Page 7 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

“It is just…that… I… heard something.”

“You heard something?”

She stopped. Took a breath and said, “I overheard something.”

“Max,” she said in a reprimanding tone. “It is rude to listen in to other people’s conversations, you know that.”

“But…I heard my name and then I heard your name. How could I walk away?”

Rose crossed her arms over her chest. “All right. What did you overhear?”

“That Aunt Marianne and Grandmama are going to ask you to be my governess. Isn’t that wonderful?” She did a twirl worthy of a ballerina.

Rose sat heavily in the chair. “Your governess?”

Clapping, Max hopped from foot to foot. “Then you can live here forever.”

“Dearest, I do not want you to get your hopes up. I have not agreed to anything of the sort.”

“You could be. You have already taught me more than my last three governesses. They were so boring. Why do I need to know Latin anyway?” Max tugged on her arm. “Please, please. I promise to study hard and never be naughty.” At Rose’s raised brow, she said, “Well, I will try to be good.”

“Max, I cannot promise you anything. I will have to talk to your aunt and the dowager first.”

Max looked crestfallen, but Rose wanted to know if this was true. Was this their plan? To make her pay her way by becoming Max’s governess? She came here as a guest, not to become a live-in servant. She was the daughter of an earl, not a penniless second cousin. She turned away from Max and headed for the door. She was happy to help with Max, but to be her governess full time? Absolutely not!

“I did something wrong, didn’t I?” Max cried.

Turning back to face her, she knelt in front of the child. “Yes, you should not eavesdrop, but you were right to tell me. Now go upstairs and change for dinner.”

Max did as she was told, but her fist was in her mouth as she fled the room.

Rose stepped into the parlor, where she was met with smiles. She accepted a cup of tea. Black with no milk, as it made her stomach hurt. She sat and waited to see if they would bring up the topic themselves. After half an hour with no mention of a governess for Max, she had to bring it up herself. She could wait no longer.

“When do you plan to fill the position of governess for Maxine?”

The dowager looked at Marianne before turning back to Rose. “We were only talking about this topic this very afternoon.”

“And what did you decide?” Rose asked.

Marianne put down her cup. “Well…the person would have to be someone who could deal with Max’s impulsive ways. Someone who she trusts.”

Rose’s disappointment made her look down at her teacup.

“We would take her to London if we could but…” the dowager frowned. “Edward would not allow it.”

Which is what Marianne had told her when she first arrived here. “What will you do then?”

“We hoped you would agree to be her governess, but only if you would like to be.”

And there it was. The truth. At least Max was not a liar. She could sit no longer. “Is that why you asked me here?” She headed for the fireplace.

“No!” Marianne cried. “What do you mean?”

“It just seems strange that you would invite me here and then place Max in my way. Knowing I would come to love her.”

“My dear. You have us all wrong. We do not know your financial situation and thought if you needed a position, we would be happy to have you.”

“As a servant?”