To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

Her blue eyes dancing with amusement, Roslyn glanced at Drew. “Was he a terror when he was a child?”

“Not a terror, just mischievous, as boys will be. But I encouraged it since the duke and duchess…” She shook her head sternly.

“Never mind my tongue. It is impolite to speak ill of one’s employers.”

“I would very much like to hear some of your tales of him,” Roslyn said, covering up the awkward moment.

Mathers reached out a shaky hand. “Will you come closer, please? I want to see what manner of woman my lad is marrying, and my old eyes are not what they once were.”

“Yes, of course.”

When Roslyn complied, bending down, Mathers reached up to gently feel her face. Roslyn stood quite still while the bony fingers inspected her, a little to Drew’s surprise.

A look of satisfaction spread over the old governess’s face. “You aren’t some high and mighty lady, are you?”

“How can you tell?” Roslyn said, smiling.

“Besides the fact that you had to earn your own way in the world? You allowed me to touch you. Some proper ladies would be revolted.” She turned her glance toward Drew. “I think she’ll do, your grace.”

“You can determine that on such short acquaintance?” he replied teasingly.

The old woman cackled. “Yes, indeed. I’ll wager it didn’t take you long to determine it, either.”

“Barely a fortnight.”

“She will keep you in line, I have no doubt.”

“I expect so,” Drew said amiably.

“So, do you love him, Miss Loring?”

Looking taken aback by the question, Roslyn hesitated, as if not wanting to lie. “I am very fond of him.”

“’Twill be good if you come to love him. There’s been no love in this house for years, not since he left it when he was a wee child.”

“That will be enough, Mathers,” Drew said quickly. “You don’t want to bore Miss Loring.”

Her cloudy gaze turned toward him. “No, but even if I am boring her, she is kind enough to refrain from mentioning it. That warms my heart, dear boy. Only a special woman will do for you, and I have a feeling that this is a special one.”

He avoided looking at Roslyn as he lightly touched the old woman’s shoulder. “I won’t dispute you, love, but if you will you excuse us, I have promised to take Miss Loring riding.”

“Excellent! ’Tis a beautiful day with summer full upon us. You will like the grounds, I think, Miss Loring.”

“They are indeed magnificent,” Roslyn agreed.

With a final kiss to Mathers’s withered cheek, Drew took Roslyn’s arm to usher her from the room.

Their exchange with his former governess had been discomfiting for him, yet satisfying at the same time. Roslyn’s gentleness with the elderly servant was so different from his mother’s icy contempt. The contrast made him value her warm nature even more-and in some strange way soothed a little of the sexual frustration he’d experienced for the past five days, when he’d been unable to kiss Roslyn or even touch her. Being forced to bide his time had made him restless and irritable, not to mention aching.

But then, abstinence was not his strong suit, Drew acknowledged. Nor was patience. And he had to summon enough of the latter to get through tonight’s dinner with his illustrious mother.

But at least he could enjoy a companionable ride over his lands with Roslyn beforehand. Even so, he was careful to drop her arm as soon as he closed the door behind them, before he succumbed to the fierce temptation to do much, much more than simply savor her company.

Chapter Sixteen

I would be a fool to lose my heart to him, but I am tempted more each day.

– Roslyn to Fanny