His Wicked Embrace by Adrienne Basso

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    â€œWas there something you wanted, Miss Browning?” the earl challenged, a touch of annoyance in his deep voice.
    Isabella’s violet eyes sparkled with fury, but she did not indulge it. The earl was being particularly difficult this morning, but he was not her first concern. Isabella inclined her head pointedly toward the children, waiting impatiently for the earl to grasp her meaning.
    â€œOh, yes, of course,” he responded. “Miss Browning, these are my children, Catherine and Ian. Children, this is Miss Browning, your new governess.”
    The brief introductions completed, the earl snapped his paper loudly and once again buried himself behind it. The children shifted their attention from their father to their new governess and stared at Isabella as though she were some strange, exotic creature.
    Eventually Catherine, the older of the two, mumbled an incomprehensible greeting while staring rudely at Isabella. Ian did not speak at all, but his small face gleamed with undisguised curiosity. Isabella flashed them a warm smile, which caused them both to quickly lower their heads and resume eating their breakfast.
    Isabella was disappointed with their reaction but she took it in stride. Not an encouraging beginning, to be sure, but she had endured far worse. The first time she had met the Braun children, young Robert had thrown a screaming tantrum. At least the earl’s children had remained calm, if somewhat unresponsive.
    Damien observed the entire exchange from behind his raised newspaper. He was inwardly pleased that Isabella did not make an issue of Catherine and Ian’s lackluster greeting. Damien’s children were independent by nature, as well as circumstance, and would certainly rebel at being fussed over by a stranger.
    Feeling for the first time that he had made the correct decision in hiring a governess, Damien threw down his newspaper and stood up.
    â€œIf you are going to work with me today, Jenkins,” the earl said, “I suggest you change your clothes. I plan on completing the new section of stone fence on the eastern borders by darkness.”
    The Grange was a working, productive agricultural estate, and all the men who served within the house also worked out of doors when needed, including the earl.
    â€œI thought I would stay in today and help Miss Browning get acquainted with Whatley Grange,” Jenkins announced, ignoring the earl’s frown.
    â€œThat is most kind of you, Mr. Jenkins,” Isabella said diplomatically, “but I am sure one of the other servants can show me about the house. Besides, I shall be spending the majority of my day with Catherine and Ian.”
    Jenkins wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin and rose from the table. “If you are certain you do not need my help, Miss Browning, I suppose I must accompany the earl today,” Jenkins replied in a disappointed tone.
    â€œHow kind of you, Jenkins,” the earl muttered sarcastically under his breath, as Jenkins walked past him. The valet chuckled softly.
    After Jenkins left, the earl turned a critical eye toward his children and their new governess. Catherine and Ian were still glued to their seats and Isabella was pushing her food absently around on her breakfast plate.
    â€œI shall see you all later this afternoon.” He strode to the door, but turned toward them before he left the room. Staring hard at Ian and Catherine, he admonished in a strong voice, “Children, behave.” Then he closed the door with a resounding bang.
    A great amount of the tension eased from the room with the earl’s departure, and Isabella felt relaxed enough to finish her meal. The food was mediocre and not very hot, but she was hungry and within a few moments her eggs, kidneys, and toast were gone. Daintily brushing the remaining crumbs from her fingers, she looked across the table at the children, who had long since abandoned their meal in favor of watching her consume