Page 62 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
“You must let me apologise, my lady,” he insisted. “I have done you a disservice and because of my actions, my name as well as yours will be sullied.”
“I am not worried about my reputation, Your Grace,” Christianna said once it seemed he was going to allow her to speak her piece. “I have also embarked upon my own scandalous affair, and I think it is time I told you the truth as I see it.”
He was taken aback at her words as his smile faltered and his eyes narrowed. “You have been…what, exactly? Spending time with another gentleman?”
“I have fallen in love with a handsome, intelligent, thoroughly enchanting man, and I hope that he and will be married very soon.”
The duke laughed. “And do I know this rogue? Is he still here…in my house…stealing my bride right out from under my nose?”
“I would hardly call myself a rogue,” Phineas said as he entered the room. Christianna beamed at him as he came to stand by her side.
“You?” Percy asked, then he burst out laughing. “Oh, I should have known. The two of you are so very alike. I cannot believe I did not see the connection sooner.”
“Yes,” Phineas mused, “well, you were so busy creating your own scandal, you hardly had time to pay attention to ours.”
Percy dropped his chin to his chest and kept right on snickering. “Our family is…quite a wreck. Our names will monopolise the scandal sheets for the next month at least.”
Christianna reached out and took hold of Phineas’ hand. She nodded toward their window seat, then swept her free hand around the room. “Not to worry, Your Grace. There are much better things to read than the gossip columns.”
Phineas lifted her hand and brushed a light kiss across her knuckles. “Speaking of which, I was hoping we might take in a bit of reading before supper, my dear.” His eyebrows waggled playfully, and Christianna smiled back at him. He turned then and addressed his brother, who was still chuckling under his breath. “Would you care to join us, Percival?”
The duke put up both hands as if to fend them off. “No, thank you,” he protested. “Only the two of you would think spending an afternoon in the library was the way to enjoy a beautiful day.”
“I rather like the library,” Christianna said as she kept her eyes trained on Phineas’ face.
“As do I,” he agreed. Percy gave another snort of amusement, then he walked by them and left the room, shaking his head every step of the way. With the duke out of the room, Phineas did just as Christianna hoped he would.
He leaned far forward, brushed the tip of his nose gently against hers, then dropped a lovely kiss onto her lips. As he pulled away from the quick embrace, he whispered, “I found a book I wished to share with you, my love. Shall I fetch it now or…?”
“Yes, please,” Christianna said as her heart filled with elation. “Let us read together.”
For the remainder of the afternoon, Christianna lost herself as she fell further in love with the man at her side. They had begun this relationship because Christianna felt she had so much to learn, and she had wished for Phineas to be her teacher.
But now, she realised that he had not just guided her and given her the tutelage she desired, but he had shown her how to love someone, truly and completely, with her whole heart. And that was a lesson she could not have gleaned in any other way from any other man. Phineas was her touchstone, and he had given her an education that was fit for a lady.
THE END