A Lady's Point of View by Jacqueline Diamond Read Free Book Online Page B

said.
    Meg stifled a whoop of laughter.
A cat may look at a king, and a small boy may joke about the afflictions of his
distinguished relative. “You take my meaning. If you cannot treat an animal
well, you should release him to the out-of-doors.”
    Carefully she lowered the rodent
into Tom’s outstretched hands, and watched as he tucked the animal into a
wooden box punched with airholes. “I promise never to do it again, Miss
Linley.”
    Meg turned to see a triumphant
look in Vanessa’s eyes. “You must be a governess!” the little girl declared. “A
lady would have shrieked down the roof. You know all about children, don’t
you?”
    “Not everything,” said Meg
modestly, “but I’ve met a few in my time. And I was one myself once.”
    “That’s what Uncle Andrew always
says,” declared Tom. “Though I don’t think he was ever really a child. Not like
us.”
    The housekeeper returned,
appearing pleased at how well the three were getting on. The maid Jenny
followed her to take charge of the youngsters’ bedtime preparations, while a
pensive Meg departed with Mrs. Franklin.
    How could she leave these two
children, when she’d barely begun to know them? Clearly they needed guidance
and a feminine touch, someone who knew when to join in their games and when to
take a firm stand. Someone to help them over the difficult path to adulthood
that lay ahead.
    Yet it was unthinkable to
masquerade as a governess. What a terrible scandal would ensue if anyone should
find out. She dared not even picture Lord Bryn’s fury.
    But Meg might never have a
husband and children of her own. True, she hoped to have nieces and nephews,
but they would never be entrusted directly into her care. And she could not
help reflecting how much more pleasant it would be to remain at Brynwood for
the rest of the season. Letters could be dispatched to the Barkers and to
London, saying she had encountered an old school friend en route. Lady Mary
might think it peculiar, but no doubt she would accept the situation, for at
the home of a friend Meg would at least have the opportunity to meet eligible
gentlemen.
    Good heavens, Meg told herself,
could she really be contemplating staying on? She must have taken leave of her
senses! But she was already in disgrace. Didn’t she deserve a little holiday
from being proper for once?
    Her mind still in turmoil, she
went down to dinner.
    His lordship awaited her at the
foot of the stairs, offering his arm in gentlemanly fashion and leading her
into the long dining room. “So formal, in the country?” she inquired, glad that
at least he seated her beside him rather than at the far end of the massive oak
table.
    “I am accustomed to taking dinner in my study, but
in honour of your arrival, I thought it would be pleasant to hold a sort of
celebration.” The marquis surveyed a chilled bottle of Italian wine proffered
by Franklin. “Would you care for some?”
    “Yes, thank you,” said Meg,
although she hardly ever drank anything stronger than ratafia.
    She was starting on the soup of
creamed cucumbers and wondering how to broach the subject of her identity when
Lord Bryn himself took up the matter.
    “When I went upstairs just now to
say good-night to the urchins, I was told the most amazing tales.” His brown
eyes caught Meg’s blue ones over the wineglasses.
    “Indeed?” Her breath came
rapidly. The nearness of the man was daunting. Seated so close to him, she
could not help but be aware of the strong planes of his cheekbones, nor avoid
noticing the way his gaze kept returning to her face.
    “First of all, Thomas informs me
that you sprang to the mouse’s defence and chastised the children firmly for
risking its life and limbs. Not the sort of conduct one normally encounters in
a governess.” He awaited her reply with evident interest.
    “Children must learn to be kind
to creatures that are weaker than they,” she replied. “Furthermore, I once had
a pet mouse myself.”
    “And then,”