breathing became a problem, he eased his hip off the desk.
He said coolly, “Leave me the names of those governesses and their employers, and we are agreed.” He began to stroll away, then glanced back over his shoulder. “And Miss Battle? You may browse the library whenever you wish. No permission is necessary for books.”
“Thank you,” she managed to his back. Fortunately, he did not turn again, for her face was flaming. He ruffled his daughter’s hair carelessly on his way out.
*
The first tantrum in Alexandra’s presence occurred that afternoon and grew out of a simple request to put books and paints away before they went for a walk.
“But I want to go now,” Evelina said, staring at Alexandra as if she didn’t understand.
“And we shall, as soon as we have cleared up.”
“You clear up,” Evelina said, with her first sign of arrogance. “I’ll wait for you in the garden.”
“No. We shall each clear up our own desks, and then we’ll go together.”
“It’s boring!” Evelina declared, swiping her books onto the floor with her arm. The little bowl of water tipped up and spilled over her bright, charming painting, and she let out a cry of rage.
Although it was clear what was coming, Alexandra tried her best to divert it. “Oh dear,” she said calmly. “I’ll fetch the cloth while you—”
“I’m going out!” the child claimed and slammed toward the schoolroom door.
Alexandra was there before her, blocking her way. Evelina stamped her foot and screamed, and in no time, was in the midst of a fully-fledged tantrum. Before she could hurl herself at the wall, Alexandra seized her hand and hurried her toward the inner door.
Surprised, Evelina was in the playroom before she realized it and tried to break free. Alexandra held on grimly and threw open the door of the empty room she had already earmarked for such emergencies. Annoyingly, Anna appeared at the door of Evelina’s bedchamber, which made the child scream more loudly and try to throw herself free. Alexandra spun her into the room.
“Sir Nicholas will not have her locked in,” Anna remarked with a hint of gloating.
“Later,” Alexandra snapped, for she was already inside the room with Evelina and now closed the door on Anna’s stunned face.
A cushion landed on Alexandra’s head. She ignored it, placed the chair she had put there yesterday in front of the door, and took the book from her pocket as she sat down.
Stunned, Evelina stopped screaming to stare at her, then drew in her breath and yelled with fury. Two more cushions were flung at Alexandra. Another missed its mark. Alexandra ignored all of them, merely continued reading her book. Or at least pretending to.
Evelina hurled herself on the cushions, drumming her feet and crying. Alexandra waited calmly until the storm abated and silenced. Slowly, Evelina sat up, her face red and tearstained, and gazed at Alexandra.
Alexandra gave her a few more moments, then glanced up from her book. “Better? Shall we go and clear up now?”
“I don’t want to clear up,” Evelina whispered. “I want to go out.”
“My dear,” Alexandra said gently, “we could be out by now if you had cleared up when I asked you.”
She had no way of knowing if that point went home just yet, but the tantrum had clearly exhausted her.
Alexandra closed her book, stood, and moved the chair to one side. She held out her hand and, still baffled, Evelina came and took it. They left the room together and returned to the schoolroom.
Five minutes later, with everything cleared, cleaned, and dried, Alexandra took her to the bedchamber to wash her face and hands, while Anna looked on, puzzled.
Alexandra beckoned to the maid and took her into the schoolroom while the child dried her face and put on her hat and coat.
“I would like you to treat any tantrums that way. Take her into the room, block the door, and stay with her, but ignore her. Do something else, mending, knitting, whatever you wish, and don’t speak to her until she is calm.”
Anna stared at her. “You must have the authority of Sir Nicholas.”
“And while I get it, you must do as I ask,” Alexandra said steadily. “Trust me, it will make your job easier in the end.”
Chapter Four
While they were having tea in the schoolroom that afternoon, a maid Alexandra had not seen before came in and said Lady Nora had been asking for Evelina.
“Could she be spared for ten minutes?” the maid asked.
Evelina looked expectantly at Alexandra, without any sign of the earlier, violent tantrum. “May I, Miss Battle?”
“Of course, providing you wash your hands and face first, or Lady Nora won’t know who you are.”
Evelina giggled, and the maid smiled as she curtseyed and bustled off.
“Come with me?” Evelina invited when she returned from her ablutions. She even held out her hand. “I want to show Lady Nora my new governess.”
“Very well,” Alexandra said, “if Lady Nora does not mind.” In fact, it struck her that Evelina was, if not exactly frightened, then unsure; that she wanted Alexandra there for support rather than display purposes. And yet, she had clearly known Lady Nora longer than she had Alexandra.
