To Tempt A Rogue by Adrienne Basso

suffice.” Nathaniel nearly choked on those final words, knowing full well the women would find neither in this castle. “I assume your coach and driver have already found their way to my stable. I’ll send a servant to assist them and show them where they may bed down. Mrs. Mullins will escort you to your chamber. Good night.”
    â€œWe’re likely to break our necks if we go there,” the maid declared. “ ’Tis dark as a tomb.”
    Nathaniel felt a spark of encouragement light his chest. Maybe this would all end far easier than he imagined and the women’s brave façade would crumble. It was dark and foreboding in the arched stone hallway, seemingly steeped in mystery. Perhaps the new governess would make the prudent and wise decision to leave at once.
    â€œI am sure Mrs. Mullins can supply us with candles to help illuminate the way,” Miss Sainthill said stubbornly.
    Nathaniel compressed his lips in an amused sneer. He could not help but admire her spirit. She looked wilted, unhappy and a bit scared, yet she did not want for courage. She and her maid had been treated appallingly, as if they both carried a rank odor, yet Miss Sainthill had kept her temper and her dignity. She would not be put out, no matter how rudely treated.
    â€œWe can discuss your situation in the morning, Miss Sainthill. I breakfast at eight. Sharp.”
    Her hazel eyes glinted at him in irritation and Nathaniel waited for the explosion, anticipating the ensuing burst of temper with far more delight than was proper. But she disappointed him by uttering a chilly, polite, “Good night, Mr. Wainwright. I shall see you at breakfast.”
    Whipping about, Nathaniel deliberately stalked away in the opposite direction, which he seldom used. It was probably crawling with spiders and other vermin, but it afforded him the type of dismissive exit he needed.
    The moment he was alone, Nathaniel expelled a deep sigh. After living in the castle for a few weeks he realized it was essential that he have assistance in caring for the children. From what little he had seen of her character and demeanor, a woman like Harriet Sainthill was an excellent choice for the job. Yet he knew it would be foolhardy to let her remain.
    He had recognized her and while he strongly doubted she had done the same, perhaps in time she would discern his true identity. Secrecy was the key to making this plan succeed. He could ill afford to have someone with Miss Sainthill’s keen eye around.
    Relieved to have found a familiar staircase, Nathaniel climbed it slowly, pondering how he would get rid of the new governess without arousing undue suspicion. Then he smiled. Once she learned that the children were not in residence, it would take very little encouragement to get her to pack her bags and set off for England. Without any delay.
    Â 
    Â 
    Harriet suspected she would get a small measure of sleep and when the dull glow of morning light crept through the chink in the shutters directly into her eyes she knew she was right. Her head felt heavy and dull from lack of proper rest, her mouth and throat parched. It was difficult to sleep in strange surroundings under the best of circumstances and the accommodations at Hillsdale Castle hardly qualified as the best.
    She had forgone all of her usual bedtime rituals, one hundred brush strokes to her hair before braiding it, a favorite passage read from one of her beloved books while she snuggled beneath the covers. The moment her battered portmanteau had appeared in the bedchamber Harriet had donned her nightgown and leapt into bed, trying not to reflect upon the events of the day or think about her plans for the morning.
    And now morning had arrived. Harriet sat up, clutching the covers to her chest to ward off the chill in the room. She glanced over to the corner where Kate lay, and listened with envy to the heavy regular breathing of deep sleep. At least it was no longer the loud,