“Very well,” he responded finally.

“Then we are agreed on the terms?”

“Yes.” Haviland stood and strode slowly toward her. “But I want another kiss to seal our bargain.”

“No!” Madeline exclaimed, holding up her hands and backing away until he halted. “Absolutely not.” She couldn’t let him touch her again. Her lips still felt the fire of his kisses; her breasts still throbbed with sensation from his brazen caresses.

“Lord Haviland, will you please go?” she repeated with more urgency. “Your adoring debutantes will be pining for your attention.”

His mouth curved. “No doubt you are right.”

He seemed satisfied with his victory for the moment, Madeline thought with relief. His gaze swept over her one last time before he went to the table to fetch his lamp. Then he turned toward the door.

She held her breath, watching his graceful, muscular body until he was gone. Renewed dismay filling her, Madeline brought her fingers up to touch her aching lips. Haviland’s seduction had left her aroused and reeling. Worse, she’d just made it easier for his sensual assault to continue by letting him believe she might eventually accept his proposal.

Doubtless she was unwise to leave the matter unresolved. She was probably also unwise to press him to let her help in recovering the letters. The less she had to do with Haviland the better, for she clearly had no willpower where he was concerned.

She couldn’t let herself yield to him, though, no matter how stunning his caresses, Madeline warned herself. She couldn’t give in to her yearning for him, regardless of how powerfully all her instincts and emotions were protesting.

Surrender would leave her heart much too vulnerable to hurt.

Even now, she realized with a sinking feeling in her stomach, her resolution might be too late, for she was very much afraid she was already falling in love with him.

Chapter Six

Simply being with Haviland is exhilarating, Maman, which bodes ill for my resolve to refuse his proposal.

“You are not in love,” Madeline repeatedly told herself over the course of the next few days. “It is impossible to fall in love so abruptly, with a man you scarcely know.”

It is indeed possible, dearest, Maman insisted on arguing. I did so with your Papa within a few short days of meeting him.

Madeline strove to ignore her mother’s dissenting voice. Whatever her feelings for Haviland, she was certain she would be wise to turn down his shocking proposal of marriage.

Yet that didn’t mean she could stop dwelling on his offer during her waking hours or entirely quell the secret yearnings of her heart. When she slept, her preoccupation with him was even worse, to her immense frustration. If Haviland had filled her dreams before, his erotic caresses the night of the ball made her vivid dreams about him even more potent.

Except in her wildest fantasies, however, Madeline knew he was not the husband for her. Not when all he wanted was a cold-hearted contractual alliance.

On the other hand, she admitted, he was right on one score: Such an enormous, life-changing decision should be made with careful consideration and not rejected completely out of hand.

Thankfully, she had her immediate future to distract her. Madeline tried her utmost to concentrate on her new employment as she established a routine at Danvers Hall—her temporary lodgings until her situation was completely settled—and learned her duties as a teacher at the Freemantle Academy for Young Ladies.

Arabella was kindness itself on Saturday morning when she took Madeline on a tour of the grounds and buildings. They stopped first at the office to meet Miss Jane Caruthers, the elegant spinster who ran the day-to-day operations of the academy, and the newest teacher, a lively older widow, Mrs. Penelope Melford.

Both ladies were friendly and welcoming, to Madeline’s relief, and Arabella promised that the other part-time teacher would be just as pleased to have her on the staff.

“My good friend, Tess Blanchard, is away at a house party just now,” Arabella remarked, “but I will have the pleasure of introducing you once she returns. You will like Tess, I am certain.”

Arabella went on to explain the school’s design as they toured the premises. “Our academy was actually converted from a former country estate so as to prepare our pupils for the varied experiences they will encounter in high society. The majority of classes are held here in the main manor, but we have a smaller, more formal mansion that is representative of a Mayfair residence, complete with a large drawing room and ballroom. We also have our own stable and park to practice outdoor skills, and a dormitory to lodge the students who board here full-time—which includes most of them. And we are fortunate to be close enough to London that we can attend plays and operas so our young ladies can practice their social graces in authentic settings.”

“Didn’t you say that your sister Lily is away on her wedding journey?” Madeline asked.

“Yes, and she will be gone for several more weeks, so Penelope Melford has taken over teaching Lily’s outdoor activities. You will primarily be assuming Roslyn’s role, Madeline. I believe she expressed her gratitude to you at the ball last evening. Roslyn is the real scholar among us, although you would not know it to look at her. She hated to abandon her pupils, but Arden’s responsibilities with the government require that he remain in London much of the year, so Roslyn will be unable t

o maintain her normal duties as she would have liked.”

Madeline was highly impressed with everything she saw, and by the time they returned to the main manor, the students had finished breakfasting and had begun Mrs. Melford’s class on conversation.

The widow had a natural charm that made her instruction extremely enjoyable. Thus, at the conclusion of the class, Madeline tried to adopt that same pleasant demeanor when Arabella introduced her.

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