stood on shaky legs, fixing her hair back into respectability. He stood as well, adjusting his coat along the front.
She moved towards the door. “You are my employer, sir, nothing more. It is best we remember that.” The door closed on her last word.
C HAPTER S IXTEEN
----
D earest Claire,
I finally understand my mother and how she could allow herself to give up her position as a governess to be a gentleman’s mistress.
Oh Claire, I have never been so tempted before. Men have tried, but this is different. Sir Stephen is different. As much as I tell myself that it is wrong, that nothing can come from it, my body betrays me as soon as I am in close proximity to him. My mind stops working and suddenly I am a slave to my body and what he can do to it.
Bonnie stopped writing and stared at the paper. How could she put all this into words? How could she explain all this to her friend when she didn’t even know for certain herself?
Bonnie stared at the paper for several more minutes before crumpling up the letter and throwing it into the nearby fire and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper.
Dearest Louisa,
Forgive me for the brevity of this letter, but I wished to tell you to expect me soon at Ridgestone. I will send more specifics when I have them.
Stephen lifted his head at the sound of the boys’ voices coming down the stairs, their governess’ voice drifting after them at a more subdued level. Once again it had been several days since he laid eyes on Miss Hodges and those days had moved more slowly than turtles plowing a field.
Her last words to him in the study had shaken him. Was he taking advantage of his authority over Miss Hodges? The thought disgusted him. If it were true, he was the lowliest of men, even worse than his father.
Renard clearing his throat brought him back to the present. Stephen looked at him questioningly.
“Sir, I wanted to assure you of my discretion.”
“Discretion?”
“The other day I cleared away the teacups and snifters before the maids or footmen could see them.”
Stephen raised his eyebrows.
Renard continued. “I don’t think others on staff have noticed. And I will continue to do my best to keep it that way. No one needs to be aware of the relationship you have with Miss Hodges.”
Stephen blinked. “Miss Hodges? Why do you think it is her?”
Renard smiled. “Sir, it is unlikely to be anyone else. A maid would have difficulty keeping it quiet and Miss Hodges is an attractive woman. I may be betrothed, but I am still a man. I can still appreciate the sights around me.”
Stephen’s grip tightened on the quill until he thought it would snap. “Mr. Renard, you presume too much. You are discussing women in my employ and I will not tolerate disrespect.”
The man of business swallowed and nodded. “Of course sir. My apologies. I meant no offense.”
Stephen watched as Renard resumed his seat and bent over his work. He turned back to the books in front of him and continued taking his discreet notes.
He couldn’t deny it anymore. Two things actually. It irked him that he had concluded these things at the same time as it meant he couldn’t address one without dealing with the other first.
The first thing was that Miss Hodges—Bonnie, his bonny lass—was more than just a fling to him.
He loved her. It was a simple as that. And it was frustrating that he could not pursue her and his feelings until he dealt with the second thing.
Which was that the evidence of Renard being the perpetrator was mounting. Based on the books, things had started going wrong several months after he was hired. Simple entries seemed skewed, such as costs for planting seeds and various farm implements being entered approximately ten percent over the price; letters from his man of business in Edinburgh confirmed that. And the poor investments Renard had mentioned? Further communication from Edinburgh revealed the companies were false, all leading back to a company owned by one Simon
She moved towards the door. “You are my employer, sir, nothing more. It is best we remember that.” The door closed on her last word.
C HAPTER S IXTEEN
----
D earest Claire,
I finally understand my mother and how she could allow herself to give up her position as a governess to be a gentleman’s mistress.
Oh Claire, I have never been so tempted before. Men have tried, but this is different. Sir Stephen is different. As much as I tell myself that it is wrong, that nothing can come from it, my body betrays me as soon as I am in close proximity to him. My mind stops working and suddenly I am a slave to my body and what he can do to it.
Bonnie stopped writing and stared at the paper. How could she put all this into words? How could she explain all this to her friend when she didn’t even know for certain herself?
Bonnie stared at the paper for several more minutes before crumpling up the letter and throwing it into the nearby fire and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper.
Dearest Louisa,
Forgive me for the brevity of this letter, but I wished to tell you to expect me soon at Ridgestone. I will send more specifics when I have them.
Stephen lifted his head at the sound of the boys’ voices coming down the stairs, their governess’ voice drifting after them at a more subdued level. Once again it had been several days since he laid eyes on Miss Hodges and those days had moved more slowly than turtles plowing a field.
Her last words to him in the study had shaken him. Was he taking advantage of his authority over Miss Hodges? The thought disgusted him. If it were true, he was the lowliest of men, even worse than his father.
Renard clearing his throat brought him back to the present. Stephen looked at him questioningly.
“Sir, I wanted to assure you of my discretion.”
“Discretion?”
“The other day I cleared away the teacups and snifters before the maids or footmen could see them.”
Stephen raised his eyebrows.
Renard continued. “I don’t think others on staff have noticed. And I will continue to do my best to keep it that way. No one needs to be aware of the relationship you have with Miss Hodges.”
Stephen blinked. “Miss Hodges? Why do you think it is her?”
Renard smiled. “Sir, it is unlikely to be anyone else. A maid would have difficulty keeping it quiet and Miss Hodges is an attractive woman. I may be betrothed, but I am still a man. I can still appreciate the sights around me.”
Stephen’s grip tightened on the quill until he thought it would snap. “Mr. Renard, you presume too much. You are discussing women in my employ and I will not tolerate disrespect.”
The man of business swallowed and nodded. “Of course sir. My apologies. I meant no offense.”
Stephen watched as Renard resumed his seat and bent over his work. He turned back to the books in front of him and continued taking his discreet notes.
He couldn’t deny it anymore. Two things actually. It irked him that he had concluded these things at the same time as it meant he couldn’t address one without dealing with the other first.
The first thing was that Miss Hodges—Bonnie, his bonny lass—was more than just a fling to him.
He loved her. It was a simple as that. And it was frustrating that he could not pursue her and his feelings until he dealt with the second thing.
Which was that the evidence of Renard being the perpetrator was mounting. Based on the books, things had started going wrong several months after he was hired. Simple entries seemed skewed, such as costs for planting seeds and various farm implements being entered approximately ten percent over the price; letters from his man of business in Edinburgh confirmed that. And the poor investments Renard had mentioned? Further communication from Edinburgh revealed the companies were false, all leading back to a company owned by one Simon
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