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Page 33 of The Defiant Governess (Intrepid Heroines #6)

A short nap had erased the fatigue of the journey, and a hot bath had left him feeling much refreshed.

As Saybrook shrugged into his evening coat, he found himself looking forward to the evening.

Normally he preferred his solitude, but the chance to meet a dear friend of Jane’s had excited his curiosity.

And though he hadn’t known what to expect, he found himself rather liking the gruff duke.

Saybrook smiled to himself. Perhaps it was because the duke’s concern for Jane was very evident.

He paused as he began to tie his cravat.

The duke had been quick with his hospitality.

He had a daughter who was the same age as Jane, one who been out for a Season and was still unmarried.

A horrible thought suddenly crossed his mind.

He began to envision a squat, squint-eyed young lady—yes, it would be just like Jane to adopt someone like that!

But surely the duke couldn’t be thinking of …

And then he relaxed and laughed at his own fears. With her rank and dowry, the duke’s daughter could be a veritable harridan and she would not lack for offers. Breathing a sigh of relief, he straightened the folds of his neckcloth and rang for a footman.

It promised to be an interesting evening.

After looking in on Peter and finding him comfortably settled, Saybrook presented himself at the drawing room door precisely at six.

Avanlea greeted him and as they exchanged pleasantries, Saybrook noted that the two young people were at the far end of the room by the fireplace, deeply engrossed in their own conversation.

They had not seen his entrance for their backs were to him.

For a moment, he had a chance to study their appearances.

The young man tall and slim but solid, with a well-muscled physiques that his expertly tailored clothes—by Weston, no doubt—showed off to perfection.

And no doubt that the heir to Avanlea could cut quite a swath in Town if he chose.

But it was the lady who caught his attention.

He nearly laughed aloud thinking of the mental image he had formed beforehand.

It couldn’t have been further from the truth!

She was tall and elegantly slender. Masses of honey-colored hair were dressed in a most becoming style, with just a few loose tendrils drifting down a long and graceful neck.

The color of her gown brought out the rich gold of her hair, while the expert cut flattered her lovely figure.

Saybrook felt an involuntary surge of admiration. She was a diamond of the first water, for he had no doubt that picture would be no less lovely when she turned around. And yet, for some unaccountable reason, he felt that there was an odd familiarity about her ….

The duke took his arm and moved towards the fire. “Come now, you two. Don’t put me to the blush with your manners,” he chided before directing his next words to Saybrook.

“Sir, please allow me to present my son Thomas, Viscount Roxbury.”

The young man turned. His face was handsome, with eyes as blue as his father’s, and he smiled politely as he sketched a quick bow.

Saybrook felt a slight shock as he realized that the young man so resembled Jane that they could have been twins, except for the blond hair.

Perhaps that explained why the duke had a fatherly regard for Miss Langley—for perhaps his interest in his tenants had gone beyond sowing merely wheat.

“And may I present my daughter.”

Saybrook’s mouth dropped in astonishment as the young lady turned to face him.

“I believe you are acquainted with Jane,” continued the duke blandly. “However, I fear you are confused as to her last name. It is Stanhope, not Langley.”

She looked exactly as she had in his dreams, when he had imagined her dressed in expensive silks and fitted gowns rather than her own drab, ill-fitting garments.

Instead of a high buttoned neck reaching nearly to her chin, her dress of pale blue figured silk exposed a pair of creamy shoulders and enough bosom to take his breath away.

The high waist only heightened the awareness of the rounded curves above it while showing off the slim waist and womanly shape beneath it.

With the walnut stain gone, her hair resembled nothing like the mousy color it had been at Highwood but shone like burnished gold.

Her skin had a milky luminance matched by the simple strand of pearls at her throat.

He stood in stunned silence, his mouth dry, his body rigid.

Jane appeared just as surprised. Her eyes widened in shock and her polite smile changed to a look of disbelief. “You! How did you—” she blurted out before she recovered enough to stammer a a polite platitude.

Saybrook, barely conscious enough to bow over her extended hand, was saved from having to reply by the entrance of the butler.

“Dinner is served, Your Grace.”

The meal was a strained affair. Both Saybrook and Jane answered any direct question put to them in stilted tones but otherwise remained silent.

Thomas shot both of them quizzical glances while keeping up a running conversation with his father.

