Read Online Seeking Celeste by Hayley Ann Solomon - Free Book Online Page B

lord.” Her tone was an exact match of his earlier teasing banter.
    â€œGood lord, Miss Derringer, how shocking that you are not shocked!”
    â€œIt must make a refreshing change for you, my lord, not to have to watch every sentence that slips off your tongue. It may have escaped your attention that though I am not wed, I am also not entirely a green girl.”
    â€œThank the lord for that! However, in the matter of kisses—and though I try not to boast upon this point, I feel I ought to point out that I am a connoisseur—I find you green, Miss Derringer. Quite delightfully green.”
    â€œAnd I find you dreadfully improper! If you were a gentleman, you would not keep harping upon those kisses! Now go, I pray you, before I change my mind!”
    The earl laughed. “You shall never change my mind, Miss Derringer. I shall have to spring the horses now, for you have kept me in idle dalliance far longer than I anticipated.”
    Anne dimpled, for it was hard to take issue with a man so brazenly impudent as this one, or hold a groat of malice when his very smile caused a fever of excitement to rage quite unaccountably within her.
    She did manage to keep her countenance becomingly demure, however, as she raised a brow at the preposterous accusation.
    â€œIdle dalliance? My lord, you wrong me!”
    His laugh still rang in her ears as he disappeared in precisely the same mysterious manner in which he had arrived. It was only long after, when she was sipping a cup of chocolate in the cosy upstairs drawing room that the children assured her was actually the schoolroom, that she began to wonder.
    What had he meant? She shall never change his mind? It was a puzzle, but then, everything about the last twelve hours was a puzzle. Anne set her cup down musingly. She wished her employer were not half so young or disgustingly amiable. If her wayward thoughts were to incline too often in that direction ... but no! They would not. She set cup and saucer down with decision. As far as she was concerned, Lord Robert Carmichael was a figment of her fevered imagination.
    Just as well he had chosen to fly the coop and head for the pleasures of London. It made her task so much the easier. From now on, she would don a mobcap and endeavour to play the part allotted to her with dignity, humour and yes—she would allow it—intelligence. She would earn her exorbitant wages if it was the last thing she did.
    â€œKitty, it is always best, when striking a pose, to endeavour to look alluring. That pout, though excellently framed, looks more devilish than charming. Here, let me show you ...”
    And so began Miss Derringer’s rather exceptional duties as governess.
    It might be said that the Viscount Tukebury and the older Miss Kitty Carmichael had never before found their lessons quite as unpredictable, alarming and outrageously interesting as they did now.
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    London was bustling with activity by the time the earl reached the refined portals of Boodles at precisely eleven o’clock. He had only partially recovered his temper by the time he was greeted reverentially at the door and divested of his cane, greatcoat and elegantly crafted beaver.
    Miss Danvers had proved a trying travelling companion, for despite his foresight in travelling in separate conveyances, she had somehow contrived to weasel a lunch at the Red Fox Inn and several stops for “fresh air” out of his much put upon person. As if this was not enough, explanations to the countess Eversleigh had been harrowing.
    Craven, he had toyed with the idea of simply unloading Miss Danvers and her multitudinous parcels and carrying cases. Then, with a sigh, the gentleman had come to the fore, and he had helped her down obligingly, winced a little at her simpers, and handed his card on to the butler.
    The dowager countess had obviously not been overawed by his crest, for she left him kicking his heels in the blue salon for well over half