Follow the Heart by Kaye Dacus Page A

minutes ago. You know how I feel about tardiness.”
    Florie gave Christopher a what-did-I-tell-you glance, then let go of his arm. “Thank you for the escort, Cousin Christopher. I will see you at dinner.”
    “My pleasure, Cousin Florie.” He waited until the young woman disappeared into the classroom before turning his focus on the governess. Shorter than he’d remembered, she barely came up to his shoulder. “My apologies for making Miss Florence late. She found me in the gallery, and I kept her talking when she should have been returning here for her lesson.”
    Miss Woodriff—severe from her tightly drawn-back hair to her high-necked, long-sleeved indigo gown—closed her eyes. Before she bowed her head, the hint of a smile eased the straight line of her lips.
    She looked up at him again. “I have been Miss Florence’s governess for five years. I know it is she who kept talking to you, rather than the other way around. I do apologize if she kept you from anything important, Mr. Dearing.”
    “Nonsense. It was a highly educational conversation. We discussed geography, an American politician, and the aboriginal peoples of my country. I learned quite a bit.” He ducked his head and grinned at her, trying to coax the corners of her mouth up farther.
    It worked. Though she kept her lips pressed firmly together, Miss Woodriff gave him what most would consider to be a smile. “In other words, she asked you about Davy Crockett, Tennessee, California, and Indians.” She shook her head. “Though the penny dreadfuls Matthew brings her contain a vast variety of shocking stories, those are her favorite subjects. Once again, I apologize, Mr. Dearing.”
    “Don’t. I enjoyed it. I like that she’s taken an interest in America. But perhaps I might be allowed to disabuse her of some of the more fantastical stories she may have read about my country.” He looked over Miss Woodriff’s head toward the classroom. “I quite enjoyed history and geography when I was a university student.”
    A glimmer of keen interest sparkled in the governess’s eyes. “I believe that would be a wonderful idea. Would you consider coming to one of Florie’s lessons and answering her questions? I am sometimes hard put to find the answers in my limited library on the subjects. Or would that be too much of a bother?”
    He gave her a slight bow. “I would be delighted. Just let me know when, and I will be here.”
    Miss Woodriff’s lips parted slightly when she smiled this time. She backed down the short hallway. “Thank you, Mr. Dearing. I look forward to learning more about America under your tutelage—for Miss Florence’s sake, of course.”
    “For Miss Florence’s sake.” Christopher waited until Miss Woodriff closed the classroom door behind her before he turned and skipped down the stairs, humming a jaunty tune he’d heard the sailors singing on the voyage over.
    In the light of day, Miss Woodriff was more attractive than he’d thought last night. And if she let her hair down and wore a more becoming color, she could even be considered pretty.
    But no, he couldn’t allow his mind to travel in that direction. Though he’d never considered himself a great catch—too tall, too angular, not wealthy enough—for some reason, women did seem drawn to him. But now, with no promise of money and only his wits to guide him, he couldn’t set aside his father’s edict that he find a wealthy woman to wed.
    The burden of marrying money and saving the Dearing family could not fall solely on Kate—who, though pretty, didn’t have the most outgoing or flirtatious personality. Christopher wanted nothing more than to find a woman who matched him for wit, intelligence, and demeanor. Someone like Miss Woodriff might fit the bill quite well. But he could not allow himself the luxury of finding out. Like his sister, his fate was sealed. Marry money.
    Of course, unlike his sister, he did have one small chance of escape. If Andrew Lawton would