To Tame a Dangerous Lord (8 page)

Madeline decided it was time to speak up. “I am not certain my qualifications match what you need for your academy, Lady Danvers. Growing up, I was privileged to have an excellent governess, so I am well versed in such subjects as drawing, embroidery, history, geography, and even a smattering of accounting, since we owned a farm and I managed the books. But I am not musical in the least, and my knowledge of culture and refinement is severely lacking. I have certainly never moved in your elite circles. The closest I have come to the haute ton is my late employer, Lady Talwin, and during her final years, she was confined to her sickbed.”

Lady Danvers smiled. “Miss Ellis, I think you may have a mistaken impression of my own social qualifications. Until this past year, my sisters and I lived under the cloud of a family scandal, so we were utterly shunned by the ton. And since we were virtually penniless, we had to work for our livings. Fortunately, the academy provided us livelihoods and a measure of independence so we were not compelled to wed unless we chose to.”

“I see,” Madeline said, surprised and relieved by the
countess’s confessions of her former modest circumstances. And by her desire for independence as well. Madeline herself had always gnashed at the limiting boundaries that genteel ladies had to face, and she had never wanted to marry simply to survive.

“You are obviously well-spoken and reportedly extremely well-mannered,” Lady Danvers added, casting a lively glance at Lord Haviland, who was seated in a wing chair across from them. Their unspoken communication made Madeline surmise that in his message requesting an interview, Haviland had mentioned her insistence on observing proper etiquette. “And if you dealt well with your ill employer, you can likely handle our pupils.”

“What would be my responsibilities, do you expect?”

“Haviland says you are fluent in French, so I would like to make the most of your particular skills. Your primary duties would be to teach French and therefore English. In my experience, learning a foreign language improves one’s English speech and grammar, which will be vitally important to our students’ success in life. And as a teacher, the more enjoyable you can make the process, the more readily your instruction will sink in. Your area of expertise will actually give you a certain cachet with our girls, Miss Ellis. They are wild about French fashions, so if you could somehow procure a handful of magazines from Paris—the equivalent of our
La Belle Ensemble
—they will no doubt worship you.”

Her amusement stirred by the countess’s wry tone, Madeline finally allowed herself to smile in return. “I believe I can comply, Lady Danvers, since I have numerous connections in the émigré community, many of
whom were aristocrats in their own country before the Revolution deprived them of their lands and titles.”

“All the better,” Lady Danvers replied. “Very well, then. I would like to offer you a position at our academy, Miss Ellis—one class per day to begin with. I can promise you a generous salary, although your employment would be temporary for now. Haviland will vouch for you, but since your late employer failed to supply you a character reference, I’m sure you understand that I would be wise to investigate your background more thoroughly. If you could suggest a list of your former neighbors or other acquaintances, I will write to them immediately. We will make the position permanent once I have had the chance to confirm my initial instincts about you. And of course, you will want to be certain that you enjoy teaching enough to continue.”

It was indeed wise, Madeline thought, and only fair. She would be in charge of shaping the lives of over two dozen young women, and Lady Danvers had a responsibility to ensure that their teachers were highly qualified.

Madeline was confident, however, that she would take well to teaching. After serving as a lady’s companion for so many years, she was eager for the mental stimulation and social interaction that working at the academy would provide her. And her deficiencies in pretending subservience would not be as great a drawback. Indeed, teaching should suit her best of the few genteel occupations open to her.

“Thank you, my lady,” she said sincerely. “I would very much like to accept your offer.”

“Excellent. But please, call me Arabella. If you are agreeable, I will take you to visit the academy tomorrow. Our classes on Saturdays are only for half days, so
that will be an opportune time to introduce you to your fellow teachers and pupils. I would do so this afternoon, but I am holding a ball here this evening and I need time to prepare.”

“That is entirely agreeable,” Madeline said, appreciating even more that her new employer had taken time out of her busy schedule to conduct their interview when she had a ball to plan.

“Oh, and you must stay here at Danvers Hall until we get all the details of your employment sorted out and you can find suitable lodging of your own.”

