Page 15 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

“It was my role to act as chaperone to accompany them to Kent, and I am now present to help occupy their time and give lessons while we are here. While academics is important, Lady Traywick also knows that I am preparing her girls for their eventual debut into Polite Society. I give music lessons to Lady Verina and Lady Justina, and I have taught them to dance, as well. We work on needlework together, and they both are practicing the art of serving tea to others.”

She straightened her shoulders, her gaze meeting his.

“I know my exact role, Your Grace. It is not one of a duke’s guest. Though I enjoy what I do a great deal, I am working the entire time I will be at Millvale.

Now, if you will excuse me, it is almost time for the girls to appear for their lessons. ”

Her outburst, though contained, stunned him.

“I did not mean to offend you, Miss Snow,” he said quietly.

“And despite the fact that you are a governess, you are gently bred. I do look upon you as a guest and hope your stay in my home will be a pleasant one. If anything is not to your liking, please speak up. To me. I will address the issue at once.”

She looked at him as if he’d gone mad. “You have no idea what you are saying. Dukes do not trouble themselves if a governess is put out over something, and governesses are wise enough to know they live on the benevolence of their employers. I could hate everything about Millvale. The food. The bedclothes. The servants’ attitudes toward me.

And I would never dare complain to anyone, much less to you , of all people. ”

Miss Snow pursed her lips, and for a moment, all Val could think was how he wanted to kiss the frown from her face.

She must have had an inkling of his thoughts because she gave him a withering look.

“I suggest you take your role more seriously, Your Grace, and quit trying to flirt with me. There is a protocol which you are to follow, and getting to know and please your cousins’ governess is simply unheard of.

Your duties lie with your family and your tenants.

Please, do not give me a second thought because I am not a woman you can ever hope to seduce. ”

Val wanted to say he had given her more than a second thought.

A third. A fourth. A tenth. But that would only prove what she had dared enough to speak aloud to a duke.

Without realizing it, he had been subtly flirting with her.

Oh, not the charming words and wistful glances he gave other women in the ton , but a different kind of flirting. At least it had seemed so to her.

She was right. No duke would be concerned with the wishes and wellbeing of a governess. Most would not ever bother to speak to one. He knew his own father had rarely conversed with his sisters’ governess and the few occasions he did so, he addressed her as Nixon—and not Miss Nixon.

He wanted to tell Miss Snow that he meant no disservice to her.

If anything, she intrigued him as no other lady of his acquaintance ever had.

He most certainly did think of her as a lady, despite her protests to the contrary.

From her regal bearing to her beauty and intelligence, Miss Snow was every inch a lady.

And he could not help but toy with the idea of just how fine a duchess she would make.

Just then, Justina and Verina entered the room.

“Oh, this will be a wonderful place for you to conduct our lessons, Miss Snow,” Verina said, gazing about the room. She moved to the windows. “And what a lovely view.”

Justina said, “Lia and Tia have promised to go riding with us, Miss Snow. Val, too. He is going to give us a guided tour of his estate.”

He chuckled. “Well, not all of it. Millvale is rather large. But we will ride out and see a good bit of it today before we return home for tea.” He glanced to Miss Snow. “You will be joining us for tea, won’t you?”

Her chin raised a notch. “Certainly, Your Grace. I look forward to it. Your cook did such a marvelous job at yesterday’s tea, especially those raspberry tarts.”

“They were wonderful,” Justina said, taking a seat at the table in the center of the room.

“I assume I am to sit here, Miss Snow.” She glanced to Val.

“Miss Snow understands that my mind wanders. If I sat by the window, I would be staring out, conjuring all sorts of things in my mind that have nothing to do with the lessons at hand.”

He stepped to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “There is nothing wrong with daydreaming, Cousin. Sometimes, you learn a great deal about yourself through it. Daydreams can turn into real dreams. Goals which you set for yourself.”

Val squeezed her shoulder, letting his hand fall to his side again.

Justina frowned. “I have never really thought to have any kind of goal, Val. Mama—and Polite Society—expect me to wed and have children. What might I want beyond that?”

“That is for you to decide.” He paced to Verina.

“The same for you. Yes, I will help you, along with your brother, to make an advantageous match if that is what you want, but I want you to be happy with the husband you choose. And if you wish to do more with your life than simply be a wife and mother, that is for you to decide. You might wish to paint. Help others through a ladies’ auxiliary. ”

He saw Justina pondering his words and added, “Why, my sister Ariadne, who is now Lady Aldridge, has purchased an orphanage with her husband. They spend a couple of days a week there, teaching the orphans. Ariadne has birthed one daughter, Penelope, and she and Lord Aldridge plan to have more children. She also enjoys the time spent with the orphans and feels she is contributing to the good of them and others by doing so.”

He smiled at Justina. “It is up to you to fill the pages not only of your journal, but your future.”

Val looked to Miss Snow, and the governess’ lips were slightly parted in wonder. Something in him wanted to make her see him as more than a duke. See the man behind the title.

And want that man.

He cleared his throat, pushing aside his own fanciful thoughts.

“I will leave you to your governess. Let us met at the stables at a quarter past one. That way, I can walk you through and show you the horses which are available for you during your stay. I will need to know your level of experience and the type of horse you are comfortable atop of.”

“Both Lady Verina and Lady Justina are excellent riders, Your Grace,” Miss Snow informed him.

“They will be able to comfortably handle any mount they are given.” She paused.

“We will arrive at the stables at a quarter past so that your grooms will have time to saddle all our horses. It will also allow the girls to meet and bond with the ones they will ride.”

“Bond?” he asked, puzzled by her words.

“Yes. I have taught my charges that it is important—just as it is with new people you meet—that they establish a relationship with a new horse they are to ride.”

“It is important to always learn a horse’s name, Val, and ask about their temperaments,” Verina informed him. “Miss Snow also has us bring a treat for our horses. Hopefully, your cook will provide us with something we might take with us.”

“I see. Then I will speak to Cook now and see that we have some apples for our horses. I will bring them myself to the stables and distribute them once everyone is present.”

He looked to Miss Snow before she could protest. “I know that is not necessary for me to do so, but I am happy to take on the role. My own mount will be excited to receive a treat himself.” Facing his cousins, he added, “Enjoy your lessons this morning. I will see you in a few hours.”

Val left the library and went directly to the kitchens. He told Cook that he would return at one o’clock and asked her to have a basket of apples ready when he did.

“For what, Your Grace?” she asked, her brows knitting together quizzically.

“Miss Snow has said that it is important for our horses to receive a treat. I am abiding by her wishes.”

Cook grinned. “Then the apples will be ready for you, Your Grace.”

He retreated to his study, the newspapers still tucked under his arm. He set them on the desk and took the chair behind it, placing his fist atop and crossing his ankles.

Miss Snow continued to draw his interest. He’d thought to possibly look over the neighborhood to see if he might find a suitable wife amongst the families living here.

Why not Miss Snow?

Her manners were exquisite, at least when she wasn’t chastising him.

She was quick-witted and beautiful, Of course, she had not made her come-out into Polite Society and worked to earn her living, but he respected her for doing so.

And after all, he was a duke. Dukes seemed to be able to make their own rules, as well as breaking other rules of the ton .

He pictured Miss Snow wearing the Worthington diamonds to the opening ball of next Season, her hair piled high on her head, her ballgown simple and elegant, as the woman herself.

Being wed to him, she would instantly be welcomed into Polite Society.

Val wasn’t ready to commit to such a wild idea, much less offer for Miss Snow, but he felt himself leaning in that direction. He had always been a man who went after what he wanted—and got it.

And in this case, he was beginning to want Miss Snow.

Badly.