Page 9 of A Second Chance for Love

“Why is that, Miss Parker? What happened to you? Why are you no longer a governess?”

“Because I have no references,” she said, maddened by shame into answering him. “And no one would employ a woman my age without them. There,” she spat the word at him. “Are you satisfied now?”

“Why don’t you have any references?”

Oona suppressed a growl of frustration. “Because I am a governess who aimed too high, Mister Taylor.”

His hooded eyes opened wider, his expression one of disbelief. Why was that somehow more insulting than him believing that she was a light-skirt? Oona refused to look away from him even though her face and head were so hot they felt close to exploding. What an insulting, obnoxious, irritating—

“I have a position available.”

She gave a rude snort of disbelief. “You have a job for me?”

His lips curved into that wicked smile that made her entire body throb. “Yes.”

“Why would you help me find a new position? We knew each other for a short time a long time ago,” Oona narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m stunned you even recognized me as you always seemed far too busy with all your—” She stopped, mortified by what she’d been about to say.

He cocked his head. “I’m so flattered you noticed my activities. Don’t stop now—I was busy with all my . . . ?”

Oona’s head became so hot it was a wonder she didn’t burst into flames and set the carriage on fire.

Well, the damage was already done; she might as well finish the job. “You can mock,” she said. “But you know what I mean. None of the servants at the viscount’s house ever liked me and you were most certainly their ringleader.” His eyebrows rose and Oona stopped. What was wrong with her? He’d saved her from going to gaol. Why was she being so combative?

“I apologize for my outburst.” Oona forced the words through gritted teeth. “I should be thanking you, not accusing you.”

He chuckled and the sound slithered around her body like a snake. “Don’t thank me yet. You don’t know what the position is.”

“I’m s-sorry?”

“You heard me.”

Oona stared at him and he stared back. She opened her mouth to ask, but couldn’t seem to manage the words. His relaxed posture told her that he was contented to watch her in silence; the only way he’d give her any further information was if she scraped up the courage to ask.

So she swallowed convulsively and then said, “W-what kind of position?”

The right side of his mouth pulled up slowly. “The position of mistress—my mistress.”

Four

The expression of shock and horror and disbelief on her face was amusing, even if it wasn’t very flattering toward Juss. Of course her body language said something else entirely. He’d seen the same reaction in women times beyond counting. Not women of his class, but women of hers. Gentlewomen who were both attracted and repelled by his physicality; women who saw him as a ‘bit of rough,’ a prospect they found physically—if not mentally—arousing.

Justin let her squirm just a moment longer before saying, “Don’t worry, Miss Parker, I don’t mean you’d really need to become my mistress, I just need you to assume the title for a week.”

Juss wondered if it was possible for a human jaw to come unhinged and had just begun to think she’d never speak to him again—about anything—when she said, “How much?”

“I beg your pardon?” he asked, even though he knew exactly what she meant. He just wanted to hear her say it again.

“How much will you pay me and for how long?” The words had icicles on them.

“Seven hundred pounds for seven days.”

Her gasp cut through the cold air of the carriage. “A hundred pounds a day,” she whispered hoarsely.

Juss didn’t think it was a question so he didn’t answer. Instead he watched her from beneath lowered lids, amused that she didn’t seem to notice or care that she was showing her hand so clearly. Oh yes, she would take this position, there was no doubt about it.

Her lips were parted and her eyes were wide, her breathing shallow and rapid. Juss knew he should feel bad about the offer because he was positive she couldn’t afford to refuse it. The truth was that as amusing as it would be to have her company, he didn’t really need her to make the venture—one he’d been contemplating for a full decade—fulfilling. But providence, it seemed, had dropped her into his lap. Who was he to reject such a gift?

Besides, the trip North was long and tedious and he’d enjoy toying with that prim reserve of hers and seeing what was beneath it. He’d also enjoy learning just how she’d fallen off her pedestal of virtue.