Madeline started to refuse the countess’s remarkable offer of hospitality, not wanting to impose, but Lord Haviland spoke for the first time in several minutes.

“You can count your lodging here as part of your salary, Miss Ellis,” he pointed out, as if knowing exactly what was on her mind. “And you will be doing her ladyship a favor, beginning your duties on such short notice.”

“Indeed, you will,” the countess agreed.

Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Madeline amended her reply. “You are very generous, Lady Danvers.”

“Arabella, please … and I hope I may call you Madeline.”

“Yes, of course … Arabella.”

“Ah,” Arabella said suddenly, “I should have thought of it. You must attend our ball this evening, Madeline. You may meet our headmistress and other teachers then—except for my youngest sister, Lily, who is traveling in the Mediterranean just now. But my middle sister, Roslyn, has recently returned from her wedding journey and will be there. In fact, Roslyn will be eager to see
you
, Lord Haviland.” Arabella glanced at him directly
again, this time with unmistakable amusement. “This courtship business can be highly awkward, my lord, can it not?”

“Indeed,” he answered dryly.

Not understanding the undercurrents between them, Madeline was surprised to see him shift in his seat, as if uncomfortable with the change of subject.

She was uncomfortable herself, although she was well aware of the reason. Arabella’s invitation to the ball was much less welcome than her offer of employment. Madeline had no desire to attend this evening’s fête. She knew she could hold her own in society, even though she was accustomed to being considered an upper servant. Yet she lacked the appropriate attire for a ball. Moreover, she had never learned to dance very well and didn’t wish to advertise her shortcomings.

“You are quite generous, Arabella, but I feel I must decline. I am not quite ready to appear in society.”

“Very well, as you wish. But you will come, Haviland, won’t you?” the countess asked.

His hesitation was obvious. “I have a houseguest staying with me at the moment, Lady Danvers, and I shouldn’t like to leave Lunsford to his own devices.”

“Mr. Frederick Lunsford? We would be pleased to have him as well.”

“Then I accept on his behalf.” Haviland winced, as if girding himself for an unpleasant task. “I suppose I should look at it as an opportunity.”

“Yes. Roslyn will make good use of the occasion.” Arabella turned back to Madeline, seeking to explain. “At Haviland’s request, I and my sisters have banded together to find him a suitable bride, although Roslyn is
chiefly in charge. We have suggested several marital candidates for him, but thus far no one seems to suit him.”

Madeline managed a faint smile to hide her dismay, which was absurd. Why in heaven’s name should she be dismayed to learn that the Loring sisters were helping the Earl of Haviland search for a bride?

Because you have become foolishly attracted to him yourself
, came the unbidden thought.

Of course she had little hope of attaching him, but for one fleeting moment she imagined how wonderful it would be to have Haviland see her as his prospective bride. To be courted by him at the ball tonight. To be kissed by him and enveloped in his stunning passion….

If she were a dreamer, she could let herself indulge in such impossible fantasies. Fortunately, though, Madeline had no time to dwell on her foolish reflections because Arabella rose.

“Now, if you will please excuse me, I must see to the preparations for this evening. My husband had business in London regarding his sister Eleanor’s upcoming nuptials, so we were late returning here to the Hall. Haviland, pray make yourself at home,” she added as both he and Madeline stood politely. “When you are ready, Madeline, Mrs. Simpkin will help you settle into your rooms. And you will be very welcome at the ball this evening if you change your mind.”

Madeline started to thank Arabella again, but Haviland spoke before she could. “I will do my utmost to persuade her to attend.”

Realizing that he didn’t mean to take his leave just yet, Madeline eyed him warily. She didn’t want to be alone
with him just now, for she suspected his “persuasion” would be difficult to resist.

Her wariness was justified. As soon as Arabella had gone, he took up the issue again. “Why don’t you wish to attend the ball?”

Madeline settled for honesty. “I dislike ostentatious events, for one thing, particularly when I know I will be held under close scrutiny and judged by total strangers who may find me wanting. And I haven’t a ball gown, for another.”

