My lips curled into a smile. She was too easy to rile. And if riled, she might reveal any ulterior intentions for coming to Rosemont.
“I—you—I—”
Her stuttering should not have amused me, but I found I couldn’t look away. “You were saying?”
She flattened her lips into a stern line. “I was not staring at you. You were staring at me. And eavesdropping is a vile sin.”
Even if Miss Lewis was a delight to tease, I had no reason to want her angry with me. I changed tactics. “Perhaps I did intentionally observe you a time or two. It is not for any other reason than to appease my curiosity about the woman who has so much influence over my sister. Isn’t that a natural response?”
She studied me, her deep-brown eyes darting back and forth between my own. For not the first time, I wondered what she was thinking. I doubt it would be the same as anyone else in this room—or even close.
She set her teacup down on the saucer in her lap. “If you are curious, Lord Camden, why not be direct and ask me.”
What? No games? How refreshing . . . and different. Further proof that she was an innocent creature, and perhaps my suspicions were in vain. “Very well, why are you here?”
“At Lady Timbrell’s?”
“No, at Rosemont.”
The smallest widening of her eyes gave her away. I had been right. There was something more to her purpose for coming than to teach Augusta and earn a modest wage.
Her lips pressed together for a moment, and she searched the room as if to assure no one was listening to us. Miss Hardnett looked our way a few times, and Miss Lewis hesitated, pulling at her kid gloves. I eyed the embroidered flowers on the leather, wondering if they did not fit her right and why she always fussed with them. Clearly, this time, she was anxious.
Perhaps this was not the best time for a confession. I opened my mouth to say as much, but she responded first—her words quiet and almost to herself.
“Have you ever felt like a pillow was pressed to your face, making it hard to breathe?”
I had felt that way when my ribs had broken, so it was not hard to answer. “Yes, I have.”
Her brow lifted, surprised. “Then you understand.”
I did not understand at all how that was an answer to my question. Not even the slightest bit. But I felt as if she had confided in me a great secret, and I needed to figure out what it meant. I swallowed, my throat dry. “Did someone try to smother you, Miss Lewis?”
She gave me a soft smile—like one would to a child who was not smart enough to tie a knot or cut his food. “Not literally, of course.” She shook her head and brought her cup to her mouth again.
I was about to ask for further clarification when Miss Collette Lovelace brought Miss Lewis into their conversation. At the same time, Miss Hardnett stood to speak to me. What had Miss Lewis meant? My foot bounced against the blue carpet under my boots. Was this to be the end of our conversation?
I tried to bury my annoyance and be the perfect gentleman like my mother wished me to be, but it was not easy. In between snippets of conversation, my attention inevitably drew to the woman beside me. I was acutely aware of the movement of her hands and the cadence of her voice.
She was too fastidious—too prim and proper—for my taste. And yet, an image with bread hanging out of her mouth followed by her jumping from a boat into my arms came to mind. I was not any closer to learning her motivations, but my intrigue of her had heightened. And to my dismay, I was not completely certain if it was for the same reasons I had come to the tea party for. I would have to guard myself. I wasn’t ready to feel for another woman, nor had I earned the right to.
Chapter 17
Estelle
By the beginning of the third week at Rosemont, I had relaxed somewhat into my new role while Nora had made herself quite at home below stairs. Indeed, I was beginning to wonder if she preferred Rosemont to Norwood Hall, with the way she chattered about the servants and the comings and goings of the house. I wasn’t quite at ease yet, but each day I warmed to my new surroundings. My mornings began with tutoring Augusta, followed by tea with her mother, and free time with Augusta before dinner with the family. Augusta was a diamond in the rough. I was surprised I had not seen it straightaway. The two of us had become much more than companions already. With her sanguine temperament, she was easy to converse with and an attentive listener.
I still felt the need to impress everyone, which was one of the reasons I had left home to begin with. But teaching Augusta was a different sort of challenge—one I rallied to. I wrote the wordencyclopediaon a piece of paper and moved to the back of the library where we preferred to study. I backed up against the dark walnut shelves teaming with books. “Can you see this?”
Lord Camden strolled in through the library doors before Augusta could answer me. He tipped his head in acknowledgement and proceeded to comb the shelves for a book.
I repeated the question. “Can you see this?”
Augusta nodded, making a few blonde curls that fell long on her neck bounce. “Of course, I can.”
“Excellent. What does it say?”
I tried not to notice Lord Camden sneaking glances my way and focused on my pupil. Augusta bit her lip and stared hard.
