Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Selene felt her jaw drop in a dramatic way. She was so stunned that she couldn’t even think how to handle this unexpected development.

She was meeting the Iron Duke for the very first time. And he was the rude gentleman who had saved her from falling last night!

She felt her cheeks suffuse with high color. Mrs. Kittles was looking at her expectantly. Hastily, she dropped into a low curtsy, using the time to try to compose herself. It wasn’t easy, but by the time she rose, her face was as neutral as she could manage.

“Your Grace,” she murmured, her eyes flickering onto his face.

“Your Grace, may I present Miss Selene Bomind,” said Mrs. Kittles. “Miss Bomind is a local, living in Trenton with her parents, and is well educated.” She paused. “I believe she is a fine candidate for the position and has the necessary skills to accomplish it well.”

“I see,” barked the duke, his eyes boring into Selene’s face. He inclined his head slightly. “A pleasure, Miss Bomind.”

Her heart thumped hard. There was no doubt that he recognized her—she could tell by the way his eyes had widened in shock when she had first walked into the room. There was an awkward pause. She had no idea what to say to him.

The duke turned to the housekeeper. “If you could go and see to the tea service, Mrs. Kittles. I will talk to Miss Bomind alone to ascertain if she is suitable for the position.”

The housekeeper looked slightly surprised, but nodded, curtsying again. She glanced back at Selene, giving her an encouraging smile, as she left the room.

Selene took a deep, ragged breath, turning to face the duke. Her breath caught in her throat. In the clear light of day, with sunlight streaming through the windows, the duke was even more handsome than she recalled.

His dark eyes were mesmerizing and his commanding height, as well as the muscular breadth of his physique, so overpowering, that she was having difficulty keeping her thoughts straight. She felt a shiver all the way down her spine. Her eyes drifted to his hands. The hands she had been fantasizing about. They were just as large and manly and sensual as she recalled.

They gazed at each other for a moment. Selene felt sparks shooting through the air between them.

“Sit down, Miss Bomind,” he said at last, clearing his throat, indicating a chair near the fire. “If you please.”

Selene hesitated, then did as he bid. He sat opposite her.

“What experience do you have as a governess?” he asked, staring at her.

“I have none,” she admitted, trying to quell her nerves. “But I do have experience working with children. My most recent position was as a nursemaid.” She cleared her throat. “I have good references, Your Grace. And I have a thorough education, which I believe qualifies me for the position.”

“I see,” he said eventually, not looking particularly impressed. “I will be checking those references.”

“Of course,” she said.

There was a deafening silence.

“I am uncertain whether I want my daughter governed by someone who speaks her mind quite so directly,” he barked, his dark eyes glowering. “That concerns me, rather more than your lack of experience as a governess. You let your tongue run away with you last night, Miss Bomind. You spoke to me in an intemperate manner.”

Selene’s face tightened and she felt a flush rise up over her neck, staining her cheeks again. Yes, she had scolded him last night, but then, he had deserved it.

He is your superior. You knew he was a gentleman, with higher status than you, even if you did not realize who he was. You should never speak in such a manner to your superiors.

The stiff, reprimanding voice in her mind was loud. Such an attitude had been drummed into her since she was a girl. She knew that she was considered far too opinionated by some people, and that she let her mouth run away from her on occasions, especially if there was injustice involved.

She wanted to let her mouth run away from her now, to instantly defend herself. She restrained herself with difficulty. He was her superior, and she was applying for a position in his household. She didn’t want to ruin it completely.

“I do apologize if you thought I was intemperate last night when we encountered one another,” she replied eventually, through gritted teeth. “Perhaps I spoke in haste. I was taken by surprise and my disappointment about the gifts overtook me.”

He inclined his head slightly. There was a tense silence.

Selene took a deep breath. “I will say now though that I have heard that your daughter is very spirited,” she continued, her heart beating hard. “The lady has had many governesses. Why is that, Your Grace?”

He looked shocked, and a bit affronted. “My daughter is spirited, as you say, but it is not her fault that governesses come and go. To suggest such a thing is outrageous!”

Selene forced herself to smile. “I was not suggesting such a thing. I admire spirited girls,” she said, taking another deep breath. “As I am spirited myself—some might say intemperate–—I feel that I understand such natures. Perhaps most of your governesses have not understood such a nature.”

Selene held her breath. She was taking a big risk by speaking so candidly about his daughter and the fact he had difficulty retaining governesses because of Lady Lenore’s behavior. But as much as she needed this position, she couldn’t stop herself being honest.

He blinked rapidly, looking a bit intrigued. “What are you claiming?”

“I believe that I will be able to handle such a nature,” she continued, her heart beating fast. “I understand spirited natures, as I say. My approach toward educating the lady will be different to the governesses before me and as such, she may respond differently to me and settle well, if you are willing to take the chance.”