“I imagine Lady Danvers would readily loan you one of hers.”

Madeline gave him a look of reproach. “It is simply not done. And even if it were, we are not the same size.”

She felt his masculine gaze appraise her. She was not quite as tall or as slender as Arabella, and she was definitely more buxom, but she couldn’t tell from his enigmatic expression what he was thinking.

“You can always have a gown altered,” was Haviland’s unexpected suggestion.

“Not on such short notice.”

“For a price, it can be done.”

“A price I cannot afford.”

“I could advance you the funds. You can repay me from your first salary.”

Madeline stared at him. “You know I will not accept financial support from you, Lord Haviland.”

“Ah, yes, your pride rears its head again.”

She bit back a retort. Perhaps she
was
a touch oversensitive about accepting charity, yet her feelings were only natural. Of course a man as wealthy and blue-blooded as Haviland would not understand why she would be embarrassed to borrow another lady’s gown.

She doubted, however, that his response was solely because he was uncaring and insensitive. More likely it was because he had scant concept of social inferiority since he himself cared little for society.

“It is not only pride,” Madeline insisted. “I am not about to accept the loan of a gown from my new employer only to cut it up.”

“Well, regardless of how you are dressed, I should like it very much if you would attend tonight.”

His tone had suddenly softened, and when he gave Madeline a lazy smile, an unaccountable surge of pleasure warmed her, despite her certainty that Haviland was attempting again to use his charm as a weapon. She couldn’t help noting the small laugh lines around his eyes, either. Those lines had been less visible in the dimmer light last evening.

“Your wishes are
not
at issue here, my lord,” she retorted, her tone more prickly than he deserved because of her effort to remain indifferent to his appeal.

“I know, but you ought to attend for your own sake—to meet your fellow teachers as well as your new neighbors, since you plan to live here. And I would count it as a favor. I need an ally tonight.”

“An ally?”

“I have a decided aversion to debutantes, but I expect to be swarmed by them since word is out that I am in the market for a bride.”

Haviland wanted
her
to protect him against the marriageable young ladies who were sure to hound him during the ball?

Madeline had no ready answer. “Do you expect to marry soon?” she asked more weakly than she would have liked.

“If my grandmother has her way, I will.” His faint smile was wry. “She was resigned to my ‘scapegrace ways,’ as she calls them, while my country needed me. But she puts great store in carrying on the family lineage and expects me to produce an heir.”

Madeline would be hard-pressed to explain the sinking feeling that revelation aroused. She had no reason to be concerned about Haviland’s matrimonial prospects, and no reason to be jealous of the other candidates, either. Yet she stood there tongue-tied for a moment, considering him.

He would have no trouble finding a bride of his choosing, she knew. With his fascinating allure, the most dazzling beauties of the ton would pursue him. That hint of danger about him, combined with that easy, seductive smile, was sure to win female hearts. He would be the object of every woman’s most secret dreams … or at least
her
secret dreams. And when Haviland gazed at her so intently with those vivid blue eyes, as he was doing now, she wanted to melt.

It was deplorable to think she was developing an infatuation for him, Madeline reflected. She had no desire to do his bidding like any foolish romantic.

Yet she
did
owe him a measure of gratitude for his generosity toward her. And perhaps he would indeed need an ally at the ball this evening. Furthermore, she very much wanted to meet her fellow teachers and the gentry who would be her neighbors in the foreseeable future.

“So will you attend the ball after all, Miss Ellis?”

She could make do, Madeline decided, with her lavender crepe evening gown, the nicest gown she owned.

“Yes,” she agreed, hoping she wouldn’t regret her acceptance—
or further compound her ridiculous attraction to Haviland at an event where she would be out of her element.

“Excellent,” he said briskly as if he’d known all along how she would decide, obviously confident in his powers of persuasion. “I look forward to seeing you this evening. Meanwhile, I will have your trunk delivered here to the Hall. But don’t hesitate to send a message to Riverwood if you require anything else of me.”