Page 28 of Love Lessons for a Lady

Of its own volition, Aston’s attention dropped to Chasity’s plump mouth. Her lips were full and pink. So tempting and sweet. So kissable.

What would she taste like?

Tea? Lemon? Honey?

Chasity?

“Next week, board members and benefactors, including Lady Balderbrook, are arriving to conduct the first quarterly inspection,” she said, absently tracing his lapel with a fingertip. “Per Mrs. Crenshaw’s request, I keep the school’s books, though she still makes entries too. I’ve found a number of…incongruities in the account ledgers.”

That brought Aston’s carnal musings up short.

“Incongruities?” Hands braced on her slender shoulders, he leaned back, searching her face.

She nodded. “Irregularities. Mislabeled entries. Wrong amounts. Double or triple entries. But she always has a reasonable excuse.”

“Do you think Mrs. Crenshaw is guilty of wrongdoing or simply sloppy bookkeeping?” He hesitated to say embezzling or stealing funds. Those were serious charges.

Chasity peered up at him, her clear gaze full of trust.

“I want to believe it’s the former. But I…” She blinked and dropped her focus to his neckcloth. “I am loath to say it aloud. But I’m not convinced anymore that it’s not the latter.”

Neither was Aston.

Glancing up again, she skewed her mouth sideways. “It’s become frequent and serious enough that I’ve considered notifying the board or the benefactors about my concerns.”

A strangled gasp had them both pivoting toward the doorway.

Fiend seize it.

Mrs. Ramsbottom stood on the threshold, one hand clutching her throat and the other bracing herself on the frame.

Behind her, Josie froze mid-step. She had also heard Chasity’s last words. Her attention careened from Aston to Chasity to Mrs. Ramsbottom and then to Aston again. Swallowing, she darted a wary glance behind her and then fled.

Chasity made an inarticulate noise of distress.

From Mrs. Ramsbottom’s thunderstruck expression, she’d heard more than she ought to have done. The question was, what precisely would she do with the information?

I do not mean to complain. I am grateful for my position and know how fortunate I am. But Mrs. Crenshaw has me performing most of her duties as well as my own. I have also come into some information regarding her honesty and integrity that greatly concerns me. These findings are such that I believe the benefactors and board ought to be made aware. She’s already threatened me with dismissal, and yet I must not let my personal fears guide me. I must stand on the godly principles I was raised upon and do what is right, even if the cost is most dear to me.

~ Journal entry by Miss Chasity Noble

Said journal is hidden beneath a loose board in the wardrobe

London, England

Grosvenor Square, Mayfair

Pelandale House

Half-past three in the afternoon

23 August 1818

“Whatever are you going to do if you get sacked?” Her features pleated with concern, Mercy Brockman laid her hand atop Chasity’s, which rested upon her knee, and gave a reassuring squeeze.

I honestly don’t know.

And Chasity didn’t.