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She scowled at the sarcasm in his response but managed to hold her tongue. “I… it is an honor to even be considered,” she said evenly.

“But?”

She grimaced and then spoke carefully. “It is just that, well, the role of a governess is not one to be taken lightly—as you noted, she is to train your daughter in the ways of the ton and what is to be expected of her as the daughter of a duke. I would hate for you to choose the wrong person for such a serious role.”

“And you are the wrong person, are you?”

“I never said that.”

“So, you think that you are well suited for it.”

“I did not say that either.”

Frederick could not help but smile as he discerned Miss Dowding’s meaning even if she was attempting to speak out both sides of her mouth. It was obvious, now, that she did not wish to be his daughter’s governess while at the same time, she was refusing to say it outright. As to why she did not wish it?

Perhaps she did not want to disappoint Isabelle? The two had clearly formed a bond in the short time they had met, and for all his judgement of Miss Dowding’s character, it was clear that she was a kind soul who didn’t relish the idea of hurting his daughter. What was more, she likely knew that Frederick didn’t want her in the role either, and she knew that regardless of what she said, he would refuse her.

Clever…he chuckled to himself as he watched her squirm under his stare. Make him out to be the villain while she escaped judgement. Frederick was used to being the villain, but that did not mean he enjoyed it.

“My grandmother seems to think that you are,” he continued, his stare fixed on her, “and she is rarely wrong.”

Her eyes went wide, but she was quick to recover. “I would hate to abandon her—your grandmother, I mean. I have been her companion two years now, and to suddenly leave her in the lurch?—”

“At her own suggestion.”

“It is still not something that I relish in.”

“She will be well taken care of while she stays here. Really, she has no need of a companion. Not as much as my daughter does a governess, anyhow.”

“I…” She went to speak, only to close her mouth and consider. She still fidgeted with her hands, and she could barely look at him for more than a second before looking away. “I am not trained.”

“That is no bother.”

“For a task such as this one, someone with expertise would likely be a far safer option than I.”

“So, you do not want the role?”

“I did not say that.”

“And yet you have said everything else you can to denounce your candidacy.”

Her cheeks flushed pink, and she looked at her feet. “If that is how you wish to interpret it, that is your decision.”

“You can say it, you know. You are allowed to admit that you do not wish to be my daughter’s governess. I do not mind.”

“I will admit no such thing.” She snapped her head up and looked at him, cocking a challenging eyebrow as she was starting to understand the game that he was playing.

“So…” He flashed his eyes at her. “… if I was to go back outside and tell my daughter that I have accepted you in this role…”

“I would be delighted about it,” she said with a cocky smirk. “In fact, I insist that you do as such. That is…” Her smirk grew. “… if you want it. If you do not, I would find some way to make my peace.”

“I bet you would.”

Frederick could see the impasse that the two had arrived at. Neither wanted Miss Dowding as his daughter’s governess, but neither was willing to accept the blame that would come from admitting it. And while Frederick knew he should have simply stood up to his daughter and told her no, he could not help but picture her earlier when she had winced at his rebuke of her and how she had shied away as if frightened.

He was sick of being the bad guy. He was sick of pushing his daughter away time and time again. Always wanting to dothe right thing, there had to be a limit before the right thing became what undid him entirely. What was the point in having a daughter respected in the ton if she hated him for it? Surely, there was a middle ground?

Annoyingly, Miss Dowding refused to yield. Something which he was not at all used to…