A Scandalous Charade (30 page)

She refused to melt against him. That always got her in trouble. She stiffened in his embrace. “Scoundrel!” she muttered against his chest.

“I’m so sorry about Georgie. I didn’t mean to hurt you, princess.”

Juliet’s resolve began to weaken, which wouldn’t be good at all, so she pushed away from him and took two backward steps, raising herself even higher on the stairs. “Good night, Mr. Beckford.”

“Juliet,” he whispered. “don’t run away from me. Let me help you.”

She simply shook her head at that. “I’ve already told you, I don’t need your help. Good evening.” Then she flew up the stairs and down the corridor until she reached her room, leaning against the door. She prayed she would be able to withstand all the temptations that Luke Beckford offered.

~ 23 ~

First thing in the morning, Juliet knocked on the door to Lord Masten’s study.

“Come.” The earl’s deep voiced beckoned her inside.

She took a steadying breath and entered. Lord Masten was an intimidating figure, to be sure. She’d seen him bark at most of his staff and he seemed fairly stiff. Rigid and humorless flitted about in her mind. He nodded curtly when he saw her and waived her into a seat. “Lady Staveley has great confidence in your abilities and I trust my sister implicitly. But tell me, Miss Mitford, what are your plans for the children?”

Juliet sat forward in her seat and met the earl’s dark brown eyes. “Well.” She cleared her throat. It was unusual for anyone to make her ill at ease, but this man seemed strong beyond belief and he was daunting. “Lord Masten, I believe the children should be taught a variety of subjects.  However, I believe that I must first reteach them how to speak.”

“How to speak?” He narrowed his eyes on her, and leaned back in his seat.

“Indeed. You are very gracious to have opened your doors to these children—”

“I’m not interested in your opinion on my philanthropic pursuits, Miss Mitford. I want to know how you plan to educate these children. I would like for Peter to attend Eton when he is able.”

Eton! Good heavens! The child would be laughed out of the gates. Juliet frowned at him. “My lord, I cannot express to you how bad an idea that is at the moment. While it is my belief that both Peter and Penny are intelligent children, their manner of speech will hold them back. As I explained to Lady Staveley, they could easily be the next Aristotle or da Vinci, but no one will pay their words any attention if they sound like urchins from Covent Garden.”

The earl began to chuckle and Juliet stared at him in confusion. “Good show, Miss Mitford. Good show. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear an honest opinion from someone on my staff. Most people simply tell me what they think I want to hear. I like your spirit. Teach them as you see fit.”

Juliet managed to keep her mouth from falling open. “Thank you, my lord.”

“But don’t disappoint me.”

***

Juliet had barred him from the schoolroom, but she couldn’t stay in there all day. So, Luke devised a plan. He made his way down to the kitchen and smiled when he saw Cook. She was a rotund woman, now in her fifties with a head of grey hair and a mole on her chin. She was generally temperamental and hated people being in her space, but she’d adored Luke since he was a child.

He leaned against the door frame and folded his arms across his chest. “Well, if it isn’t the prettiest lady in all of Dorset.”

Cook spun around and smiled, despite herself. “Master Lucas! I heard ye were here. How come ye took so long comin’ to see me?” She wiped her hands on her apron then opened her arms to hug him.

Luke stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her, and dropped a kiss on her fleshy cheek. “How are you, old girl?”

She released him and frowned. “Tired.” Cook stretched her fingers. “I’m not as young as I used to be, and I’m feelin’ it all the way in me bones.”

Luke winked at her. “My brother will have apoplexy if you ask to be pensioned off.  No one in Dorset can match your genius in the kitchen.”

A blush settled on her old cheeks, then she shook her head.  “Lord Masten could have an apoplexy about any number o’ things. He’s always bellowin’ about somethin’.”

He laughed at that. “True. But speaking of your genius abilities in the kitchen…”

She narrowed her eyes on him, and punched her fists to her hips. “Ye're not here flatterin’ me for nuthin’, are ye? What is it ye want, ye old rogue?”