But Lady Nora was unwell. Her bedchamber was bright and cheerful and yet smelled somehow of medicine and death. The lady herself was drawn and almost unworldly, propped against a mass of pillows that dwarfed her. Her face was lined with long-endured pain. But she smiled at the sight of the child, and Evelina happily took her hand and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Good day, Lady Nora! This is Miss Battle, my governess. I thought you would like to meet her.”
“Lady Nora,” Alexandra said, curtseying, while the clouded eyes seemed suddenly sharp.
“Miss Battle,” she said and gave a wheezy laugh. “Well, you’ll have one. Don’t let them defeat you, for there’s good in them. Good in him… So, what have you done today, my little angel?”
I had a major tantrum and threw things at my governess, Alexandra thought sardonically, while Evelina recited, “I read and wrote and saw Papa and counted and painted and walked by the river, then up the steps to the market, and I played the guitar. And had tea. And luncheon.”
“Busy girl. So, someone is teaching you music at last. I thought they were afraid to.”
“Why afraid?” Alexandra asked.
“Oh, her mother, you know. She cast a dazzling light and a long shadow… And where else have you been since I last saw you, Evelina? Anywhere interesting?”
“We had a picnic in the park,” Evelina said enthusiastically, “and went to visit a lady with a dog, who runs really fast and likes her tummy tickled!”
“The lady likes her tummy tickled?” Lady Nora asked, apparently astonished.
Evelina laughed. “No, the dog does! And there were other children there, a boy and a girl who seemed to like me.”
“Of course they liked you.” Lady Nora said, lifting one papery hand to touch Evelina’s hair. “I like you, though I never meant to.” Her hand fell, and her eyelids fluttered and closed. Then they flew open again. “Come and see me again, little angel. You too, Miss…”
The maid bustled forward. “She’ll just sleep for a while now, Miss.”
Alexandra took Evelina’s hand and drew her away. “Come, we’ll have a game in the garden before we get ready for dinner.”
Evelina was silent as they went downstairs. Then she asked suddenly, “Do all sick people die?”
“No, they usually get better,” Alexandra assured her. “But some are unfortunate.”
“Like Mama.”
“Yes, like Mama,” Alexandra said gently.
“And Lady Nora.” She glanced up with haunted eyes. “What if Papa gets sick, too?”
“He seems very healthy to me. And if he falls sick at all, I am sure he would get better again in no time.”
“I don’t think I have ever been sick.”
“Then you are lucky and as healthy as your father.”
“Have you?”
“Nothing serious.”
“I wouldn’t like you to get sick either.”
“Thank you,” Alexandra said, peculiarly touched, and decided it was time to change the subject. “Do you have the ball?”
*
Alexandra didn’t know whether she was glad or sorry not to see Sir Nicholas for the rest of the day. As requested, she wrote down the names of her governess acquaintances and the names and addresses of their employers and asked one of the servants to give it to him. There was no reply by the time she retired, but during breakfast the next day, Anna came into the schoolroom and deposited a note on the table.
It said only, Unexceptionable. Proceed according to your good sense.
She wondered if he meant to compliment or mock her.
Since the early morning mist had lifted by eleven o’clock, revealing a fine summer’s day, Alexandra decided on a short walk to blow away the cobwebs before they continued with lessons, and Evelina put away her books quickly and without fuss.
While the child ran to fetch her coat and bonnet, Alexandra unhooked her own from the back of the door and was just tying the ribbons of her bonnet when the door abruptly opened, forcing her to jump back out of the way.
“My apologies,” Sir Nicholas said, looking more amused than sorry. “I did not expect to find you lurking behind the door.”
“I did not expect anyone to open it, either, so it seems we were both wrong. We were about to take a short walk along the river.”
“Then I caught you just in time.” He produced what appeared to be a coin purse from his pocket and stepped forward to give it to her. “For incidentals, such as hackneys, since you are not close to genteel company, or any of the places of interest you wished to take Evelina.”
“Thank you,” Alexandra said, stunned by such thoughtfulness. “I will keep an accounting, of course.”
“Of course,” he said gravely, though his eyes still seemed to be laughing at her. This had a curious effect on her, causing both indignation and acknowledgment of the man’s undoubted attractions. He really didn’t need to say or do anything for women to fall into his lap. Women who were not straightlaced governesses, obviously.
