But now was not the time to think of that. ‘May I have a word with you in private, Miss Regan?’ He made sure his face revealed nothing of his reaction to her charming accent, nor her surprising beauty, and in doing so his words took on a harsher tone than he intended.
He gestured towards the small room off the kitchen where the housekeeper did her bookkeeping and stood back so she could enter.
Instead of following as she should, she continued to glare up at him, her hands still firmly on her hips, as if she was rooted to the spot. She glanced over at the door, looked at his arm directing her to enter, then back up at his face. She raised her chin even higher and shook her head. ‘No. I’m afraid it’s rather late and it’s been a long day. I’m planning to retire. I don’t have time to talk to you.’
Dominic’s arm dropped to his side. Had he heard her correctly? Had she really refused a request that was extremely reasonable under the circumstances? He had not admonished her in front of the servants as most men in his position would have done. He had merely requested a private word with her. And this was how she responded? Unbelievable. Who on earth did this woman, who was little more than a lady’s maid, think she was? He stared down at her, waiting for her to explain herself.
No explanation came. Dominic dragged in an irritated breath and slowly exhaled as she continued her defiant glare. ‘This will only take a minute of your time, Miss Regan.’ Was he really having to beg a lady’s maid? It seemed, for his sister’s sake, that was exactly what he was going to have to do.
‘I don’t care how long it’s going to take. If you have anything to say to me, then it will have to wait until morning. I don’t have time to talk to you, or anyone else, right now.’
‘No, Miss Regan, this will not wait until tomorrow,’ Dominic said, losing the battle to keep annoyance out of his voice. ‘I said I want to talk to you. Now.’ His voice became louder, more impatient with every word. He gestured once again to the housekeeper’s room.
She shook her head, drawing his eyes to that glorious mane of red curls. ‘And I said no.’
Like two immobile statues they continued to glare at each other. This was unheard of. No servant ever spoke to him like this. In fact, no one ever spoke to him in such a disrespectful manner. He looked her up and down, unable to believe that he was in a stand-off with a servant, of all people. His gaze took in her unadorned white blouse and simple grey skirt. It was strange how a woman in such plain clothing could look more stunning than the ornately dressed women who attended society balls. But then few other women had the voluptuous figure of this young miss, with her full breasts, cinched-in waist and rounded hips.
He coughed and his gaze shot back to those disapproving green eyes. He should never have allowed himself to look at her that way. It was disrespectful to her and unsettling for him.
She glared back at him and for the first time since he had entered the kitchen, she had a right to disapprove of him. Although the pink flush on her cheeks, the parting of her full lips and the way she was now leaning towards him, suggested she didn’t entirely object to having him look at her in such an appreciative manner.
But he could not think of that now. Should not be thinking of that now, or ever.
Dominic swallowed down his confusion over his unexpected reaction to this irritating woman. All he should be thinking about was securing her services for his sister.
He breathed in deeply to steady his thoughts and bring his mind back to the task at hand. ‘I am sure you can spare a few minutes of your time, Miss Regan. That is if you’re not too busy.’
Too busy being rude to me.
‘Busy—’ her voice rose in indignation ‘—yes, I am busy, very busy. Unlike some people I have to work for a living. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ She lifted her head even higher in the air, brushed past him and, with her hips swaying, she walked out of the kitchen.
Dominic turned and watched her leave, too stunned to speak. Was she really walking away and refusing to speak to him? Unbelievable. Who did she think she was? Was she trying to be insulting? If she was, then she had certainly succeeded. He had never met such a rude, irritating woman of any class and certainly not one from the servant class.
He forced his hands to unclench, drew in a deep, strained breath and turned his attention from the door through which Nellie Regan had swept and back to the servants. They had all stopped what they were doing and were staring in his direction with matching looks of wide-eyed astonishment. Then they quickly adopted the requisite impassive look of all servants and busied themselves with non-existent kitchen work. It was obvious they had not missed a word of the exchange between himself and Miss Nellie Regan. And it was likely to be the topic of conversation below stairs for many weeks to come.
Dominic stormed out of the kitchen, muttering under his breath. This was an intolerable situation. He had been made a fool of by a woman who was little more than a servant and that was something he would not soon forget. But even worse than that, he still hadn’t fulfilled his promise to his sister. If he was to do so, he would be forced to see that vexatious woman again.
Chapter Three
Perhaps she had gone too far. It wouldn’t be the first time and Nellie suspected it wouldn’t be the last.
