Read Online Sari Robins - [Andersen Hall Orphanage 05] by The Governess Wears Scarlet - Free Book Online

would undertake. He’d taken in two young lads he had hardly even known existed before last week and had accepted guardianship of their lives. Additionally, he was assisting Lord Benbrook, a man who’d never wanted to be his relation and who had wrought turmoil in his life from the very moment they’d met.
    Objectively, Steele accepted that the reemergence of his recalcitrant father-in-law in his life had raised thorny emotions better off unfelt. And that it was hislove for Deidre and sense of duty to her memory and to her nephews that had inspired his actions. That, and Sir Lee Devane’s blackmail, of course.
    He shook his head, realizing that he was under strain from Benbrook, the lads, the investigation, and his recent failings at work. He wasn’t operating at his best and needed to dig his way out of the rut he was in.
    And crafting fantasies about pretty young governesses wasn’t going to help him one bit.
    He needed to gain Miss West’s trust, get her to agree to work for him, and get on with his investigation. He had enough to do to unearth the truth behind Benbrook’s claims and stop a killer on the loose. There was no room in his life for anything else, particularly not for pesky emotions and moonlight confessions.
    Nodding, Steele exhaled, feeling more in command now that he had his priorities in order.
    Miss West bit her lip. “Headmaster Dunn called blunders ‘opportunities’ and taught us that it is only through mistakes that we learn.”
    Her lack of censure reassured him even more, but he felt the need to add, “I can’t afford to make mistakes. Not in my position.”
    “What is a solicitor-general?”
    Feeling on safe ground, he replied, “I represent the Crown on legal matters. In the courts, I provide legal advice, questions involving public welfare. I’m consulted for legal matters involving debts to the Crown, thefts from the Crown…and the like.”
    “So you wouldn’t handle the petty things…like ordinary pilfering or disorderly conduct and such?”
    “Not usually, no.”
    Nodding, she seemed to relax.
    “Why?”
    She shrugged. “I’m simply trying to understand.”
    They had just reached the corner nearing his house. Feeling an urgency to settle matters, he stopped and faced her. “So what do I have to do to convince you to come work for me, Miss West?”
    She bit her bottom lip. “Why do you want me to sleep in the mistress’s chambers?”
    “Truth be told…” Steele mentally kicked himself, for he never trusted a word someone said when he prefaced a comment with “truth be told.” He was going to have to learn to lie better to maintain the façade. “The fact of the matter is that the upstairs is under construction.”
    “Oh.”
    He couldn’t tell if that was an “Oh, I believe you,” or an “Oh, that doesn’t seem quite plausible.” The light from the adjacent house glowed on her fair hair and washed her pale face in a golden radiance. Still, he could not read her features and realized that this lady had learned to hide her feelings well.
    Steele added, “As I said before, I didn’t expect the children.” That much was true. “And so when I purchased the house I paid little attention to the nurseries. Regrettably, they are in disrepair, and I’m taking steps to remedy that situation. In the interim, I would like you and the lads to take advantage of the unused rooms on my floor, and that happens to include the mistress’s chambers.”
    “If I may ask, how did you come to be theguardian of Seth and Felix? Lord Benbrook seems quite…attached.”
    “That’s a very polite way of saying officious and demanding.”
    He was pleased to see her lips lift into a little smile. “I did not say that, so don’t ever try to quote me.”
    “Lord Benbrook is attached to the boys, certainly. They are his grandchildren.”
    “Then why is he giving you guardianship?”
    Steele considered his options and decided on a variation of the truth. “Lord Benbrook is my