Page 20 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

Miss Snow.

The pretty governess was dominating far too much of his thoughts.

He asked himself why he was interested in her.

Was it because she was unattainable? Admittedly, things out of his reach had always presented a challenge to him, and Val was not a man to back down from a challenge.

He was drawn to her in an inexplicable way.

He had been without a woman for a few months, simply because he’d been too busy in the aftermath of his father’s death.

That had to be it. He merely missed female companionship, and Miss Snow was of a similar age.

He felt comfortable in her company and enjoyed their lively conversations.

The fact that he had, for a brief moment, entertained the idea of making her his duchess was absurd.

Even if dukes did as they pleased, he could not think of a one whom had wed a lowly governess.

He turned a corner and saw the object of his desire a few paces away. Miss Snow bent, touching a rose, her nose resting against the petals as she inhaled deeply. Because of her position, her gown was molded to her shapely derriere, and all Val wanted to do was squeeze and knead it.

She must have sensed his presence because she wheeled quickly, facing him.

“Are you following me?” she demanded angrily, spots of color staining her cheeks.

“I merely wished to stroll in my gardens before dinner, Miss Snow.”

More color flooded her face, and he saw she became flustered.

“There. I have gone and done it again, Your Grace. I do not know what is wrong with me. I promise you that I am a kind soul. My mother brought me up to have wonderful manners, but they seem to fly out the window anytime I see you. Please, accept my deepest apologies.”

“Apologies accepted. Stay,” he urged, seeing she was about to bolt. “Walk with me.”

He caught the reluctance in her eyes and knew it was mainly because a duke had ordered her to remain.

Softening his voice, he said, “Stay. Only if you wish to. Not because I am a duke—but because you wish to stay and talk with me.”

Obviously, she was torn. Her hazel eyes had gone amber. She nibbled on that plump, bottom lip again, causing him to wish he could do the same.

“I do not wish to seduce you, Miss Snow,” he said bluntly, taking her aback.

“I did not say that, Your Grace,” she said, her face now flaming.

“But you thought it. Didn’t you?”

With a pained expression, she said, “Servants are beholden to their employers. A governess is nothing more than a servant. I will share that I had a previous employer who thought to take advantage of the fact that he held sway over me.”

Instantly, anger sizzled within him. “Who?” he demanded. “Who wished to harm you?”

She gently placed her hand on his foreman, soothing him at once. “You are not some white knight charging into battle to protect my honor. It matters not who the gentleman was. Only know that it happened, and because of that, I am more wary than most women in my position.”

Her hand fell from his arm, and he longed to catch it, entwining his fingers with hers. After what she had just confided in him, however, that should be the last thing he attempted to do.

“This was before you came to be employed in Aunt Agnes’ household?”

Miss Snow nodded. “It was my first post I ever held. I was young and naive, thinking I would be with the family many years. I learned this was a pattern of behavior with this particular viscount, and that I was not the first to leave his household under a dark cloud.”

She turned away and began walking, and he fell into step with her.

“Unfortunately, he dismissed me without references when I would not play his games with him. The viscountess felt sorry for me. She told me of a position needing to be filled at Traywick Manor, and I used the last of my meager savings to travel there. For some unknown reason, Lady Traywick hired me, despite the fact I had no references and little experience. I have been at Traywick Manor ever since.”

She came to a halt, her gaze meeting his. “So you see, Your Grace, it is not simply a matter of protecting my heart. I must also protect my reputation. It is my livelihood.”

“I am sorry if you have felt I have given you undue attention, Miss Snow. You merely are so easy to talk to. I miss Con. We saw each other almost daily over the years, going to school and university together, then sharing rooms in town after our studies had been completed. I adore my sisters, but they are younger and do not have the same life experience as I do. I have never been close to Mama, and she keeps to herself these days, Aunt Agnes her only companion. I did not know Mama’s grief would be so strong. ”

He smiled at her, not flirtatiously, but in a friendly matter. “Now that I am a duke, people treat me differently, even though I am the same man I always have been, merely with a plethora of new duties to fulfill. I suppose I am a bit lonely and have sought your company in friendship.”

He saw her softening. “I can be a bit lonely at times myself, Your Grace. Although I am included as a member of the family when I am at Traywick Manor, I know I am not officially a Fulton. And the servants seem to keep their distance from me. So I do have an inkling what you are going through. Perhaps you should ask Viscount Dyer to come and see you.”

“You are perceptive, Miss Snow. In fact, I have come from writing a letter to him, asking him to do that very thing. While I hate for him to abandon town and the Season, I could stand to have my closest friend with me for a short while.”

He looked at her hopefully. “Might I call you a friend? I know it is most unusual for a duke and a governess to form a friendship, but I would appreciate speaking with you from time to time while you are here at Millvale.”

She pondered his words and finally said, “You think it possible for us to be friends?”

“I do. You will be here most likely through the spring and summer months. I would be happy to have someone to share things with. Ask advice of. Even go riding with.”

Worrying her bottom lip again, she said, “I suppose we can try. To be frank, I have never had a friend myself. Being an only child was lonely. I spent hours with Mama, talking and reading and playing games. Papa took me about on the estate. We dined as three, taking all our meals together. I rarely even went into the nearest village.” She hesitated.

“What I am saying is that I am not certain I know how to be a friend.”

“Other than Con, every other gentleman I know is merely an acquaintance. Not a friend.”

Val realized that wasn’t quite truthful because he had made a friend in Julian once the marquess had shown interest in Ariadne. He hoped their friendship would grow. For now, though, he understood Miss Snow’s loneliness because he felt it weighing heavily upon him now.

“Con and I have been the closest of friends for almost two decades. I think I can teach you how to be one. First, we should be open and truthful with one another. Even if we hold different opinions on a subject, we should be respectful toward one another. And no topic is out of bounds.”

She nodded. “I will try to abide by these rules.”

Then she smiled brilliantly at him, causing him to suck in a quick breath. He still desired her, but after what she had shared about her former employer, Val would never take advantage of her. Instead, he would try to be her friend—and see where it led them.

He might change his mind about her once he got to know her better.

Most of the women he coupled with he knew very little about and when he did learn more than he wished, he found they lost their appeal to him.

Getting to spend time with Miss Snow and learning more about her might be the very thing which might eventually repel him.

Then he would be through with his fantasies of her and be able to move on to the Marriage Mart.

But if she proved to be interesting and honorable, he just might need to move from friendship—to romance.

“I agree to do so, as well,” he said, returning her smile. “I look forward to knowing more about you and your opinions, Miss Snow.”