Miles' Lesson Read online

  Miles looked up into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen. They were the color of summer skies, bright and intelligent. They were attached to a pretty face, full lips and a pert nose. Allowing the young woman to lift his head and place it on her lap, he watched as she examined his head for injury.

  “Please say something. Did you knock yourself senseless?” Her voice was like a choir of angels. Soft, but commanding. Lyrical. Somewhat fascinated by the sound, it took him a moment to understand what she had asked him.

  “No, miss. I am not senseless. And if I were, it certainly would not have been my doing.”

  The young lady blinked in confusion. Then responded, “Surely you don't think it was my fault you fell. I have been sitting here for some time without incident until you appeared.” Miles had to admit that her indignation was turning him on.

  Lifting himself into a sitting position, he openly stared at his guest. Although kneeling, he could tell that she was tall for a girl. Her figure was flattering with large breasts and curvy hips. If she looked this good sitting down, Miles had no doubt that she would be stunning standing up.

  Miles got himself to his feet, then offered a hand to the young woman. She accepted, standing as well. He'd been right about her figure. She was tall and statuesque, with abundant curves in her breasts and hips. The young woman held herself regally, with her chin slightly raised in a haughty fashion.

  “I am Sutherland. And you are...?” he asked, leaving the question trailing.

  The haughty look was replaced by surprise. Miles would have even called it shock, if she hadn't recovered so quickly. Swallowing, she answered, “My name is Miss Tibbets. I am the companion of Lady Elinore.”

  Miles thought back to all the annoying, young ladies he'd just met. Lady Elinore was the worst of the bunch. She was beautiful, of course, but her personality most matched his mother. Elinore had the feel of someone who wouldn't think twice about besmirching anyone's reputation, just for the sport of it.

  Not able to hide his cringe, Miss Tibbets immediately commented, “I see you have had the pleasure.”

  Miles lifted an eyebrow. He had to admire her sass. Apparently, she had no love of her position as companion to a spoiled brat. “Indeed. I met both her and her mother. Are you related, or did they hire you from an agency?”

  Natalie Tibbets was no fool. She recognized the question for all its impertinence. She would never consider giving this man any ammunition to use against her at a later date. His reputation was well known and she would not be on a long list of his conquests.

  Without answering his question, she nodded and began to walk off. “I must return at once. Elinore will be looking for me.” Without a backwards glance, Natalie walked toward the house, knowing that her cousin would want to give her all the details of her first meeting with the duke. As she broke through the trees, she felt his presence very close behind hers.

  “Miss Tibbets, please allow me to escort you.” His gentleman act was not fooling her. Although she had about as much chance of making a match for herself as a nun in the convent, that didn't mean she would willingly give her body to the first good-looking rake she met. Even though Natalie had to admit that he was the best looking rake she'd ever met.

  She stopped abruptly, causing Miles to walk past her and have to turn around. Miles felt a sense of delight upon seeing the righteous indignation on her face. It certainly didn't diminish from her beauty.

  “Surely you would allow me to offer you my arm.” Watching the play of emotions on her face, Miles simply smiled in return.

  “That won't be necessary. I thank you for your offer, but must refuse. It would be unseemly for the two of us to be in each other's presence.” Natalie was trying to school her voice into something unemotional, but it came out like a plea.

  Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “Unseemly? Am I not an appropriate escort for a young lady staying on my estate?”

  Feeling her face flush, looking anywhere but his beautiful, blue eyes, Natalie was without words. There was a part of her who would like to parade in front of her aunt and cousin on the arm of this season's most eligible bachelor. After all, he was rich, powerful and gorgeous. He could have any woman he wanted and her cousin was desperate to make him want her. But to give into him would make her life a living hell.

  Deciding to play on his sympathy, she begged, “Please. If I'm seen with you, Elinore will be most unkind to me. Not to mention her mother. I am simply a companion. I am supposed to blend into the woodwork and never insinuate myself where I do not belong.” Meeting his eyes after giving her speech, she saw something she didn't expect to see: compassion.

  “I would never want to make your life more difficult, Miss Tibbets. I shall take the long way back to the house.” Miles saw her relief, but wouldn't let her go so easily.

  “However, I should very much like to get to know you better. Perhaps, we could meet here again tomorrow?” he asked, anticipating her answer.

  “No! Of course not.” Natalie couldn't believe her ears. She was both appalled and excited. Why would he want to meet her again? She was plain, dowdy and certainly held nothing to her fair cousin.

  Before he could respond, she walked away, this time not feeling him following her. As much as she knew she shouldn't feel regret, she definitely did.

  Chapter 5

  “Natalie, where have you been?” Elinore's whine cut through the room as Natalie entered the small parlor. “I have had servants searching for you.”

  “What did you need? I was in the garden reading.” Just then, Natalie remembered that she left her book in the grove, by the tree she'd been leaning against. Her encounter with the duke had left her disconcerted. Now she would have to go back out and retrieve it.