Avanlea jovially discussed the merits of some newly acquired horses, seemingly oblivious to the tension around him.

However, despite his feigned nonchalance, he kept a sharp eye on his daughter and their guest. The spark between the two of them was evident during the few times their eyes accidentally met.

“Is your ward comfortably settled in the nursery?” inquired the duke.

“Yes, thank you,” replied the marquess.

Jane looked up from her plate. “Peter is here?” she exclaimed.

Saybrook didn’t look at her. “Yes.”

“Oh, how is he? His arm?—”

“His arm has mended nicely.” Saybrook paused. “He misses you terribly,” he added in a low voice.

“Oh.” She fought to blink back tears. “I miss him, too.”

There was an awkward silence until Thomas finally spoke up. “May I ask what the devil is going on here?”

When neither of them answered, Avanlea cleared his throat. “It appears that Jane has spent the last number of months as governess to Lord Saybrook’s ward.”

“Good Lord,” breathed Thomas, looking at his sister in astonishment.

“Representing herself as Jane Langley, a farmer’s daughter, I might add.” The duke looked reprovingly at his daughter. “Most unfair of you, missy. Do you realize what a potentially disastrous position you placed the marquess in?”

She looked at him, startled.

“Why,” continued her father, “if the merest whisper had gotten out, His Lordship, as a gentleman, would have been forced to offer for you, regardless of his feelings in the matter.”

“I … I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Not to speak of your own reputation!” Avanlea turned to Saybrook, who had turned a shade paler at the duke’s words. “I beg your forgiveness for my daughter’s reckless actions. I trust you will agree with me that it is best that this matter go no farther than this table.”

“Of course. You have my word,” said Saybrook.

The duke nodded. “And you mine,” he added pointedly.

Thomas in the meantime had recovered from his initial shock.

“A governess,” he chuckled, ignoring the pleading look from his sister.

“Willful, stubborn, impatient, opinionated—I can hardly credit that my dear sister wasn’t more trouble than her charge!

You don’t mean to tell me that she actually obeyed orders without a scene? ”

The duke noticed that for the first time a smile, a very faint one, came to the marquess’s lips. “Well,” he replied softly, “if you discount the time she threatened to take a horsewhip to me …”

“She didn’t!”

Jane’s face was nearly crimson as Saybrook nodded in assent. “Indeed, she did.”

“Good Lord! And you didn’t turn her out immediately?” Thomas looked at him in puzzlement. “Why?”

“She was right. I had behaved abominably towards a child, my ward. I do not turn out my people for speaking the truth—though I did request that she express her future opinions of my conduct in a more moderate fashion.” There was a slight pause.

“And she was an excellent governess—kind, generous, patient and understanding.”

“But what of the times she wasn’t right? I know my sister well enough to know she isn’t always right.”

“There were numerous differences of opinion that demanded discussion. However, I only had to send her to her room on one occasion.”

Thomas let out a shout of laughter

Jane’s face was even redder.

Her brother then shook his head in admiration. “You must have the patience of Jove, given my sister’s fiery temper.”

“I believe Lady Jane would not care to repeat several of the epithets she used while in the heat of the moment,” answered Saybrook dryly. “The words would not have led one to believe she was a Lady of Quality.”

Thomas’s grin grew wider. “I’m afraid I’m well acquainted with my sister’s vocabulary.”

Jane lifted her chin. “I should hope I am as fair-minded as Lord Saybrook. I acknowledge that I wasn’t always right.”

The duke decided it was time to change the subject. “I hope, Saybrook, we shall have the pleasure of your company for an extended visit. I look forward to meeting the young lad who has occupied so much of my daughter’s attention for the past months.”

Saybrook shook his head. “I think not. It would be best if we leave in the morning now that there is no need to see to my former governess’s welfare.”

“Surely not!” interrupted the duke. “I’m certain it would do your injury no good to travel again so soon, and I can see that my daughter would be bitterly disappointed in not being able to spend some time with the boy.”

Before Saybrook could speak, Avanlea quickly added, “You see, we have a ball planned for my niece and are in dire need of all the gentlemen we can muster. I would take it as a great favor if you would at least stay until then.”

“I …”

“Please, sir.” Jane’s voice was nearly inaudible.

The turmoil was evident on Saybrook’s face. “I …”

“Good!” boomed the duke. “It’s settled, then.”

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