Read Online Family Scandals by Denise Patrick - Free Book Online Page B

him differently?”
    Corinna looked away from that too handsome face. “I have only been with them since May,” she replied. “And I’m only temporary.”
    “Ah, I think Michael mentioned his other governess was off tending an ill parent.” He climbed the stairs and leaned back against the balustrade of the terrace, studying her for a moment before he said, “But please, sit. Don’t stand on my account.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t,” she assured him. “It’s just that I have been sitting and reading to Caroline for a bit of time. I needed to stand up, at least, if not stretch my legs a bit.”
    “I shall be glad to play escort if you wish a turn about the garden,” he offered.
    “Oh no. I couldn’t impose. Besides, I shouldn’t leave her alone.” She glanced down at the sleeping child and frowned. “I think I ought to move her inside. I’m not sure she ought to sleep in the sun.”
    Marcus moved and she was struck by how smoothly he did. “Allow me,” he offered. Scooping up Caroline, blankets and all, he carried her into the house through a side door, Corinna on his heels. “Where do you want her?”
    Corinna frowned again. “I-I hadn’t thought,” she began. “She won’t want to go back up to the nursery.”
    “Where is Felicia?” he asked.
    “Who? Oh, you mean Her Grace? I believe she is in the cliff parlor.”
    Marcus turned without another word, and strode in the direction of the room in question. Corinna hurried to catch up with him. “But we shouldn’t disturb Her Grace,” she protested. “Take her to one of the other small parlors and I…”
    Marcus did not deign to answer her, but continued to the back parlor, entering without knocking. Feeling embarrassed, Corinna watched as Marcus laid Caroline on a small sofa, then explained to his sister-in-law that Corrie needed to stretch her legs, and since Caroline had fallen asleep, she had not wanted to leave her charge alone.
    Her Grace seemed to understand completely and agreed it would be just fine for her to keep an eye on Caroline and give Corrie some time to herself. Corinna could feel the blood warming her cheeks.
    “I-I will only be a short time,” she assured the duchess, who only waived her away.
    “Take your time. Caroline is not going anywhere, and I think when she wakes, we will spend some time at the pianoforte, bandaged hands and all.”
    Flustered, Corinna had no choice but to follow Marcus’s broad shoulders from the room. She would have been even more embarrassed had she known the duchess watched the two of them depart, speculation and amusement in her eyes.
    Bonnets were necessary for a number of things, not the least of which was keeping the sun off a woman’s face so she wouldn’t freckle or wrinkle. Corinna, however, was thankful for hers because it hid her burning cheeks from the too intent gaze of her companion as they strolled the paths of the topiary.
    “So, what do you plan to do when the other governess returns?” Marcus asked.
    “Her Grace has promised me a reference so I might find another position.”
    “Have you no family?”
    None, but you. “No. My parents are dead.” Gregory, Anna, Phillip, Bernard and Diana did not count as family. In her book, families loved each other. They were not vindictive or mean, and they certainly never tried to do each other harm. “I lived with a great-aunt for a while, but she died earlier this year.”
    “You nursed her until she died?”
    She nodded.
    “And what of her family?”
    She hesitated before she answered. “She was my grandfather’s sister, and since all my grandparents are also gone, she had no one but me.”
    “I see.”
    Actually, he didn’t, but she wouldn’t disabuse him. She also did not consider great-aunt Mirabel’s son “family”.
    “And you?” she asked in an attempt to draw the conversation away from her background.
    “I have more family than I need.”
    “More than you need?” she asked in disbelief, remembering the duke only had