She exhaled slowly. There was a tense silence.

He will never accept what I just said. He will take it as a criticism of his daughter. I have just ruined my chance. What was I thinking? When will I ever learn to toe the line?

“An interesting position,” he replied eventually. His face was still set in a hard line, and she couldn’t read anything in his dark eyes. “Have you always thought in such an independent way, Miss Bomind? How have you developed such a philosophy?”

Selene smiled. “I believe that I have always been an independent thinker, Your Grace. I believe that one is either born with an inquisitive mind or not.” She took a deep breath. “But my mind has been developed by reading the works of such great thinkers as Voltaire and Rousseau.”

He arched his eyebrows. “You are very well educated, Miss Bomind. I must say, that surprises me. The local villagers usually do not put much value in educating their daughters.”

Selene smiled slightly. “My father is unusual, Your Grace. He has always believed in the value of education to improve one’s life, and it did not matter to him that I was a girl. He believed that I deserved a proper education the same as a male.” She hesitated “I am very lucky to have such a father.”

“Indeed,” he said, frowning slightly. “Although, I would temper that by saying that thinking too independently can develop insolence and a lack of humility, Miss Bomind. How do I know that you will not influence my daughter to higher spirits and be a bad influence on her?”

“I would never encourage insolence for the sake of it,” she replied, a bit stung. “I do not believe in mindless rebellion and anarchy. I simply believe that if one sees an injustice then it is far worse to remain silent, rather than speak one’s mind.”

There was silence. He tapped his fingers on his chin as he gazed at her, looking thoughtful. His dark eyes were blazing, now. She had no idea whether she was convincing him to give her a chance or doing quite the opposite. His expression wasn’t giving anything away.

Their eyes locked and held. Selene felt that frisson between them again. Hastily, she slid her eyes away, her heart thumping painfully. Her eyes lingered on his strong hands that were resting on his thighs, feeling a tingle all the way down her spine.

“I would also say that I believe in basic kindness and courtesy, Your Grace,” she said suddenly, the words just marching out of her mouth. “I may have let my tongue run away with me last night, as you say, but you did not help me save those gifts that fell onto the ground, either. They were intended for orphans who will not get any other gifts at Christmas. How could you rail against it and say it was not a worthy thing?”

He shifted in his chair, glaring at her. Selene’s heart thumped harder still. She knew she was probably talking herself out of the position, rather than into it, but she just couldn’t seem to help herself. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she was too independently minded.

I cannot be anybody but myself. If he decides that I am not suitable for the position, then that is just the way it is. I will find another position eventually.

The silence stretched on. Selene could hear the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece as she waited for his reply. She gazed around the room. It was as grand and impressive as the rest of the house, filled with expensive pieces of furniture, but it seemed cold and rather lifeless, as if there wasn’t much laughter heard in this room.

“You have a thorough knowledge of most subjects?” he barked eventually. “You can teach my daughter history, mathematics, geography and the like?”

Selene jumped out of her reverie. “Yes, I can, Your Grace. I have a rounded education and knowledge about a great many subjects.”

There was another silence. He kept tapping his fingers on his chin thoughtfully. He looked her up and down, in a brazen way, that shocked her a little. Selene could barely breathe.

“Very well,” he said suddenly, leaning forward in the chair, fixing her with a penetrative gaze. “I am proposing this to you, Miss Bomind: if you can win over my daughter within a month, then I shall support your charitable endeavors, and ensure that the orphanage celebrates Christmas well.”

His face flinched as he uttered the word Christmas, as if it offended him to even say it, as if it were a particularly dirty word that he could barely bring himself to say.

She shook away the thought, focusing on his offer. “A trial period, Your Grace?”

He nodded his head slowly. “Exactly, Miss Bomind. Let us see if your actions match your words. And you stand to gain something more out of it, as well.” He smiled faintly. “I am not entirely devoid of kindness, you know.”

She blushed fiercely. It was a decent offer. He was giving her a chance, even though she had no experience as a governess. She would have her work cut out for her winning over his daughter within a mere month, though. It would be difficult, to say the least.

But you have so much to gain if you can do it. A permanent position here, where you will never have to worry about money again. And the orphanage will still celebrate Christmas.

Selene took a deep breath, staring him straight in the eye. “I agree to your terms, Your Grace. Thank you.”

He inclined his head, his face impassive. She still had no idea what he was feeling and thinking. None at all. He could be angry, or frustrated, or even pleased. She simply didn’t know. She realized why he had earned his nickname. He was very intimidating, and his coldness was implacable.

Oh, my Lord. I am the new governess at Trenton House. Will I be able to do the job? Or will the little lady drive me out of the house within a week? And even if she doesn’t, and I manage to win her over, how will I ever win over the duke?