Page 7 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

An uneasy feeling rippled down her spine. Everything about this man—this house—seemed out of kilter with her experience. Perhaps accepting this position, no matter how lucrative, was a mistake.

But then everything she attempted seemed to be a mistake. Such as giving herself to Alan and trusting her mother to have her happiness at heart.

Unfortunately, each new undertaking she had embarked on had proved to have drawbacks.

It seemed this one might be no different.

The question was—would the drawbacks be untenable?

Chapter Two

Damian eyed the young woman sitting calmly before him. For someone who had chosen hard work after being raised in the lap of luxury, she seemed remarkably sanguine.

The self-assurance of the overprivileged miss. It seemed she hadn’t learned her place. Or was she merely playing at being a member of the lower orders? Was her family supporting her, while they let her play with her patty pans?

He wouldn’t be surprised.

He scrawled his signature at the bottom of the contract and handed it back.

‘I had expected to find I would have a scullery maid to help,’ she said.

Aha, here it was, just as he had expected, the lady needing someone else to do the real work. ‘I doubt there is enough to keep two people busy.’

Her lovely mouth tightened. ‘It took me four hours to clean the kitchen this morning, My Lord. A cook does not normally undertake that sort of labour. Why don’t I seek help from a woman in the village for the days each week your household is in residence? It will not cost that much.’

He felt a sense of disappointment. As if he had wanted her to be different. Which was nonsense, of course.

‘If the work is too much for you, perhaps I need to look for someone else.’

Her soft grey eyes focused on his face.

Dammit it. She was going to call his bluff.

She straightened her shoulders slightly, a stiffening of her resolve no doubt. But what was it she had decided?

‘Very well,’ she said briskly.

He let go the breath he hadn’t realised he was holding and nodded.

‘I will see how it goes,’ she continued. ‘I reserve the right to revisit the issue if necessary.’

If necessary. He could not help but admire her gall. But having passed one hurdle, he wasn’t going to erect another. ‘As you wish.’

She rose to her feet.

He stood up and opened the door. She paused on the threshold and glanced up at him. ‘And I am not required to feed your guests?’

Oh, yes, she really did not want to work too hard. She was exactly what he had expected.

He narrowed his eyes. ‘No. My London staff will take care of their needs, you have no need to worry that you will be overburdened.’

‘I see. Thank you.’ She turned and walked away. Her stride was purposeful, but exceedingly feminine. Quite enticing, in fact. Womanly and elegant at the same time. He muttered a curse under his breath.

He had the odd feeling she would prove to be more of a challenge than he had expected. Now if he could only figure out why that would be, he could solve the problem.

He glanced down at the papers on his desk. Some bills from tradesmen, an estimate for a new roof on the east wing from a local carpenter, and a bill for feed, which reminded him—he had planned to visit his horses this morning.

He put on his coat and headed across the courtyard.