With a wink and a smile, Luke nodded his head. It was always best to come clean with Cook. He’d learned that as a child. “Well, I was hoping I could convince you to make me up a picnic luncheon.”

“For the pretty little governess?”

Luke nearly choked. He’d forgotten how quickly things spread around the servants’ quarters. His lips quirked up. “What do you know about the pretty little governess?”

“Well,” Cook began and turned back to her long wooden table and began chopping carrots, with what looked like a meat cleaver. “Kistler says she’s mighty full o’ herself--”

Well, that was certainly Juliet. But… “Kistler?” Luke asked in disbelief. No one was more full of themselves than the valet, and that included Robert at his worst.

Cook nodded. “Aye. And he says that you couldn’t keep yer eyes off o’ her when they all arrived yesterday. Dunsley says that you shut yerself up in her room wi’ her not long after. And then—” she turned and assessed him with her grey-green eyes— “his lordship invited her to dine with all o’ ye. That, Master Lucas, is not like the earl. Not even lately. So everyone’s certain it was yer suggestion.”

He shrugged, walked lazily to the side of the room where a tray of biscuits were cooling on a rack. Cook’s biscuits really were the best. Even in London nothing tasted quite so good. They always melted right in one’s mouth.

“Don’t ye even think about it,” she warned. Then she pointed her intimidating knife at him and motioned for him to step away from her biscuits.  When he complied with a raised brow, she chuckled to herself. “I’ll put some in yer basket.”

***

A few hours later, Luke paced the corridor with his picnic basked in hand, waiting until Juliet and the children took a break for lunch. There must be something he could do to break down the wall she’d built around herself.  He was, of course, relieved that she was safe and that he’d found her, but he wanted more than that. He wanted all of her, all the time.  He wanted her to trust him, and he wanted to know what she was hiding from. He wanted to protect her. He wanted her love.

Finally, the door opened and he found himself staring like a fool into her big, brown eyes. God, how he loved this woman. But her mouth was drawn up tight and she shook her head. “Mr. Beckford, what are you doing?”

He ignored her. She would just refuse him, and he couldn’t let that happen. Instead, he sank to his haunches and looked the two orphans in the eyes, slightly swinging his picnic basket in front of them. “Can I interest anyone in a delightful luncheon of pheasant and berry tarts?”

Penny bounced on her toes while Peter looked covetously at the basket. Finally the boy glanced up at Juliet. “Can we, Miss Mitford?”

Juliet removed the child and the basket from Luke’s grasp and cocked her head to one side. “How kind of you to think of us, sir. We’ll let you know how the tarts are.” Then she started to usher the children down the corridor, with the apparent intent to leave him behind.

Luke hopped to his feet and chased after them, easily catching Juliet’s waist in his hands. He pulled her back against his chest, and whispered in her ear. “You can have all the tarts you want, princess. You’re my favorite dessert.” Then before she could respond without the children hearing her, he snatched the basket back from her hands and darted in front of the others, leading the way. “What’s it to be, Master Peter? The north lawn, the seashore, or the keep?”

“Th’ seashore?” the boy asked with surprise in his voice.

“Indeed,” Luke responded. “I’ll show you the path Masten and I used when we were your age. It is a wonderful place to hide from one’s governess—not that you should do so.”

***

Juliet scowled at Luke’s back the whole way out of the castle and then along an overgrown path that finally dumped them out onto a rocky shoreline. Honestly, what was he after? The man was so infuriating, and it was quite frustrating that Peter and Penny had taken to him so quickly. Both of them chatted away and giggled at every charming, little witticism that left Luke’s mouth.  

They finally settled on some large, flat rocks that overlooked the sea. Even with a cloudless, grey sky, it was an imposing sight. Luke had spread a blanket out across the rock and had opened the basket before dropping down next to Juliet, trapping her hand in his. “Peter, why don’t you serve your sister and then help yourself?”

When the boy complied with his wishes, Luke focused his green eyes on Juliet. “There, now, isn’t this nicer than the schoolroom?”

She frowned in response, and snatched her hand back from his. “Manipulating young children with food? Is there any level you won’t sink to?”