  “Reading? How boring. I wanted to tell you about the duke. He's even more handsome in person than I have ever heard tale of. His eyes are the bluest, blue I have ever seen.” As her cousin droned on, Natalie nodded when appropriate, but otherwise didn't pay any attention. She didn't need Elinore to tell her how handsome the duke was. She had first hand knowledge. A knowledge she never would have thought she'd have.

  “What do you think I should do to win his heart?” Elinore looked expectedly at her cousin, serious concern on her pretty face. It took Natalie a moment to realize that a question was asked, so she simply looked as if she was giving it consideration and waited for her cousin to start her monologue once again. It didn't take long.

  “With this many other girls, I should wear my most flattering clothing. The ice blue silk tonight for dinner, do you not think?”

  Natalie nodded and smiled and her cousin began anew. Natalie wouldn't be invited to dinner, but would received a tray in her room. She wouldn't be invited to any of the soirées or events that were planned during the week long stay. Her only purpose was to be around to listen to her vacuous cousin drone on about nothing. It was a bleak life, but Natalie had no choice. Her father's death had left her with no one, except her aunt and cousin.

  Before the melancholy of her memories could beset her, the Duke of Sutherland walked into the small parlor. He had a delightful, roguish smile on his face and came to stand beside Natalie and Elinore. Bowing his head, Miles looked from one girl to the other. The differences were night and day. While Elinore was fair, with blond hair and green eyes, Natalie was darker, with brown hair and blue eyes. Elinore gave Miles her full attention, while Natalie looked to her lap, trying desperately to blend into the settee.

  “Good day, ladies. Lady Elinore, I do not believe I have had the pleasure to meet your friend.”

  Clearly taken back, Elinore stuttered, “Uh... your grace. Uh... this is my cousin, Miss Tibbets. My mother and I took her in after her father died last year. She is my companion.” Elinore smiled. Not only was she getting some one-on-one time with the duke, but she made herself look charitable in the process.

  Natalie could feel the blush creeping up her face. It was bad enough having to be a companion to such a vapid, conceited tart, but now the
duke would feel sorry for her. Pity was one thing that Natalie despised above anything else.

  Keeping her eyes averted, she was shocked when she felt her hand being drawn up. Looking up, Natalie saw that the duke had claimed her hand and was placing a gentle kiss on the backs of her fingers. Speechless, she couldn't even summon words of greeting.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Tibbets. I hope you feel welcome in my home. I look forward to dining with you this evening.”

  Before she could make an excuse for her absence, Elinore spoke up. “Oh, your grace, that is too kind, but Miss Tibbets prefers to eat her meals in her room.”

  “Nonsense. I insist that she join us at dinner. I'm sure you have fine table manners, so there is no reason for you to miss out on the conversation. I expect to see both of you at dinner this evening.” Although said in a kind tone, the meaning behind the words was obvious. Natalie was to eat with everyone else. And she couldn't be more thrilled.

  Chapter 6

  Seated by total strangers, Natalie felt out of place. She never ate with strangers, only her cousin and aunt. When neither were available, she ate with the servants or alone. Suddenly nervous, Natalie struggled not to squirm in her chair. Silently chastising herself, she reminded herself that she was every bit a lady as her cousin and could handle any society thrown her way.

  She could hear light conversation amongst the guests, but no one had engaged her. Natalie was well read, but her aunt often chastised her over her opinions. “Ladies do not have opinions, Natalie,” she would say. “They agree with the gentlemen in their company.”

  Gazing down toward her cousin at the far side of the table, seated closely to the duke, Natalie thought back to the circumstances that had brought her to such a low point. Her father, the second son of the Earl of Warren, had made himself quite successful from various investments. When Natalie's mother took ill, her father spent every cent they had for a cure. In the end, nothing prevented the inevitable, and her mother had died. Her father followed his wife within a year.

  With the money gone and no other family to speak of, her aunt begrudgingly took her in. Not as a member of the family, but as a servant. For that matter, not even a valued servant, but the whipping girl to her spoiled daughter. That had been over a year ago.

  Natalie continued to eat quietly when she heard the duke's booming voice from the end of the table. He was asking Elinore what she thought of the dinner and Elinore was eager to give her opinion. Of course, she thought it was delightful. Rolling her eyes, Natalie continued to eat her soup.

  Miles couldn't stop taking covert glances at Miss Tibbets. She sat at a table full of people, and yet seemed completely alone. Having spoken to Lady Elinore a few times, Miles could imagine how she treated her companion. To say that Elinore was selfish and spoiled was an egregious understatement. Miles should know, since he had been the same way not long ago.

  Still, even with her hair simply done and her gown cheap and unfashionable, Miss Tibbets stood head and shoulders above her cousin. There was an air of elegance, of maturity, that Elinore didn't, and never would, possess. There was something there that Miles had every intention of finding out about, despite his real reasons for attending his mother's party.

  When the dinner had ended, the dowager escorted all the young ladies to the parlor for tea. Miles was to sit in attendance with the only other men at the party. The thought of listening to a few fathers wax lyrical about their daughters was enough to send Miles to bed early. But suffer through it he did, if only hoping to spend a couple of minutes talking to Miss Tibbets in the parlor.

