LITMIR.BIZ

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the kiss occupied almost all of her mind, as well.

      She now understood why his attentions as a lover were in such great demand. All reason had deserted her when his lips touched hers. Only feeling had remained. Heat and scent and strength and taste.

      He’d tasted like . . . she couldn’t name it, precisely. What was the taste of a deep, masculine growl? Part brandy, part sin . . . and wholly intoxicating. Just the memory sent a languid drunkenness seeping through her limbs.

      She gave her thoughts a shake.

      She had to stop thinking of it and put the encounter behind her. Ever since last autumn, she’d been wondering how kissing him would feel. Now she knew, and her curiosity was satisfied. For him, it amounted to nothing. A boring evening at home.

       This never happened.

      She must concentrate on her duties instead. This was a brief period of employment. She had a future to finance.

      “I’m hemming a handkerchief, Daisy. Would you like to join me?”

      Daisy looked at her older sister. Rosamund shrugged in silent, grudging permission, as though to say, If you must.

      “Now, then.” Alex beckoned the younger girl closer. “Why don’t you have a go?”

      Daisy obediently took the half-finished work from Alex’s hand. Her stitches were hesitant and clumsy, but Alex showered her with praise and encouragement when she reached the corner. “Well done, Daisy.”

      “No it’s not. It’s all crooked.”

      “But an excellent start. No one should expect perfection on the first attempt. All you need is a bit of practice. After the edges are done, I’ll teach you to embroider letters. We’ll begin with this one.” She traced a letter in marking chalk. “Which letter is that?”

      “D.”

      “And can you guess why I’m going to teach that one first?”

      The girl smiled shyly. “Because it’s for Daisy.”

      “Exactly so.” Alex was pleased. One letter of the alphabet learned, five-and-twenty to go. She would celebrate the smallest of victories. “And once you learn to embroider, you’ll be ready to take on all sorts of projects. Tablecloths, serviettes . . .”

      “Serviettes?” Rosamund groaned. “Why would we embroider little flowers and monograms on scraps of cloth meant to catch spittle and dribbled soup? It’s repulsive, if you think about it.”

      Alex had never considered it that way, but now that Rosamund mentioned it, it was a bit disgusting.

      “It’s not all embroidered serviettes,” she said. “There are countless practical applications for needlework. Every girl should learn to mend a garment.”

      “And why don’t boys learn to mend theirs?”

      “Some do learn. It was a man who taught me to sew.”

      Rosamund arched an eyebrow in skepticism. “Truly?”

      “Truly. I was raised on a ship. No ladies aboard.”

      “Tell us more,” Daisy urged. “And not about the sewing. Tell us something exciting.”

      “What is there to tell?” Rosamund said. “She didn’t meet with any mermaids.”

      Alex hesitated. Relating the story to Mr. Reynaud had been imprudent enough. She was supposed to be transforming these two girls into young ladies. Telling her charges about her own wild childhood would scarcely aid her goal.

      And if she failed, she wouldn’t be paid.

      That was it, then. No tales of the high seas.

      Mrs. Greeley came to her rescue. “Miss Mountbatten, you have callers. Two young ladies. They’re outside, on the pavement. I would have asked them to wait on you in the drawing room, if not for the . . .” Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “The animal.”

      Two young ladies and an animal? That could mean only one thing.

      “Thank you, Mrs. Greeley.” Alex rose to her feet. “Rosamund, if I go down to visit my friends for a half hour, may I trust that I’ll return to find you, your sister, and this room unscathed?”

      “Don’t worry. I’m still putting the final touches on our escape plan. We’re not going anywhere today.”

      “Good.” She added under her breath, “I think.”

      She hurried downstairs and out the front door to find her friends waiting in the center of the square. Nicola, Penny, and a nanny goat exploring the green on a collar and lead, like a lapdog out for a constitutional.

      Alex flung her arms around each of them in greeting. Penny gave the most marvelously tight hugs, and Nicola always smelled like burnt sugar. Alex’s heart wrenched. She hadn’t realized how deeply she’d been missing her friends.

      “It’s so good to see you both. Why have you come?”

      “Emma’s had her baby.” Nic held up an envelope. “The express arrived this morning.”

      “That, and Marigold needed a graze.” Penny scratched the nanny goat between her ears.

      Alex whisked the letter from Nicola’s hand, unfolding it to read for herself. It was so brief, scanning the contents took but a second. “Oh, it’s a boy,” she said. “How wonderful. I assume he’ll be called Richmond, as it’s the courtesy title. There’s no mention of his Christian name.”

      “It’s a terrible letter,” Nicola said. “Ashbury wrote it. Never trust a man to write about babies.”

      “No descriptions whatsoever.” Penny sighed. “How are we to know what he looks like? Which of his parents does he favor? What about his temperament?”

      “He’s probably pink, wrinkly, bald, and hungry, like all newborn babes. I doubt he’s had time to declare a political affiliation.” Alex folded the letter and gave it back to Nicola. “We’ll have to be patient. Emma will write when she’s well rested, and she’ll tell us every detail.”

      “Speaking of details,” Nicola said meaningfully, “I believe a certain governess owes us a few.”

      “Yes.” Penny released Marigold’s leash and took Alex by the arm, dragging her to the nearest bench. “Tell us everything.”

      They didn’t have to ask Alexandra twice. She unburdened herself of a fortnight’s thoughts. She told them all about Rosamund and Daisy. The daily doll funerals, the petty theft, and the five accomplishments she had been given ten weeks—now eight—to help them master.

      “The poor dears are hurting,” Penny said. “They need snuggles, not lessons.”

      “I know. But preparing them for school is the task I’ve been employed to complete. If I don’t succeed . . .” Alex propped her elbows on her knees and let her chin fall into her hands. “They’ve no interest in needlework. They’re immune to bribery. And how am I supposed to teach Daisy penmanship when she doesn’t even know her letters?”

      “I wish we could be of more help to you with the governessing,” Nicola said, “but traditional ladylike accomplishments aren’t our strong points, either.”

      “I know,” said Alex. “That’s why I treasure you.”

      They were friends precisely because they didn’t fit in with the finishing school set. They were different, and unashamed of it. The same could be said of Rosamund and Daisy. The world would try to tell them they weren’t good enough, and Alex hated participating in that effort.

      Penny lunged to catch the goat’s leash. “What of the Bookshop Rake? Has he confessed his love for you yet?”

      “No,” Alex replied. “No.”

      “That

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