A Governess for the Brooding Duke(20)

Georgette dared to take another peek at the man and realized that he was not looking at her at all. Rather, he was looking down at the paperwork on his desk once more, sitting quietly and almost immobile, and she wondered if he were about to dismiss her from the room.



However, she took the opportunity to study him a little more closely and could see that Hamilton Whitehall was a good deal older than she was herself. He was, she thought, perhaps four and thirty years, if not a little more. Nonetheless, he looked really rather well for his age, with broad shoulders and an upright sort of bearing. Despite the fact he was still sitting behind his desk, Georgette rather thought that he would, when standing, be something of a very tall man.



His tailcoat and waistcoat, all that she could see of his apparel from behind the desk, were in a matching shade of dark blue, almost identical to that of her own gown. His shirt was immaculately white and its necktie curiously plain, although smart.



The Duke had rather a thick head of hair in a very light brown which tended to blond at the temples. Georgette wondered if it was the sort of hair which became fairer the brighter the sun shone. His eyes were bright, rather a piercing sort of a blue and, when he did deign to look at her and even hold her gaze, they made her feel a little uneasy.



His face had rather strong features, and a mouth that would likely be pleasingly generous if he did but smile. His skin was a little tanned and had a certain roughness which suggested that he could not last more than a day without shaving and still maintain a certain neatness to his appearance.



“I presume that you are aware that the children have had no less than three governesses in quick succession in the last six months?” Again, he spoke suddenly.



“Yes, Mr Winstanley at the employment registry made me very aware of the fact.”



“Does that not concern you at all?”



“In truth, it does concern me a little, Your Grace, but not enough that I would turn the position down.”



“Indeed,” he said and looked at her rather blankly.



In truth, Georgette was well aware that the Duke was likely deducing that she had found herself in very sudden low circumstances, and he seemed to be regarding her in a most searching fashion. When he had looked at her for almost a full minute, Georgette could not help thinking that he was really rather looking down upon her.



Of course, as a Duke, he might well have looked down upon her before she had been reduced to poverty. And, of course, he might not be looking down upon her at all. It struck her that he was really rather a difficult man to read, and she found herself feeling most decidedly uncomfortable in his company and wished that their meeting would soon draw to its conclusion.



“Miss Darrington, I do not wish to hear tales of the servants or anything concerning the children. They are to be brought up well with good manners and a good education. Beyond that, I do not wish to be bothered with the day-to-day running of their lives, is that understood?” Suddenly, his piercingly bright blue eyes were fixed on her own, and Georgette wondered if she would be able to get a word out. She felt herself suddenly struck mute and yet knew that she must say something.



“That is understood, Your Grace,” she said simply, wondering why on earth it was that he had no interest in the day-to-day lives of two adorable little girls.



“I will meet with you here once a week so that you may make a report of your progress to me regarding the educational advancement of the children. There will be no need for you to bring the children with you, obviously.”



“Yes, Your Grace,” she said, rather thinking that he had something of an aversion to Eleri and Ffion.



“The children’s nurse will have them delivered to you at half past nine every morning in the schoolroom. They will already be washed, dressed, and breakfasted. In essence, they shall be ready for their lessons immediately.” He stared at her again, and Georgette fought an urge to run from the room.



“Yes, Your Grace,” she said, rather willing the whole thing to be at an end.



“You will keep the children throughout the day, including luncheon, which shall be brought to the schoolroom for the three of you and which you will supervise without the aid of the nurse.”



“Yes, Your Grace.”



“The nurse will, of course, relieve you of the children’s care at half-past three in the afternoon. From then onwards, you are free to do as you please unless, of course, there is some social engagement to which the children need to attend outside of those hours. In just such a situation you, rather than their nurse, shall accompany them. In truth, I rather doubt that such a requirement shall occur, but I am simply pointing out your role should that happen.”