Page 63 of The Heir

“You might well end up having to marry her, if last night is any indication,” Dev shot back. “Just make damned sure you know exactly who it is you’re trysting with before the duke gets wind of same.”

Knowing he wouldn’t get any more work done after that discussion, Westhaven left the library in search of his housekeeper. He couldn’t be precisely sure she was avoiding him—again—but he’d yet to see her that day. He found her in her private sitting room and closed the door behind him before she even rose to offer him a curtsy.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. She stiffened immediately.

“I wish you wouldn’t dothat,” she retorted, turning away her face when he tried to kiss her.

“You don’t want me holding you?” he asked, kissing her cheek anyway.

“I don’t want you closing the door, taking liberties, andbotheringme,” she said through clenched teeth. He dropped his arms and eyed her curiously.

“What is it?”

“What is what?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You were willing enough to be bothered last night, Anna Seaton, and it is perfectly acceptable that your employer might want to have a word or two with you privately. Dev said he saw you and Morgan in heated discussion after lunch. Is something troubling you? Those confidences you referred to last night, perhaps?”

“I should not have trusted you with even that much of a disclosure,” Anna said, uncrossing her arms. “You know I intend to seek another position, my lord. I wonder if you’ve written out that character you promised me?”

“I have. Because Val has yet to return, it remains in my desk. You gave me your word we would have the rest of the summer, Anna. Are you dishonoring that promise so soon?”

She turned away from him, which was answer enough for Westhaven.

“I am still here.”

“Anna…” He stole up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I am not your enemy.”

She nodded once, then turned in his arms and buried her face against his throat.

“I’m just… upset.”

“A lady’s prerogative,” he murmured, stroking her back. “The heat has everyone out of sorts, and while I was allowed to sit on my lordly backside for a week, claiming illness, you were expected to be up at all hours.”

She didn’t contradict him, but she did take a deep breath and step back.

“I did not intend to upset you.” The earl offered her a smile, and she returned it just as the door swung open.

“I beg your pardon, my lord.” Stenson drew himself up to his unimpressive height, shot a disdainful glance at Anna, and pulled the door shut again.

“Oh, God.” Anna dropped down onto her sofa. “It needed only that.”

The earl frowned at her in puzzlement. “I wasn’t even touching you. There was a good two feet between us, and Stenson was the one in the wrong. He should have knocked.”

“He never does,” Anna sighed, “and we were not touching, but we looked at one another as something other than housekeeper and employer.”

“Because Ismiledat you?”

“And I smiled back. It was not a housekeeper’s smile for her employer.”

“Don’t suppose it was, but it was still just a smile.”

“You need a butler, Westhaven.” Anna rose and advanced on him.

“Any footman can answer the damned door. Why do I need another mouth to feed?”

“Because, a butler will outrank that toadying little buffoon, will be loyal to you rather than the duke’s coin, and will keep the rest of the male servants toeing the line, as well.”

“You have a point.”