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Authors: Doyle MacBrayne
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do as I fancy. If your inclination is to make haste then do so, for at this moment your virtue is in peril.”
“No, sir, I disagree most fervently, for you would never put any part of me in peril. This I know absolutely.”
“Don’t tempt me. I am still a man.” The threat in his tone answered her question. He was not playing.
“An honorable one,” she whispered.
“And you are a child, playing with fire. I fear if you continue this game you will find your fingers singed.” He finally released his gaze, freeing her. She breathed in and relaxed.
She arched a brow, “Ah, I see you no longer wish to play this game. I shall take my leave then, and bid you good night, sir.”
“Good night sweet and virtuous Jane. I hope I shall always find you in that state.”
She stood up but then hesitated, “Do you really, sir? For I fear it would be a very solitary life for me to continue in my present state.”
He groaned rolling his eyes, “You test my will, Ms. Eyre. I should wonder if you are still young enough to put across my knee.”
She chuckled, “Would you punish me for my virtue’s sake, or my wicked tongue?”
“I would punish you for my pleasure.”
Whoa, what? Jane’s breath hitched, but then she rallied, pressing him further, “And yet, as you so aptly observed, you are not my master, and therefore have no say in my punishments.”
“Would you have me as your master? An old man, ten years your senior, more likely to bore you to death than give you the entertainments of youth that you deserve.”
“Is that how you see yourself, sir? A fine pair we make then, an old man and a plain girl.”
“You are not plain. There is beauty in your youth, and your wit is remarkable,” he added drily.
“Ah, but the beauty of youth is not perceived by the young. This beauty does not last. It fades and then I will simply be plain, and old.” She laughed, “And youth does not enjoy my wit. They find it caustic and peculiar.”
She placed her hand lightly against his arm, “Good night then, sir. My wicked tongue and virtuous youth take their leave.”
“Good night, Ms. Eyre. I thank you for your delightful company and discourse.” He took her hand and placed his lips gently on her finger. Her thumb gently caressed his as he let her hand drop. She curtsied and left, a small smile hinting at her lips.
CHAPTER eleven
She could have flown home, she was so giddy. Her head warned her though that she was indeed playing with fire. He had already asked to court her, and while it was implied it would be an arrangement, he clearly didn’t feel that way now. Or did he? When she entered the kitchen she heard her mother yelling, a highly uncharacteristic sound coming from her normally docile mother.
“Mother, why are you so agitated?” she asked quickly.
“Susannah has lied to me Jane! She has taken the tea towels and hidden them from me and refuses to admit it.”
Jane looked over at Susannah who looked stricken with fear. She swallowed, “Mother, please, I will deal with the tea towels. Have some tea and calm yourself. It is not good for your nerves to be in such a state.”
“You sound like Susannah! My nerves suffer because of your treatment to your mother!”
“Please Mother, I am sorry. Might I pour you some tea so you can rest?” Jane pleaded.
Her mother sighed and pointed a finger at Susannah, “Beware, I am watching you. You might find yourself without employment if you don’t keep a hold of your tongue.” She turned to Jane, “You may bring me tea in my room. I am quite done with this house this evening.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jane curtsied and watched her mother leave. She turned to Susannah and whispered, “Holy cow! How long has she been like that?”
Susannah was already turning on the tea pot. Jane went to the cabinet for her mother’s sleeping pills and was crushing one to add to her
“No, sir, I disagree most fervently, for you would never put any part of me in peril. This I know absolutely.”
“Don’t tempt me. I am still a man.” The threat in his tone answered her question. He was not playing.
“An honorable one,” she whispered.
“And you are a child, playing with fire. I fear if you continue this game you will find your fingers singed.” He finally released his gaze, freeing her. She breathed in and relaxed.
She arched a brow, “Ah, I see you no longer wish to play this game. I shall take my leave then, and bid you good night, sir.”
“Good night sweet and virtuous Jane. I hope I shall always find you in that state.”
She stood up but then hesitated, “Do you really, sir? For I fear it would be a very solitary life for me to continue in my present state.”
He groaned rolling his eyes, “You test my will, Ms. Eyre. I should wonder if you are still young enough to put across my knee.”
She chuckled, “Would you punish me for my virtue’s sake, or my wicked tongue?”
“I would punish you for my pleasure.”
Whoa, what? Jane’s breath hitched, but then she rallied, pressing him further, “And yet, as you so aptly observed, you are not my master, and therefore have no say in my punishments.”
“Would you have me as your master? An old man, ten years your senior, more likely to bore you to death than give you the entertainments of youth that you deserve.”
“Is that how you see yourself, sir? A fine pair we make then, an old man and a plain girl.”
“You are not plain. There is beauty in your youth, and your wit is remarkable,” he added drily.
“Ah, but the beauty of youth is not perceived by the young. This beauty does not last. It fades and then I will simply be plain, and old.” She laughed, “And youth does not enjoy my wit. They find it caustic and peculiar.”
She placed her hand lightly against his arm, “Good night then, sir. My wicked tongue and virtuous youth take their leave.”
“Good night, Ms. Eyre. I thank you for your delightful company and discourse.” He took her hand and placed his lips gently on her finger. Her thumb gently caressed his as he let her hand drop. She curtsied and left, a small smile hinting at her lips.
CHAPTER eleven
She could have flown home, she was so giddy. Her head warned her though that she was indeed playing with fire. He had already asked to court her, and while it was implied it would be an arrangement, he clearly didn’t feel that way now. Or did he? When she entered the kitchen she heard her mother yelling, a highly uncharacteristic sound coming from her normally docile mother.
“Mother, why are you so agitated?” she asked quickly.
“Susannah has lied to me Jane! She has taken the tea towels and hidden them from me and refuses to admit it.”
Jane looked over at Susannah who looked stricken with fear. She swallowed, “Mother, please, I will deal with the tea towels. Have some tea and calm yourself. It is not good for your nerves to be in such a state.”
“You sound like Susannah! My nerves suffer because of your treatment to your mother!”
“Please Mother, I am sorry. Might I pour you some tea so you can rest?” Jane pleaded.
Her mother sighed and pointed a finger at Susannah, “Beware, I am watching you. You might find yourself without employment if you don’t keep a hold of your tongue.” She turned to Jane, “You may bring me tea in my room. I am quite done with this house this evening.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jane curtsied and watched her mother leave. She turned to Susannah and whispered, “Holy cow! How long has she been like that?”
Susannah was already turning on the tea pot. Jane went to the cabinet for her mother’s sleeping pills and was crushing one to add to her
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