Guarding the Spoils (The Wild Randalls - Book 3) by Heather Boyd Page A
Authors: Heather Boyd
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“I will speak plainly since I know you incapable of understanding subtlety. George is easily impressed and a man of your substantial intelligence, willing to converse with him about inconsequential matters, will go straight to his head. I will not have his affections toyed with by you, of all men. You don’t even like people, so why pretend otherwise with my son.”
Oliver moved until they stood inches apart. Elizabeth’s display of temper did not concern him. In fact, he found her protectiveness of the boy quite reminiscent of his own mother’s odd behavior. Both had fussed when there was no need for concern. He carefully placed his hand against Elizabeth’s upper arm and gave her a pat that he hoped would prevent any unnecessary theatrics. “The boy has a curious mind and I have the time to answer his questions. What harm is there in that?”
Elizabeth jerked away. “Because you have made it plain that you are leaving, despite the urgings of your brothers to remain. I will not have him caught under your spell and then be discarded without a backward glance as you do with everything and everyone.”
Oliver shook his head. “Boys are resilient and not so easily guided by their emotions that they see deeper relationships where none exist. He will understand and survive my leaving without any burden on his emotions. George has asked a question I can answer and I will continue to do so until my ship sails. Why do you deny him the opportunity to enrich his mind when the opportunity costs you nothing?”
“Only you cannot see the cost is far too high.” She glared daggers at him.
The conversation and Elizabeth’s ungrounded fears were quite absurd. The boy would view him as a tutor at the most with no harm coming to him at the end of their time together. Oliver had had many tutors, each one discarded without a backward glance when it became clear he’d exceeded their abilities. Eventually he’d pursued his own education without assistance. Those previous tutors were admired for their patience and willingness to guide him, but he’d cared little for them beyond that. However, convincing Elizabeth that George would be similarly unaffected would be impossible in her current agitated state. She was a creature ruled by her heart rather than her head.
He bowed to her, fully prepared to end the discussion. “I will see George in the library each day at ten o’clock.”
Elizabeth shook her head stubbornly. “Do not expect him.”
Oliver loomed over Elizabeth. She was being foolish in the extreme. Time would prove him correct, he was sure of that. He clasped her upper arms. Her scent and warm softness drew him closer. He breathed deep, holding her gaze steadily. The dark of her eyes widened; her hands touched his chest to hold him back.
“Since you understand my preference for honesty, I shall tell you straight that you are a fool to think your temperament suits the position of housekeeper,” he informed her. “Why did you not stay as you were?”
“The reasons for my decisions could not remotely be of interest to you,” she shot back instantly, scowling. She glanced toward the doorway. “Shouldn’t you return to your plans to travel?”
He frowned. Elizabeth was trying her hardest to send him away, but he wasn’t inclined to go. Not when he was enjoying their conversation so much. An odd yearning rose within him but he fought it back into the quiet, lonely corner of his mind and dropped his hands. “If George is not in the library by a quarter past the hour, then I shall come looking for him to ensure I keep my end of the bargain.”
Chapter Six
A week later…
“MAMA,” GEORGE GROANED. “I’ll be late again.”
Beth set the heaped tray of silver on the table in the sitting room and handed over a cloth, ignoring her son’s protests. “There, this is the last. Just polish those and then we can have luncheon together. Won’t that be nice?”
George jumped up from his chair. “But
Oliver moved until they stood inches apart. Elizabeth’s display of temper did not concern him. In fact, he found her protectiveness of the boy quite reminiscent of his own mother’s odd behavior. Both had fussed when there was no need for concern. He carefully placed his hand against Elizabeth’s upper arm and gave her a pat that he hoped would prevent any unnecessary theatrics. “The boy has a curious mind and I have the time to answer his questions. What harm is there in that?”
Elizabeth jerked away. “Because you have made it plain that you are leaving, despite the urgings of your brothers to remain. I will not have him caught under your spell and then be discarded without a backward glance as you do with everything and everyone.”
Oliver shook his head. “Boys are resilient and not so easily guided by their emotions that they see deeper relationships where none exist. He will understand and survive my leaving without any burden on his emotions. George has asked a question I can answer and I will continue to do so until my ship sails. Why do you deny him the opportunity to enrich his mind when the opportunity costs you nothing?”
“Only you cannot see the cost is far too high.” She glared daggers at him.
The conversation and Elizabeth’s ungrounded fears were quite absurd. The boy would view him as a tutor at the most with no harm coming to him at the end of their time together. Oliver had had many tutors, each one discarded without a backward glance when it became clear he’d exceeded their abilities. Eventually he’d pursued his own education without assistance. Those previous tutors were admired for their patience and willingness to guide him, but he’d cared little for them beyond that. However, convincing Elizabeth that George would be similarly unaffected would be impossible in her current agitated state. She was a creature ruled by her heart rather than her head.
He bowed to her, fully prepared to end the discussion. “I will see George in the library each day at ten o’clock.”
Elizabeth shook her head stubbornly. “Do not expect him.”
Oliver loomed over Elizabeth. She was being foolish in the extreme. Time would prove him correct, he was sure of that. He clasped her upper arms. Her scent and warm softness drew him closer. He breathed deep, holding her gaze steadily. The dark of her eyes widened; her hands touched his chest to hold him back.
“Since you understand my preference for honesty, I shall tell you straight that you are a fool to think your temperament suits the position of housekeeper,” he informed her. “Why did you not stay as you were?”
“The reasons for my decisions could not remotely be of interest to you,” she shot back instantly, scowling. She glanced toward the doorway. “Shouldn’t you return to your plans to travel?”
He frowned. Elizabeth was trying her hardest to send him away, but he wasn’t inclined to go. Not when he was enjoying their conversation so much. An odd yearning rose within him but he fought it back into the quiet, lonely corner of his mind and dropped his hands. “If George is not in the library by a quarter past the hour, then I shall come looking for him to ensure I keep my end of the bargain.”
Chapter Six
A week later…
“MAMA,” GEORGE GROANED. “I’ll be late again.”
Beth set the heaped tray of silver on the table in the sitting room and handed over a cloth, ignoring her son’s protests. “There, this is the last. Just polish those and then we can have luncheon together. Won’t that be nice?”
George jumped up from his chair. “But
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