Her Reluctant Groom by Rose Gordon Read Free Book Online Page B

still here.”
    “ I don't give a hang that you were discussing personal bathing in my presence,” he said. “I just wanted to offer a solution.”
    She raised her eyebrows at him. What solution could he possibly offer? He wasn't a woman. He didn't have long hair to wash or a gown to get into. When he still hadn't shared his ill-suited solution, she asked, “Yes?”
    “ Stay here. If you stay here, you'll have an extra hour.”
    Her eyes couldn't decide whether to blink at him or go wide and bulge out. In the end, they did a bit of both. “I can't stay here,” she burst out. “That is most improper. Everyone will think I'm a...a...strumpet.”
    “ Who exactly is everyone?” Marcus placed a throw pillow behind his head.
    Her mind raced and she couldn't think. “Umm...Caroline. I'm supposed to be staying with her. She'll know I'm staying here. And don't forget Alex.” Her eyes grew larger. “All their guests will know, too.” She shook her head wildly. “I cannot have it so widely known that I've even been here so long without a proper chaperone as it is.” Panic filled her as she started thinking of all the guests at Caroline's party who had likely already arrived and might already be speculating on what she was doing. “I need to go. I'll be back in the morning before Drake drops his daughters off, I promise.” She snatched up her reticule and started for the door.
    “ Emma!” Marcus grunted as he pushed to a standing position and hobbled across the room. “Stop running,” he ground out as she flew down the hall. He was following her as fast as his leg would allow, which was surprisingly quick considering how pronounced his limp was.
    “ No, I really must be going,” she said over her shoulder, not slowing her pace.
    “ Emmaline Green, stop.” Marcus reached for her wrist. “You're not going anywhere. I doubt Caroline or Alex are going to care you've been gone so long. As for you continuing your stay at Ridge Water, I'll send them a discreet note letting them know you'll be acting as a temporary governess for Patrick's daughters. Don't worry, I'll conveniently leave off where you'll be staying, and naturally they'll assume you've gone to stay at Briar Creek. Will that suffice?”
    She swallowed. “But what of all their guests?”
    “ Emma, since when have you ever cared what others thought of you?”
    Inclining her chin, she said, “Since I accepted the post as governess to Drake's daughters. It might hurt my employment if everyone thinks I'm a fallen woman.” That was a lie. She'd started to care what others thought about her a split-second after Gregory had accused her of having inappropriate relations with Marcus, not that she'd ever tell Marcus that.
    Marcus nodded. “I understand that. But nobody is going to know, I promise. I’ll send a discreet note to Watson Estate.” His voice softened to a near whisper. “Surely you know Caroline and Alex are not going to tell their guests where you're staying or what you're doing. Caroline cares too much about you to do that.”
    “ I know that,” she admitted. Caroline would never do anything to intentionally shame or embarrass anybody.
    “ Then who are you afraid of finding out? Her guests? By my guess, they’re all Alex’s cousins, which means you have nothing to worry about. That bunch is as scandalous as they come. And it’s not as if any of them are planning a trip here, so they’ll never know.”
    “ I know that, too,” she said, shifting her gaze. “But Drake will know I stayed here, and he’ll terminate my employment on the spot when he realizes I stayed the night alone with you.”
    “ No, he won’t,” Marcus said flippantly. “When he gets here tomorrow, he’s going to be so relieved to get those girls off his hands; he’s not going to want to sit around for tea and chitchat. He’s going to leave, and the last thing on his mind will be where you spent the night.”
    She stared at him. Actually, staying here might be a