Dare to Kiss by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online

would bring. She was to dine with him, though, which a housekeeper would never do.
    The servants would note it. Would they approve or become hostile again?
    She saw another danger.
    If she dined with him, they'd converse. He would want to know more about her, which meant she'd have to lie again, and even embroider her lies.
    She felt like a rope walker who had a perfectly sound bridge to one side -- the honest aspiration to become his housekeeper. Any sensible person would take the bridge, but she wasn't sure she could resist the perilous rope.
    ***
    The dinner went well, and Lily didn't have to lie too much because she encouraged Sir Benjamin to talk about his interests. His principal one, it seemed, was botany. As she'd tended a small garden in Bloomsbury, she could sometimes contribute, but mostly she listened.
    Listened, while looking at him in a warm, admiring way. That wasn't hard, for he was a warm, admirable man, and he was less boring than many about his pet subject.
    At one point she said, "You should give lectures on the subject, sir. You make it so clear and interesting."
    Then she winced at how thoughtless that was.
    He merely said, "You're very kind, ma'am. I have written some pieces for magazines."
    "Perhaps you should write some books for children. You do have a way of making plants fascinating."
    He smiled. "An idea. I could try my efforts on your children."
    "They'd enjoy that, and learn as well."
    And perhaps you'd grow so fond of them you'd want them as your own.
    Sitting here, eating excellent food she hadn't cooked, sipping wine and enjoying conversation without needing to watch the children, was sheer heaven.
    It wouldn't be appropriate for her to do this if she became his housekeeper.
    Marriage. Caution be damned, it had to be marriage.
    She made some play of drinking her wine and licking a drop from her lips. She saw him squirm. Quite possibly he had an erection. She might have done more if the footman, John, hadn't hovered even when he wasn't serving.
    She reminded herself that there was no hurry. Sir Benjamin hadn't mentioned making enquiries about employment or charities, so he was in no hurry to get rid of them. In fact, if they were to marry, it would look better if it came about slowly, and they had behaved with complete propriety in the meantime.
    Lily was feeling settled and even hopeful, until, as they rose, he said, "Tomorrow is Sunday, ma'am. I assume you and the children will want to go to church?"
    "Church!" She covered her dismay by saying, "I'd lost track of the days. Of course."
    But Lord save her, what would the congregation make of her and her family?
    And, worse by far, might anyone from this area recognize her?

Chapter Four
    "I usually walk to the village," he said. "Will that be too hard for the children?"
    "Not unless it rains." She could only hope that no Town grandees dwelt in this area, or if they did, none chose to come to the Brooks Magna church. She needed to escape and think about this new problem.
    "Now, if you permit, sir, I must inspect the schoolroom."
    He insisted on taking her there, reminiscing about his younger days. The schoolroom was plain but adequate, and nicely warmed by a fire. She was pleased to see a wire screen firmly fixed in front of the fire to prevent children getting too close.
    The room was dominated by a deal table and six plain chairs for lessons and meals. There was a raised chair that would suit Anna. Probably Sir Benjamin had been the last child to use it. It seemed particularly sad that a sweet young child had been disfigured.
    A narrow side table still held a globe, but a bookcase was empty and there were no toys.
    The room hadn't been left completely untouched for decades, but a thin layer of dust showed neglect. Time for it to come back to life, and to illustrate to Sir Benjamin what his whole house could be with her as mistress.
    When they parted, Lily went to the kitchen and asked for cleaning equipment. She firmly refused offers of help