AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her eyes widened briefly. “Oh yes, silly me. I forgot. But of course your duties take up too much of your time. Roman is so studious about running the estate.”
Clementine shook her head. “I cannot imagine going a single day without reading.”
Straightening his posture, he ignored the jab. It was one he had heard in many forms over the years. Why would any well brought up man not read? Are you stupid? Too arrogant to believe you can learn anything new? Too lazy to even try?
Well, he’d done everything he could as a child to get better at reading. All it took was practice, surely? But it was a slow, painful experience that usually left him with a headache.
Aunt Mary cleared her throat. “Anyway, we should be discussing this investigation. That is why are you here, Sarah, after all.”
Roman tensed his jaw. He was not certain how he felt about yet another person knowing of this situation.
“With so many intruders,” Mrs. Knighton said, “I fear for your safety.”
“I have hired men watching the house as of tonight,” Roman said through a clenched jaw. He might not have believed his aunt at first but that did not mean he didn’t care for her safety, and he rather did not appreciate the implication.
Mrs. Knighton reached over and patted the back of his hand. “No doubt you are doing everything you can.”
Dear God, was he some beast to be appeased? He took a long inhale and forced himself to relax. Unfortunately, in doing so, the gap between him and Clementine closed marginally. Not by enough to touch but enough so that he swore he felt warmth emanating from her body.
He had to be imagining that, surely? Most likely it was the heat from the afternoon sun flittering in through the tall windows.
Yes. Most likely that. He needed to cease believing Clementine had any effect on him at all. It had simply been too long since he’d been with a woman and soon enough he would be courting Miss Fisher and then be engaged and wed, and any inappropriate thoughts of Clementine would be long behind him.
A maid bringing in tea and biscuits brought a welcome distraction, at least until he and Clementine reached for the same biscuit, and she blushed when he withdrew his hand.
“After you.” He felt both aunts watching their exchange carefully.
“Roman is most conscientious.” Aunt Mary took a sip of tea. “I could not ask for a more caring nephew.” She smiled and lifted her chin. “He is so dutiful and always makes the right decisions.”
Damn the woman. He did not know where this was going but for some reason, she was trying to keep him on her side. He was always on his aunt’s side, for goodness sakes, and she knew that well enough. Why did she insist on trying to keep him sweet? What had she done – or worse, what was she plotting?
Mrs. Knighton peered over the edge of her cup at her niece. “Clementine is a good girl too.”
Clementine snorted, nearly spilling her tea.
“You are! You leapt into action to help Mary here without question, and you have the most giving heart, I know.”
More color swept into Clementine’s cheeks and Roman conceded her aunt was right on those matters at least. She had stood up for his aunt and believed her even when he would not. It did not make her a good girl in his eyes, however. She hardly abided by the normal rules of society and their encounter in the bedroom was proof of that.
“And as you are such a good girl,” Mrs. Knighton continued, “I was thinking that perhaps you should stay with Mary. As her companion.” She eyed Clementine closely.
A fine job, as if she’d have looked at him, Mrs. Knighton would have seen his knuckles blanch as he gripped his saucer tight. What games was this aunt of hers playing? He looked to Aunt Mary, jaw tight, eyes pleading. His aunt merely smiled serenely.
“Sarah suggested the idea before we sat down, and I do think it a fine idea. I would so love a companion and it would help with the investigation, would it not?”
No, no, no, no, no. He looked to Clementine and willed her to say the word.No. Absolutely not. I will not stay here and most likely end up spending more time with your nephew. It was absurd to believe she would even agree.
“Um, well...” Clementine’s throat bobbed.
“It would mean so much to me.” Aunt Mary could not look any more fragile and sweet if she tried. Hell, even he wanted to bundle her up and do whatever she wanted, even go as far as taking her and her blasted pack of dogs into his house right now, sneezing be damned, and he knew full well this was some sort of manipulation. But to what end?
“I suppose my mother would not mind.”
Roman scarcely held back a groan. So much for his week deadline.
Chapter Thirteen
If the government could bottle the power of two determined aunts, Clem swore they would have ended the war with France years ago. She laced her fingers over her stomach and stared up at the strange wooden canopy. When she set her mind to something, no one could persuade her to do otherwise. Everyone knew her to be about the most stubborn of the Musgrave sisters. So how was it she had ended up becoming companion to Mary and sleeping in a strange bed?
