superior education ?”
Bonnie took a breath to control herself. “Sir, you are making light of what I think to be a serious matter.”
“Actually, what I am trying to do is distract you. It does not appear to be working.”
“Please explain to me the need for these restrictions.”
“No.”
“Sir, I must insist—”
“Miss Hodges, you have a rather arbitrary definition of what your position as governess allows you to do.”
“Respectfully sir, as I said, my priority is the education of Henry and Arthur. Recently this has expanded to include their safety and well-being.”
“You adapted.”
“Yes.”
“Adapt again.”
“The reason for my adapting was clear, sir, something that is lacking in this situation.”
Stephen sighed. She was not going to let this rest. “Can you not simply accept that I am acting in the best interests of the boys?”
“Not when you wish to inhibit the performance of my duties to such an extent.”
He leaned back in George’s chair. Had Henry seriously thought they would have rubbed on well enough to make a marriage work? The woman was impossibly stubborn. Intelligent, yet stubborn.
Stephen regarded Miss Hodges, standing before him, the desk between them. She was wearing a plain, modest green gown, her hands folded in front of her and the demure expression on her face, eyes connected with his, belied the persistence she was currently demonstrating.
He almost felt pity for Henry and Arthur.
His eyes focused on her hands again, much as they had on his first day as guardian, in the same position they were in now. Again he was struck by the smallness, the delicacy of her fingers. Again, despite that, he could sense the strength in them, the confidence in them.
From her hands, it was only a moment away from her wrist and up her nicely curved arm, to the hollow of her collarbone and neck, down to the nice swell of her bosom and back up until his eyes once again rested on her face. Her slender delicacy hid strength, certainty, and capability, unlike his own mother.
It didn’t hurt that he liked the way she looked as well, this Miss Hodges with her hazel-green eyes, her appealing breasts, and her bonny ankles that haunted his dreams, even though he hadn’t seen them yet.
Stephen refocused his eyes to find that hers had not wavered from his and now held a hint of censure. He cleared his throat and sat up, feeling his neck warm underneath his collar. Based on her position with the boys, he could see the advantages in confiding in her. If the boys were at risk, then she should be made aware of this. Her proximity to her charges placed her at risk as well and that thought made his skin prickle.
But first, he had to indulge himself for a moment. “Miss Hodges, what is your name?”
She blinked at the change in subject. “My name?”
“Your Christian name.”
“Bonnie, sir.”
Bonnie. Bonnie with the bonny ankles. A bonny lass. How fitting. He allowed himself a small smile.
“Miss Hodges, these restrictions are necessary after what happened to Henry today.”
“He had an accident,” she replied. “As young boys are prone to do. There is little reason to prohibit their movements to such a degree.”
“I disagree—”
“Sir, these restrictions are reminiscent of Newgate or Bedlam, not a home.”
“Miss Hodges, is interruption one of the skills you teach in your superior education?”
She took a breath and bowed her head briefly. “I apologize, sir.”
He nodded in acknowledgment. “This was not an accident. There is a threat to Henry’s life, possibly Arthur’s as well.”
“With respect sir, he fell off his pony. Many young riders do so.”
“He didn’t fall.”
“I was there. You were there. He fell.”
Stephen stood up and moved around the desk. “No he didn’t.” He strode to the sofas in front of the fire. Behind one, he produced Henry’s saddle and placed it on the sofa. “What do you know about saddles?”
“Not much. I am not a
Bonnie took a breath to control herself. “Sir, you are making light of what I think to be a serious matter.”
“Actually, what I am trying to do is distract you. It does not appear to be working.”
“Please explain to me the need for these restrictions.”
“No.”
“Sir, I must insist—”
“Miss Hodges, you have a rather arbitrary definition of what your position as governess allows you to do.”
“Respectfully sir, as I said, my priority is the education of Henry and Arthur. Recently this has expanded to include their safety and well-being.”
“You adapted.”
“Yes.”
“Adapt again.”
“The reason for my adapting was clear, sir, something that is lacking in this situation.”
Stephen sighed. She was not going to let this rest. “Can you not simply accept that I am acting in the best interests of the boys?”
“Not when you wish to inhibit the performance of my duties to such an extent.”
He leaned back in George’s chair. Had Henry seriously thought they would have rubbed on well enough to make a marriage work? The woman was impossibly stubborn. Intelligent, yet stubborn.
Stephen regarded Miss Hodges, standing before him, the desk between them. She was wearing a plain, modest green gown, her hands folded in front of her and the demure expression on her face, eyes connected with his, belied the persistence she was currently demonstrating.
He almost felt pity for Henry and Arthur.
His eyes focused on her hands again, much as they had on his first day as guardian, in the same position they were in now. Again he was struck by the smallness, the delicacy of her fingers. Again, despite that, he could sense the strength in them, the confidence in them.
From her hands, it was only a moment away from her wrist and up her nicely curved arm, to the hollow of her collarbone and neck, down to the nice swell of her bosom and back up until his eyes once again rested on her face. Her slender delicacy hid strength, certainty, and capability, unlike his own mother.
It didn’t hurt that he liked the way she looked as well, this Miss Hodges with her hazel-green eyes, her appealing breasts, and her bonny ankles that haunted his dreams, even though he hadn’t seen them yet.
Stephen refocused his eyes to find that hers had not wavered from his and now held a hint of censure. He cleared his throat and sat up, feeling his neck warm underneath his collar. Based on her position with the boys, he could see the advantages in confiding in her. If the boys were at risk, then she should be made aware of this. Her proximity to her charges placed her at risk as well and that thought made his skin prickle.
But first, he had to indulge himself for a moment. “Miss Hodges, what is your name?”
She blinked at the change in subject. “My name?”
“Your Christian name.”
“Bonnie, sir.”
Bonnie. Bonnie with the bonny ankles. A bonny lass. How fitting. He allowed himself a small smile.
“Miss Hodges, these restrictions are necessary after what happened to Henry today.”
“He had an accident,” she replied. “As young boys are prone to do. There is little reason to prohibit their movements to such a degree.”
“I disagree—”
“Sir, these restrictions are reminiscent of Newgate or Bedlam, not a home.”
“Miss Hodges, is interruption one of the skills you teach in your superior education?”
She took a breath and bowed her head briefly. “I apologize, sir.”
He nodded in acknowledgment. “This was not an accident. There is a threat to Henry’s life, possibly Arthur’s as well.”
“With respect sir, he fell off his pony. Many young riders do so.”
“He didn’t fall.”
“I was there. You were there. He fell.”
Stephen stood up and moved around the desk. “No he didn’t.” He strode to the sofas in front of the fire. Behind one, he produced Henry’s saddle and placed it on the sofa. “What do you know about saddles?”
“Not much. I am not a
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