Read Online Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman by Wareeze Woodson - Free Book Online
Authors: Wareeze Woodson
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Adron was away and couldn’t plague her. His presence drove her daft, always watching, judging, ever hoping for a mistake. Now joy bubbled inside her as she worked in the nursery, teaching the older daughter, Laine to help with the lightest of chores.
Laurel instructed while Laine sat on the floor sorting and straightening books. The door swung open and Lord Gladrey entered. Laurel swallowed a sigh. His abrupt arrival had erased her sense of accomplishment.
“What is the meaning of this display?” he demanded, astonishment marring his features.
“And a very good afternoon to you, Milord,” Laurel murmured with an edge to her voice.
He returned her greeting with a nod of acknowledgement and a sharp look. “Milady.”
Laine jumped to her feet and hurried over. “Uncle Adron, I’m so happy you’re back.” His niece caught his hand. “Nanny is teaching me how to manage a household. She says a lady must know everything that’s required before she can instruct the servants.” Laine grinned up at him. “She’s so clever.”
He gazed at Laurel again and with a grim smile, he agreed. “Very clever indeed.”
Heat rose in Laurel’s cheeks and her fingers trembled as she leaned against the cabinet with one arm. Naturally, she would appear at her worst with her hair under a dust cap and enveloped in a huge soiled apron. If she had any sense she wouldn’t care about her appearance or what he thought of her. She did care and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You mustn’t do her chores for her you know,” he instructed.
“Nanny won’t allow me to do a single thing,” Laine pouted. “She says a lady must know what to do, not do everything. She is a lady so why does she do everything?”
“True,” he agreed. “But she is also a mother. More is required from a mother.”
“My mum doesn’t do anything ‘cept kiss us,” Laine reasoned. “Our nanny always did everything for us at home too.”
He smiled down at her. “Exactly! Laurel is acting as nanny for the time being.”
“Oh. Is acting different from being real?”
“Somewhat,” he admitted seemingly at a loss to further explain his objections to his niece. He patted her hand and turned to Laurel. “Actually, I’ve come to remind you that you’re required to attend the ball tonight. Don’t be late.”
“Certainly.” Inwardly she flinched. Laurel expected him to arrive in time for his grandmother’s ball, but time had slipped away from her. She’d hoped upon his return, she’d be able to look at him with indifference but that wasn’t the case. Every nerve in her body seemed to tingle with awareness.
“I’ll allow you to complete your work then.” Without a backward glance, he strolled out the door.
Heaving a sigh, she scooped up a dust cloth and allowed memories of their last encounter to whirl in her head. He’d held her almost nude form in his arms and even now her body tingled with remembered awareness. She swallowed hard. Simply because he’d issued another invitation to share his bed was no reason to think more than a quick tumble had been offered. Such fantasies could bring her to ruin and place Jamie at risk. Pushing aside such foolish imaginings, she sorted through another stack of books with renewed vigor.
A short while later, the upstairs maid poked her head around the door. “Her ladyship wants you in the parlor. I’m to mind the children for a few minutes.”
Exasperated and a little apprehensive, Laurel stripped off her apron, tidied her hair and headed down the stairs. “Now what?”
“Well come in, gel,” Heloise invited. “I have something to show you.”
Laurel advanced and peered at the wooden box in Heloise’s lap. With tears in her eyes, Heloise lifted the lid to display a beautiful necklace and earring set of sapphires linked with diamonds. The stones glittered against a velvet lining. She stroked the necklace before taking the jewelry from the box and gazed at Laurel.
“These
Laurel instructed while Laine sat on the floor sorting and straightening books. The door swung open and Lord Gladrey entered. Laurel swallowed a sigh. His abrupt arrival had erased her sense of accomplishment.
“What is the meaning of this display?” he demanded, astonishment marring his features.
“And a very good afternoon to you, Milord,” Laurel murmured with an edge to her voice.
He returned her greeting with a nod of acknowledgement and a sharp look. “Milady.”
Laine jumped to her feet and hurried over. “Uncle Adron, I’m so happy you’re back.” His niece caught his hand. “Nanny is teaching me how to manage a household. She says a lady must know everything that’s required before she can instruct the servants.” Laine grinned up at him. “She’s so clever.”
He gazed at Laurel again and with a grim smile, he agreed. “Very clever indeed.”
Heat rose in Laurel’s cheeks and her fingers trembled as she leaned against the cabinet with one arm. Naturally, she would appear at her worst with her hair under a dust cap and enveloped in a huge soiled apron. If she had any sense she wouldn’t care about her appearance or what he thought of her. She did care and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You mustn’t do her chores for her you know,” he instructed.
“Nanny won’t allow me to do a single thing,” Laine pouted. “She says a lady must know what to do, not do everything. She is a lady so why does she do everything?”
“True,” he agreed. “But she is also a mother. More is required from a mother.”
“My mum doesn’t do anything ‘cept kiss us,” Laine reasoned. “Our nanny always did everything for us at home too.”
He smiled down at her. “Exactly! Laurel is acting as nanny for the time being.”
“Oh. Is acting different from being real?”
“Somewhat,” he admitted seemingly at a loss to further explain his objections to his niece. He patted her hand and turned to Laurel. “Actually, I’ve come to remind you that you’re required to attend the ball tonight. Don’t be late.”
“Certainly.” Inwardly she flinched. Laurel expected him to arrive in time for his grandmother’s ball, but time had slipped away from her. She’d hoped upon his return, she’d be able to look at him with indifference but that wasn’t the case. Every nerve in her body seemed to tingle with awareness.
“I’ll allow you to complete your work then.” Without a backward glance, he strolled out the door.
Heaving a sigh, she scooped up a dust cloth and allowed memories of their last encounter to whirl in her head. He’d held her almost nude form in his arms and even now her body tingled with remembered awareness. She swallowed hard. Simply because he’d issued another invitation to share his bed was no reason to think more than a quick tumble had been offered. Such fantasies could bring her to ruin and place Jamie at risk. Pushing aside such foolish imaginings, she sorted through another stack of books with renewed vigor.
A short while later, the upstairs maid poked her head around the door. “Her ladyship wants you in the parlor. I’m to mind the children for a few minutes.”
Exasperated and a little apprehensive, Laurel stripped off her apron, tidied her hair and headed down the stairs. “Now what?”
“Well come in, gel,” Heloise invited. “I have something to show you.”
Laurel advanced and peered at the wooden box in Heloise’s lap. With tears in her eyes, Heloise lifted the lid to display a beautiful necklace and earring set of sapphires linked with diamonds. The stones glittered against a velvet lining. She stroked the necklace before taking the jewelry from the box and gazed at Laurel.
“These
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