To Tame a Dangerous Lord (Courtship Wars)

He regretted having a taste of her last evening, though. If he didn’t know how pleasurable kissing her could be, he wouldn’t be having these unwanted carnal thoughts now.

In truth, his lust surprised him. The glow of firelight was gone now, but he continued to have visions of bedding Madeline. For a moment Rayne’s gaze lowered to her full breasts. He could imagine stripping off that ugly black gown and wrapping her luscious body in something softer and more inviting, a rose-hue silk, perhaps. Or a deep lavender to bring out the depths of those remarkable eyes….

Rayne felt his loins stir with a renewed ache. He would have to keep severe control of himself and his body’s forbidden urges in the future.

Even so, he was glad for Madeline’s presence in his life. Although he’d rescued her last evening out of a sense of obligation to her late father, he was now set on helping her for his own sake—because his ennui magically disappeared whenever she was present. Therefore, he meant to use his best powers of persuasion to convince Arabella, Lady Danvers, to employ her as a teacher.

He wanted Madeline to remain in the neighborhood so she would continue to enliven his tame existence.

Since Madeline very much wanted to be hired for the academy, it seemed only natural that her nerves were sorely on edge when she finally had the opportunity to interview later that morning. Fortunately, her trunk had arrived at Riverwood so she was able to change into a more suitable gown of dark blue kerseymere.

At Madeline’s urging, Lord Haviland properly wrote to Lady Danvers to request an appointment, then drove her to Danvers Hall in his carriage to pay a formal call, an approach far more appropriate than traipsing over the countryside between the two estates.

Upon receiving them in the drawing room, Lady Danvers not only welcomed Madeline with surprising warmth but brushed off any thanks for lodging her for the night. Haviland had been correct on that point as well, Madeline soon realized. Lady Danvers was actively searching for teachers and expressed pleasure that Madeline was interested in a position.

The countess appeared to be about her same age but was quite a beauty—tall and elegant with fair hair that was a pale reddish-gold color, a lady to the core. And yet she seemed quite passionate about the Freemantle Academy for Young Ladies as she discussed the premise.

“I and my two sisters started the academy several years ago with the help of our patroness, Lady Freemantle,” Lady Danvers explained. “But we are more a finishing school than a typical boarding school. We teach the daughters of the wealthy working class how to fit into the drawing rooms and ballrooms of the Beau Monde.”

“What subjects do you offer?” Madeline asked curiously.

“Most of our pupils have been educated by private governesses, so by the time they come to us, they are usually proficient in the typical subjects, but they lack the polish and grace expected of a lady. So for the final years before they make their comeouts, we instruct them in deportment, manners, speech, conversation, and also genteel accomplishments such as riding and driving, dancing, archery, and how to give musical performances with ease. Our goal is to expose them to the kind of culture and refinement they will find if they marry into the gentility.”

Madeline hid a frown, realizing that the curriculum Lady Danvers described was quite different from what she’d expected. But she made no comment as Lady Danvers continued.

“In the past, my sisters and I usually taught at least one class a day, but since we all three married this year, we were required to revise our instruction schedule. Moreover”—the countess smiled softly to herself—“I am in the family way, and after the baby comes next spring, I expect I will have even less time to devote to our academy. We have a headmistress who manages the daily operations of the school. And I recently hired another full-time teacher to oversee most of the classes, plus a close friend of mine also teaches there frequently. But with twenty-seven pupils, we could use someone of your qualifications to supplement our instruction, Miss Ellis.”

Madeline decided it was time to speak up. “I am not certain my qualifications match what you need for your academy, Lady Danvers. Growing up, I was privileged to have an excellent governess, so I am well versed in such subjects as drawing, embroidery, history, geography, and even a smattering of accounting, since we owned a farm and I managed the books. But I am not musical in the least, and my knowledge of culture and refinement is severely lacking. I have certainly never moved in your elite circles. The closest I have come to the haute ton is my late employer, Lady Talwin, and during her final years, she was confined to her sickbed.”

Lady Danvers smiled. “Miss Ellis, I think you may have a mistaken impression of my own social qualifications. Until this past year, my sisters and I lived under the cloud of a family scandal, so we were utterly shunned by the ton. And since we were virtually penniless, we had to work for our livings. Fortunately, the academy provided us livelihoods and a measure of independence so we were not compelled to wed unless we chose to.”

“I see,” Madeline said, surprised and relieved by the countess’s confessions of her former modest circumstances. And by her desire for independence as well. Madeline herself had always gnashed at the limiting boundaries that genteel ladies had to face, and she had never wanted to marry simply to survive.

“You are obviously well-spoken and reportedly extremely well-mannered,” Lady Danvers added, casting a lively glance at Lord Haviland, who was seated in a wing chair across from them. Their unspoken communication made Madeline surmise that in his message requesting an interview, Haviland had mentioned her insistence on observing proper etiquette. “And if you dealt well with your ill employer, you can likely handle our pupils.”

“What would be my responsibilities, do you expect?”

“Haviland says you are fluent in French, so I would like to make the most of your particular skills. Your primary duties would be to teach French and therefore English. In my experience, learning a foreign language improves one’s English speech and grammar, which will be vitally important to our students’ success in life. And as a teacher, the more enjoyable you can make the process, the more readily your instruction will sink in. Your area of expertise will actually give you a certain cachet with our girls, Miss Ellis. They are wild about French fashions, so if you could somehow procure a handful of magazines from Paris—the equivalent of our La Belle Ensemble—they will no doubt worship you.”

Her amusement stirred by the countess’s wry tone, Madeline finally allowed herself to smile in return. “I believe I can comply, Lady Danvers, since I have numerous connections in the émigré community, many of whom were aristocrats in their own country before the Revolution deprived them of their lands and titles.”

“All the better,” Lady Danvers replied. “Very well, then. I would like to offer you a position at our academy, Miss Ellis—one class per day to begin with. I can promise you a generous salary, although your employment would be temporary for now. Haviland will vouch for you, but since your late employer failed to supply you a character reference, I’m sure you understand that I would be wise to investigate your background more thoroughly. If you could suggest a list of your former neighbors or other acquaintances, I will write to them immediately. We will make the position permanent once I have had the chance to confirm my initial instincts about you. And of course, you will want to be certain that you enjoy teaching enough to continue.”

It was indeed wise, Madeline thought, and only fair. She would be in charge of shaping the lives of over two dozen young women, and Lady Danvers had a responsibility to ensure that their teachers were highly qualified.

Madeline was confident, however, that she would take well to teaching. After serving as a lady’s companion for so many years, she was eager for the mental stimulation and social interaction that working at the academy would provide her. And her deficiencies in pretending subservience would not be as great a drawback. Indeed, teaching should suit her best of the few genteel occupations open to her.

“Thank you, my lady,” she said sincerely. “I would very much like to accept your offer.”

“Excellent. But please, call me Arabella. If you are agreeable, I will take you to visit the academy tomorrow. Our classes on Saturdays are only for half days, so that will be an opportune time to introduce you to your fellow teachers and pupils. I would do so this afternoon, but I am holding a ball here this evening and I need time to prepare.”

“That is entirely agreeable,” Madeline said, appreciating even more that her new employer had taken time out of her busy schedule to conduct their interview when she had a ball to plan.

“Oh, and you must stay here at Danvers Hall until we get all the details of yo

ur employment sorted out and you can find suitable lodging of your own.”

Madeline started to refuse the countess’s remarkable offer of hospitality, not wanting to impose, but Lord Haviland spoke for the first time in several minutes.