Dorothy Eden by Lady of Mallow Read Free Book Online

can’t manage the child we’ll have to find someone who can.’
    ‘Annie has the impertinence to say that too much champagne has made the boy ill,’ Lady Malvina said indignantly. ‘As if the little he had could have hurt a fly.’
    Sarah, feeling the little body clinging to her as if instinct had driven him, interjected clearly and calmly,
    ‘If you have been giving a child of five champagne, I agree entirely with Annie. No wonder he’s ill.’
    ‘And what the devil do you think you’re doing?’
    ‘I’m comforting your son who seems to need it.’
    ‘Well, I’ll be damned! Who are you?’
    Sarah did not flinch from his regard. Now at last she was close to this man and could see the face that hitherto had been at the other side of a badly-lit courtroom. In selfishness and conceit it was all she had decided, and more. The haughty black brows, the moody eyes, the thin cheeks scored with lines, showed signs of intolerance and an exceptionally strong will.
    But, holding his gaze, something stirred in Sarah, something jubilant and excited. For she recognised an adversary worthy of her. Here was a battle worth fighting. She could despise Amalie with her petulant temper and her fear of not having correct deference paid to her. But this man she could both admire and hate.
    She said calmly, ‘My name is Sarah Mildmay. I’ve just been asking your wife, Lord Mallow, if I could be given the position of governess to your son. Unfortunately, she said you didn’t intend engaging anyone at present. If I may express my own opinion, your son is at an age where he requires more instruction and guidance than a nursemaid, no matter how capable’—she flashed a placating; glance at the indignant Annie—‘can give.’
    Blane Mallow (as she must call him until she proved once and for all that that was not his name) stepped back a pace to regard her. His eyes were narrowed, their expression unreadable.
    ‘And why, may I ask, have you my son in your arms? Are you attempting to gain his affections?’
    ‘No, he ran to me.’
    ‘Yes, he did that,’ Lady Malvina admitted fairly. ‘For some reason he flew to this young woman.’
    ‘I’ve told you to behave more quietly with him, Mamma. He’s not a strong child. What do you think?’
    Sarah realised that the abrupt question had been directed to her. She felt the little boy’s arms tighten round her neck. His heart was beating against her breast like a bird’s.
    Unconsciously her voice softened.
    ‘Yes, he is too nervous. He needs gentleness. And time to become accustomed to such different surroundings, of course.’
    ‘Ha! You’ve been reading the case.’
    ‘Who hasn’t?’ said Sarah calmly. ‘Indeed that’s what brought me here. I’ve followed it with such interest. And when the newspaper reported that you would require a governess, I took the liberty of calling.’
    ‘But my wife would have none of you?’
    Lord Mallow’s mouth seemed to be twitching slightly. Sarah couldn’t decide whether it was in amusement or anger.
    ‘I was perhaps too impetuous?’
    ‘You have recommendations?’
    ‘Oh, yes indeed. From Lady Adelaide Fitzsimmons, to begin with, and—’
    Her guess that this forthright man would not want to bother with written references, but would make his own decisions as to character, was right. Those brilliant black eyes, without gentleness, but also without hostility, examined her frankly.
    ‘Mamma, Titus seems to like this young woman.’
    ‘Heaven knows why!’
    ‘A child has an instinct to feel protected. Perhaps that quality in Miss Mildmay—’
    Before the slightly ironic voice had finished there was a cry from the stairs.
    ‘Blane, what are you all doing down there? Is there something wrong with Titus?’
    Blane looked up the curving staircase. He stepped back to give a slight bow.
    ‘Titus, my love, is suffering from too much joie de vivre last night. But he seems to have shown some acumen in choosing for himself a