His heart began to race as he sprang into action, reaching for a pitchfork before setting off after whoever had shown their face. The evening air stung his lungs as he sprinted, catching sight of a hooded figure at the line of trees bordering the estate.
The past was busy repeating itself in his mind, and he wasn’t about to let things develop in that way again.
Gaining on the hooded figure, he gripped the trespasser’s arm and whipped them around.
“My Lord!” the governess yelled in surprise. Her hazel eyes were wide with shock as she stared up at him in panic, his pitchfork poised above his head to strike.
“What the devil are you doing out here at this hour?” Benedict growled in anger and pulled her up, allowing her head to fall back and reveal her bright golden hair.
Livinia struggled to regain control of her breathing as her chest rose and fell in quick succession. She pulled her arm out of his grip and took a step back as if she were frightened. “Thomas said you would be in the stables, My Lord,” she managed to say in ragged breaths. Her eyes moved from the pitchfork in his hands to his face.
Suspicion instantly entered his mind like a piercing thorn. “Why then were you running away from me like a thief if you wished to see me?” He narrowed his eyes at her and set his jaw, his fingers tightening around the pitchfork handle.
Livinia lifted her chin in the air and glared at him. “I was not running from you, My Lord, nor am I a thief. I was rounding a corner when I spotted a baby fox huddled beside the pile of buckets.” She seemed offended by his insinuation.
“And you decided to give chase once the creature set off?” He lifted an eyebrow, his mind racing with further questions. This was exactly why he never allowed anyone onto his estate. You never knew whom you could trust. First, it was a fox on the run, then the next thing he knew, things had escalated beyond his control.
“I do not know what you are insinuating, My Lord, but I am not a thief, nor am I a simpleton. I leaned down to check on the fox, thinking it was hurt, but when I leaned down, the creature ripped the ribbon from my hair and ran,” she said, stating her case firmly and removing her half-loose braid from her cloak. The wind blew a few strands over her face, brushing her kissable lips as she breathed heavily.
Then, Benedict noted the fine rips on her cloak and the paw print on her chest. Her appearance certainly gave substance to her story. “Have you never heard the saying as sly as a fox, Miss Campbell?” The tension in his shoulders eased a little. She may not have fully earned his trust, but she hadn’t lied about the fox.
“I have, My Lord, being a governess, I am well versed in the English language. I just hadn’t thought that the saying was derived directly from the animal.” A light blush spread over her cheeks, accentuating the paleness of her skin.
“I hope this encounter has taught you a valuable lesson. Some of us have better things to do with our time.” He pushed back the smile that threatened to curl his lips and abruptly returned to the stables. The past had taught him that spending time with beautiful women only led to bad things. Livinia Campbell may have been a governess, but her station in life didn’t detract from her beauty.
“My Lord! If you would wait just a second!” Livinia called out to him as he made his way back to the stables. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go back inside, Miss Campbell. Your duties involve educating my sister. I suggest you occupy yourself with that.” He picked up the pace in an attempt to shake her off.
“My Lord, I have a question for you that involves educating your sister. So, if you would kindly give me a minute of your time!” Her voice drew nearer as she did her best to catch up with him.
Rolling his eyes, Benedict stopped and snapped at her, turning in his tracks to face her. “What is it?”
Livinia’s face crashed into his chest, her nose bending slightly upon impact. Moving quicker than lightning, Benedict reached out and gripped her waist, keeping her from falling. Her breathing deepened once again as she sucked in a breath of fright, looking up into his eyes as he brought her up straight with his arms still securely placed around her waist.
His own chest rose and fell with every breath as his eyes slipped from her lips to her slender throat and dipped to the cleavage peaking from the top of her dress. It had been a long time since he’d held a woman. The governess was slender with curves that accentuated all of her womanly attributes in a dangerously alluring manner. The visceral response that coursed through his body snapped him back to his senses.
“Are you always this clumsy, Miss Campbell?” He growled at her in a deep voice and let go of her waist.
Livinia took a moment to compose herself. It may have been his imagination, but the close encounter seemed to have affected her as much as it had affected him. Her bosoms rose and fell beneath the fabric of her dress, beckoning his gaze with a siren’s call.
“I am not often in the habit of colliding with my employers, but then again, my employers aren’t in the habit of ignoring me,” she shot back at him in annoyance before fixing her dress and cloak.
The anger the woman aroused in him rivalled the attraction he felt in his breeches. “What is it that you want, Miss Campbell?” He decided to put an end to the discussion before his anger got the better of him. Years of living in isolation had shortened his fuse to dangerous lengths.
“I wanted to ask if a fire could be lit in the study during the day, at least while I am to teach Lady Theodore. We are having to freeze during our lessons,” she stated cooly and glared at him. Their little encounter had left her visibly shaken, yet she stood her ground with fierce determination.
“Winter has not yet come; the fires are not to be lit in any of the rooms.” He couldn’t help feeling impressed by her determination despite the annoyance she was presenting.
“Forgive me, My Lord, but while I concede that winter is not yet here, Autumn is in full swing, and the study is presenting a challenge to your sister’s education with the draughts.” Livinia cocked her head to the side as if she were imploring him to see reason.
The fiery look she was giving him made his blood boil with irritation. It had been a while since anyone had challenged his rules regarding the house.
“Surely, my sister is not so feeble that a shawl will not chase off the cold until winter is here.” He clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching irritably at his side.
“Am I to understand that your sister’s education and comfort is not as important to you as one of your rules, My Lord?” She seemed taken aback by his response, and her eyes narrowed as she waited for his answer.
“Have you always spoken back to your employers in this manner, or is this a special skill you have required in the recent past?” He raised his voice slightly, hoping the governess would leave the matter be.
“No, My Lord, I did not speak to my employers in this manner, but they did not have rules that went beyond basic understanding.” Her words dripped with sarcasm as she raised her voice to match his.
“How dare you question me when all I asked of you was not to interfere with the running of the house?!” He balled his fists at his side and took a step towards her.
“I dare question the illogical when reasonable requests are met with unreasonable responses!” Livinia took a step towards him, fire burning in her eyes as she stood on her toes with her face angled towards his.
The sudden change in their positions brought heat to his body that crept up the back of his neck. She was close enough for the scent of her lavender perfume to waft up his nostrils.
“I didn’t bring you here so that you may question my running of the house, Miss Campbell.” His voice was barely above a whisper as his eyes drifted to the fullness of her lips, slightly parted with rage.
Livinia seemed to consider his words for a moment, her breathing deepening with a flush of her cheeks. “Very well, My Lord, the fire in the study can remain unlit until winter, but I will do as I see fit when it comes to educating your sister.” Her eyes held a strange expression as she glanced at his mouth.
“That is all I ask of you, Miss Campbell.” His lips came closer with laboured breaths that forced him forward as if she had cast a spell over his body with her presence.
“Very well.” Livinia gave him a pointed look before unceremoniously turning away from him and stomping back towards the house.
Chapter 6
Livinia was practically fuming as she stormed back into the mansion. The man may be an earl, but he’d have another think coming if he just assumed she would lay back and put up with his unreasonable behaviour. Her place in the mansion was to educate his sister, and she would be doing that in comfort. Come hell or high water.