He grinned at that, and leaned in close. So close she could smell his shaving lotion again. Her heart flipped in her chest. “Princess, there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”

The children seemed to be focusing an inordinate amount of attention on them, so Juliet smiled tightly at the young pair. “How is the pheasant?”

The boy nodded, then turned his attention to Luke. “’re ye friends with Miss Mitford, Mr. Beckford?”

Luke grinned at the boy. “Call me Uncle Luke. And yes, Miss Mitford and I are old friends. You’re very fortunate to be placed in her hands. I’m awfully jealous of you.”

“Uncle Luke?” Penny asked with a giggle. “But ye’re not our’ uncle.”

Luke shrugged. “I might as well be, since Lord Masten has taken you to rear.  Besides all people your age call me that. I understand you were great friends with Adam, Rachel, and Emma Benton. All three of them call me Uncle Luke.”

“That’s because you are their uncle,” Juliet mumbled to herself, but Luke heard her and he winked in response.

“They’re the only other children I know… Except for the Duke of Prestwick.”

Juliet was going to beat him senseless, but before she could come up with an appropriate jab, Penny giggled again. “Dukes cain’t be children.”

Luke grinned at the girl and shook his head. “Well, of course a duke can be a child. There’s not many dukes to begin with, but I assure you the Duke of Prestwick is a just a boy. Miss Mitford, how old would you say His Grace of Prestwick is? Ten? Eleven?”

“Nine,” Juliet answered between clenched teeth.

“There you are. Nine,” Luke repeated. “And a very spirited nine at that. I must say, he’s one of my most favorite children. Of course, I’m partial to the boy, as I am desperately in love with his sister.”

Juliet’s heart stopped beating. She was certain of it. Luke in love with her? She didn’t believe it. Not that it mattered now. Even if it was true, it was too late. Too much had happened.

“’is sister?” Penny asked and scooted closer to Luke, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Is she pretty, like a fairy princess?”

Luke beamed at the girl. “Exactly like a fairy princess. In fact, Miss Penny, that’s what I’ve always called her.”

Juliet couldn’t sit and listen to this. She stood up and brushed out her skirts. “Mr. Beckford, when you’ve all finished your luncheon, please return the children to the schoolroom.”

Then she turned on her heel and started back up the path to the castle. “Juliet!” Luke called after her, disappointment laced in his voice. But she kept going, refusing to look back at him. It wouldn’t take much time in his company for her to completely lose herself to him again, and she couldn’t allow that.

She made her way back into the schoolroom and slumped down in a chair by one of the windows. Lady Masten had said Luke was only staying a few days. Juliet prayed she could last until he left.

“You’d best watch out for Mr. Beckford,” came a voice from the other side of the room. Juliet spun her head to find Kistler leaning against one of the book cases, with an elitist frown on his slender face.

She was quite capable of taking care of herself, and she was getting fairly tired of everyone she met warning her about Luke. She knew exactly who he was, and didn’t need anyone’s help, thank you, very much. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied frostily. “In the meantime, Kistler, pray excuse yourself from my schoolroom.”

The valet’s eyes grew wide at that, but he nodded his head curtly and let himself out.

***

Juliet cringed as she entered Gosling Park’s drawing room. She had chosen a blue dress that was so dark it was almost black. It was still serviceable, but was by far the nicest dress she had brought with her to Dorset. She quietly made her way to one corner of the spacious room and hoped to blend into the woodwork. Why had Lady Masten insisted on her attendance at this dinner?

Including the earl and countess, there were five couples in attendance. Sir Phillip Cressley, the aging magistrate and his middle-aged wife stood on opposite ends of the room, ignoring each other. Lady Cressley, who wore a flamboyant orange and purple gown flirted shamelessly with both Luke and a dour looking Lord Edgecroft, who was apparently the Mastens’ closest neighbor. Meanwhile, the spindly and angular Lady Edgecroft chatted amiably with Lord and Lady Masten and Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan, a pleasant couple from Lulworth. And in the far corner of the room, Mr. and Mrs. Lovelace, the vicar and his wife quietly watched the goings on.