dropped to a lulling murmur. “You have nothing to fear, beauty. I think you and I are going to get along . . . just fine. These people don’t know how to handle you, but I know exactly what you need.”
“What’s that?” she asked in defiance. Somehow her voice came out breathlessly.
“An iron hand in a velvet glove. Yes,” he mused in a whisper, “that ought to tame your wild ways.”
She was weak-kneed with his touch. The feelings he roused in her shocked and bewildered her. The man was violence incarnate, arrogant to the point of insult, yet his touch filled her with desire.
His sensual mouth curved in a slight, wicked smile as if he knew precisely his effect on her. Seduction gleamed in his light-tricked eyes. “Run along, my pet. Don’t keep me waiting.” As he brushed by her to the door, she cursed herself for letting him get the better of her again.
He turned back to her with one hand on the doorknob, then raised his eyebrows blandly. “Is there a question?”
“I still have not agreed to any of this.”
“Your agreement would be welcome, but it is by no means necessary.”
“You cannot make me go with you against my will! You have no right to march in here giving orders and trying to take control of my life.”
“On the contrary, I have every legal right to do just that. You are under my authority until you reach the age of twenty-one. Or marry.”
“I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“You can’t stay here,” he said bluntly. “Mr. Reed has discharged you.”
“What?” Why, that skulking pervert had already schemed to get rid of her—the one obstacle blocking his path to Amy! She clenched her jaw and looked away, her eyes blazing with fury. She knew what she had to do. If Mr. Reed wanted her out, she would go, but she was taking Amy with her, she thought in grim resolve. Together they would catch up to Mr. Chipping’s acting troupe at Leicester, the next stop on the circuit. She would accept the role of juvenile lead and would be able to support herself and Amy with her pay. But how was she to get rid of her formidable guardian first, when he appeared so staunchly determined to fulfill his duty to her uncle?
She could not simply dash away and outrun him. He was much faster and stronger than she, as his display of prowess last night had vastly proved. Indeed, she scarcely dared argue much more for fear of provoking his wrath. Well, you are an actress, are you not? she said to herself. She could go through the motions, make a show of obedience. When she had lulled the gray-eyed beast into a false sense of security, she would seize the first possible chance to flee back to Yardley and collect Amy; then they could catch up to Mr. Chipping’s players. With any luck, the high and mighty Colonel Lord Winterley would not deem it worth his while to keep searching for a girl who wanted no part of his boring, respectable world of rules, rules, rules.
“Now then, Miss FitzHubert,” he said, clasping his hands behind his back with an air of authority, “if you are quite through, go and get your things in order. Do be quick about it, please. Daylight is short.”
She somehow leashed her pride and nodded stiffly, giving him an outward show of submission while her mind was already churning over her escape. His eyes flickered with gratification at her obedience as he opened the door and held it for her. Miranda forced her chin up and marched past him out of the office.
In the hallway, Mr. Reed and Miss Brocklehurst came out of the parlor across the entrance hall where they had been waiting.
“We will leave as soon as Miss FitzHubert has collected her belongings,” Lord Winterley announced.
“Very good, sir,” Mr. Reed answered, looking impressed by how quickly His Lordship had managed to bring the rebel of Yardley School to heel. “Miss Brocklehurst, would you be so good as to attend FitzHubert in preparing for her journey?”
“Gladly, Reverend.”
With the
“What’s that?” she asked in defiance. Somehow her voice came out breathlessly.
“An iron hand in a velvet glove. Yes,” he mused in a whisper, “that ought to tame your wild ways.”
She was weak-kneed with his touch. The feelings he roused in her shocked and bewildered her. The man was violence incarnate, arrogant to the point of insult, yet his touch filled her with desire.
His sensual mouth curved in a slight, wicked smile as if he knew precisely his effect on her. Seduction gleamed in his light-tricked eyes. “Run along, my pet. Don’t keep me waiting.” As he brushed by her to the door, she cursed herself for letting him get the better of her again.
He turned back to her with one hand on the doorknob, then raised his eyebrows blandly. “Is there a question?”
“I still have not agreed to any of this.”
“Your agreement would be welcome, but it is by no means necessary.”
“You cannot make me go with you against my will! You have no right to march in here giving orders and trying to take control of my life.”
“On the contrary, I have every legal right to do just that. You are under my authority until you reach the age of twenty-one. Or marry.”
“I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“You can’t stay here,” he said bluntly. “Mr. Reed has discharged you.”
“What?” Why, that skulking pervert had already schemed to get rid of her—the one obstacle blocking his path to Amy! She clenched her jaw and looked away, her eyes blazing with fury. She knew what she had to do. If Mr. Reed wanted her out, she would go, but she was taking Amy with her, she thought in grim resolve. Together they would catch up to Mr. Chipping’s acting troupe at Leicester, the next stop on the circuit. She would accept the role of juvenile lead and would be able to support herself and Amy with her pay. But how was she to get rid of her formidable guardian first, when he appeared so staunchly determined to fulfill his duty to her uncle?
She could not simply dash away and outrun him. He was much faster and stronger than she, as his display of prowess last night had vastly proved. Indeed, she scarcely dared argue much more for fear of provoking his wrath. Well, you are an actress, are you not? she said to herself. She could go through the motions, make a show of obedience. When she had lulled the gray-eyed beast into a false sense of security, she would seize the first possible chance to flee back to Yardley and collect Amy; then they could catch up to Mr. Chipping’s players. With any luck, the high and mighty Colonel Lord Winterley would not deem it worth his while to keep searching for a girl who wanted no part of his boring, respectable world of rules, rules, rules.
“Now then, Miss FitzHubert,” he said, clasping his hands behind his back with an air of authority, “if you are quite through, go and get your things in order. Do be quick about it, please. Daylight is short.”
She somehow leashed her pride and nodded stiffly, giving him an outward show of submission while her mind was already churning over her escape. His eyes flickered with gratification at her obedience as he opened the door and held it for her. Miranda forced her chin up and marched past him out of the office.
In the hallway, Mr. Reed and Miss Brocklehurst came out of the parlor across the entrance hall where they had been waiting.
“We will leave as soon as Miss FitzHubert has collected her belongings,” Lord Winterley announced.
“Very good, sir,” Mr. Reed answered, looking impressed by how quickly His Lordship had managed to bring the rebel of Yardley School to heel. “Miss Brocklehurst, would you be so good as to attend FitzHubert in preparing for her journey?”
“Gladly, Reverend.”
With the
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