Sin looked back at Mary, his chest tightening. Having this woman under his roof was a terrible idea. Even now, she nibbled her lip, giving him a questioning glance. Something about her vulnerability called to him. He didn’t want a woman like this tempting him daily. There were times he thought he might never want a woman again. And Anne needed someone with an infinite amount of caring and kindness, which was why she likely wasn’t right for the position.
Then again, he’d be a fool not to acknowledge that Anne already liked Mary and vice versa. Hell, he hadn’t seen Anne smile like that in months. Damn. Damn. Damn.
Drawing in a deep breath, he clenched a fist at his side. If he hired her, he’d just have to control himself. Ignore her little upturned nose and generous lips. Forget the ivory tone of her skin that looked kissed by pink roses in all the right places. The apples of her cheeks, for example. And those lips.
His nickname was Sin, and before his first wife, he’d been quite the rake. Not now. Now he was a lord and a father, and a man drowning in life’s problems and responsibilities. But back then, he’d seen his fair share of women with their clothes off. Which meant he knew with certainty that her nipples would be that same shade of frost pink and…he stopped himself. What the bloody hell was wrong with him?
His attraction was already clouding his judgement. She wasn’t at all what he’d wanted and he still wasn’t certain she was the best woman for the job.
Swallowing, he leaned his hands onto the desk. “I have to confess, I’d hoped for someone older, more experienced for the position.”
She pressed her lips together, her hands gripped tightly in front of her. “I’m sure I can do the job if you’d let me try.”
He raised a brow. Try? Anne needed security, not attempts. Especially if they failed. Then again, Daring had recommended her. “Perhaps I could hire you on a trial basis? Maybe a fortnight. We can see how you and Anne work together.” And if he could tolerate having her in the house.
“Of course,” she murmured as she scooted closer, moving out to the end of her chair. Even a few weeks could give her the opportunity to get to know the girl, make some changes. “I’d love the opportunity. When would you like me to start? I just need a bit of time to collect a few necessities. That won’t take more than a day.”
“Good,” he answered, straightening again. “Then I shall send a carriage for you first thing in the morning.”
She gave a stiff nod. “May I ask…” She twisted her gloved fingers together. “What do you see as my duties?”
That was a question that did not fill him with confidence and clenched his jaw tighter. “Your duties are to care for her. Support her to help her feel better. Daring said you’re quite good at encouraging young ladies to reach their potential.”
She nodded. “Perhaps I should ask when I complete those duties. What does her daily schedule entail?”
He frowned. “I see your point. It’s quite full. I thought keeping her busy might distract her from her worries.”
She nodded. “She’ll need lessons, but I’ll need time with her too. And perhaps a different wardrobe.”
“Wardrobe?” Her assertion made his head snap back. He forgot all about her fragile appearance, his attraction and his desire to protect her. “Her clothes are impeccable.”
Mary nodded. “I quite agree. Lovely.”
He relaxed for a moment glad that they understood one another. His daughter was a lovely child and he supposed he liked to see that beauty highlighted. It would have been a mother’s job but he thought he had taken the task on admirably.
Then Mary continued. “However, I need her to have clothes that she can get dirty.”
He nearly fell back into his chair. Was she questioning his parental decisions already? Had he just made a mistake hiring this woman? He’d done so against his better judgment and that never worked to his advantage. “I don’t think you understand what I’m looking for. I like that she is well-mannered, well-dressed, refined.”
Mary licked her lips and for a moment, he forgot his point entirely, then she stepped closer to the desk, her hands rising in front of her. “Hear me out. A girl who sits quietly studying and never gets dirty isn’t going to become braver. She needs….” Dear lord, she did it again. Mary’s pretty pink tongue swiped across her lips. “She needs to do challenging things and become more confident.”
His brows drew together. “She does challenging things. Pianoforte, for example.”
It was Mary’s turn to lean across the desk. “The thing she doesn’t think she’s very good at? That is going to make her more confident? Less afraid?”
Bloody hell, that was a rather good point. His insides relaxed a hair. “What will then?”
Mary shrugged. “That’s what I need time to discover.” She gave him a hopeful smile. “Do you think I could have her in the afternoons?”
His mouth dropped. “All afternoon?” He shook his head. What had he done?
She squared her shoulders. “What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. Between pianoforte and Latin.” He waved his hand. “In other words, when she isn’t in other lessons.”
Mary cocked her head to one side. “You want to fill more of her schedule? Do you think by doing so, she won’t have time to be frightened? And honestly, you’ve hired me on a temporary basis to prove myself but don’t want to give me any time to actually do the job. I’m destined to fail.”
That irritated him. Mary might look like a slender flower but she was acting like a prickly thorn bush. He leaned down to make certain his eyes were level with hers. “You’ve been in my employ for less than a minute and you’re already insulting my parenting?”
Chapter Three
Mary