  By the time Miles and the three fathers joined the women, Miss Tibbets was nowhere to be found. Elinore, spotting her prey, sashayed over to his side.

  “Your grace, have I mentioned how delightful your home is? My mother and I have been ever so comfortable in our accommodations. I was just complementing your mother over the furnishings.” Miles barely heard a word of her speech, too fascinated with how the young lady was able to bat her eyelashes so precisely.

  “Yes, I am sure my mother takes great pride in this home. Of course, after I marry, she will move to the dowager house and my wife will have command of this pile,” he concluded with a smile.

  The flash in Elinore's eyes was both obvious and disturbing. Miles could practically hear her thoughts, thinking about what she would do with his home. Still, he thought to himself, at least she is capable of having some thoughts going through her head.

  “I am certain that your wife would do many great things here as well.” Elinore ran her fan down his arm, while giving Miles what could only be described as a smoldering look.

  Not wanting to encourage her too much, Miles asked, “Is your cousin about? Or has she decided to retire early?”

  Elinore's eyes flashed again, but this time with something more ugly. Gathering her wits and trying her best to look placid, she responded, “As I said earlier, Natalie prefers the company of her books. She decided to retire as soon as dinner was over.”

  Arching an eyebrow, “Oh, she reads, does she? I have recently read a few novels myself. I wonder if she has had the pleasure. Perhaps tomorrow, I will seek her out and see if she would like to borrow them.” Miles knew he was being cruel, but he simply couldn't help himself. For a woman who was taught everything she needed to know to lure a man, Elinore was easily displaced. Her mouth resembled a fish out of water, gasping for breath.

  “My cousin will not be below stairs tomorrow, your grace. She has many duties to attend and will not be joining in the activities.”

  “Pity, that. She seems a nice, young lady. Why does she not wish to join in all the trivial pursuits my mother has planned?”

  “Your grace, really? She is my companion,” Elinore drew closer and whispered the rest of her reply. “She is but a servant to me. Surely you do not expect her to act the role of proper, young lady.”

  Before he could stop himself, Miles' expression turned dark. Recovering quickly, but not before Elinore saw her grave mistake, he replied, “As your cousin, I would have thought Miss Tibbets would be treated as family, not as an employee.”

  With that, Miles walked away, leaving Elinore speechless and staring at his back. Lady Norbury, her mother, walked up to stand next to her daughter as she watched the duke's back.

  “You had the duke's attention for a good ten minutes, my dear. Excellent work.” Lady Norbury knew that it was her daughter that would be chosen. She was, after all, the prettiest and most graceful of all the young chits attending.

  “Mother, Sutherland keeps asking about Natalie. Why would he care about her?” Elinore's voice was huffy. How dare her mousy cousin get in the way of her being a duchess.

  A look of shock came over her mother's face. “Natalie? Surely you jest. What could he possibly have to say about her?”

  “He asked why she retired early and then said he wanted to speak to her about books. What interest could the duke have in a some plain, blue-stocking?”

  “I'm sure the duke was only being polite. He was simply showing an interest in your family. Perhaps, he was trying to impress you.” Elinore's mother grinned, like the cat with the proverbial canary.

  Taking a moment to consider her mother's assertions, Elinore stated, “I believe you must be right. He surely has no interest in Natalie beyond trying to impress me.” Elinore felt infinitely better. She was by far the prettiest girl in attendance, and would produce the most beautiful heirs.

  “Allow us to sit by the window and discuss our strategy. Although I think an offer will be forthcoming, we must do everything we can to keep you at the head of his list.” The two women sat together, plotting the tightening of the parson's noose on the duke of Sutherland.

  Chapter 7

  It was late, but Natalie had to retrieve her book from the grove. After dinner, she excused herself from her aunt and cousin and returned to her room. After all the excitement of being invited to dinner, she had forgotten all about the book. She would have waited u
ntil morning, but Lord Summerfield mentioned how his bones were aching which meant that it would be raining tonight. The book, a gift from her father, was too precious to her to leave out in the rain.

  She waited until she heard most the household settle down to bed. Still in her gown from dinner, Natalie took the servant's stairs to the door out to the garden. With only a candle to light her way, she walked among the fragrant bushes to the edge of the garden. From there, she had only a short walk across the open expanse to get to the grove of trees she used earlier to hide from her cousin and aunt.

  Looking back at the house, she wondered if she should try to make it without the aid of the candle. What if someone saw her make her way across and came to investigate? Natalie didn't relish the idea of having to explain the reason for her being out and about so late at night. On the other hand, she could never forgive herself if she allowed the book to be ruined.

  Using her hand to cover the candle as much as possible, Natalie slowly made her way across the open field. As much as she wanted her task completed quickly, she didn't want to fall in a rabbit hole and break her ankle. She was nearly halfway to her destination when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Turning around, she saw a figure following her. The figure's steps were sure and quick and Natalie felt herself begin to panic.