The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) by Beverley Oakley

yes, hope.
    Mr. Tunley pretended to look slightly offended before the light returned to his eyes and his mouth quirked. “I am rather good at charades, I’ll admit, however in this instance, my sentiments are a true reflection of what I feel here.” He tapped his heart and suddenly there was nothing but raw feeling in his gaze.
    Adding a plover’s egg to his plate, he said a little wistfully, “It’s true that I can get beyond myself in the excitement of the moment, Miss Hazlett. Forgive me. You are beautiful and clearly clever and enterprising. You can—and I suspect, will—rise above the shortcomings of your birth. Forgive me for putting it so bluntly. I hope you will make a fine match and one that will make you happy. Sadly, I have five older brothers. I am required to prove myself before I can inveigle myself into some rewarding sinecure. Perhaps in ten years I’ll be in a position whereby I could make you a respectable offer, but you’ll be long married by then.”
    She was about to respond with all the intensity such a declaration demanded; indeed, she was about to put her hand on his sleeve and tell him that her feelings echoed his and not to despair, for there must be some way, when Cosmo suddenly appeared.
    “Miss Ha— I mean, Cousin Larissa, it’s time we departed. Are you ready?”
    Would he really speak to a cousin with such cavalier disregard for whether she might share his desire to leave, and when she was in conversation with another? Yet she was his servant when all was said and done. With a quick nod at Ralph, and a look which she hoped conveyed that her heart was in accord with his, she responded to Cosmo’s summons.
    “Please, Master Cosmo, I need but two minutes to sketch Lord Debenham without his realizing it,” she whispered when they were out of hearing.
    He cut her off. “Lud’s sake, you’ve had all afternoon to look at him.” He was clearly agitated and eager to go, making his reasons clear when he said, “Can’t you do it from memory? You’ve created far too much interest already. I don’t know how I’m going to explain it if you come up in conversation at some later date. One gentleman thought he recalled seeing you at Lady Stanley’s ball whereupon Lord Debenham announced you were a fine dancer. Fortunately, the subject was changed at that point.”
    “Please, just two minutes more.” Lissa scrabbled in her reticule and brandished her sketchpad then took refuge in the shade of a tree a few feet from the rose garden, but so she had a clear view of Lord Debenham, who was once again in a group that included Ralph.
    True to her word, it took only two minutes to sketch a rough draft she could work from later, with another thirty seconds to sketch a quick one of Ralph. She was just closing her book when Mrs. Gargery’s voice intruded.
    “My dear, so you’re an artist, please let me see what you’ve drawn.”
    Lissa was aware of Cosmo’s horror when she slanted a glance to her left, and was pleased to compound it as she flipped open a page, asking, “Do you think it a fair likeness?”
    Mrs. Gargery gasped. “Why, you are a master. It’s superb.”
    “Pardon me, but we really must be leaving. Mrs. Gargery can’t possibly be interested in your idle doodling. Larissa, please come now!”
    The sharpness in his tone made the kindly Mrs. Gargery widen her eyes in surprise but Lissa obediently returned her sketchpad to her reticule and followed Cosmo out of the garden, saying placatingly, “I showed her a drawing of a rose, Master Cosmo, which I had ready for such a situation.”
    When he merely glowered, she produced her sketchpad, turned to the appropriate page to show him in case he didn’t believe her and wanted to cause trouble later.
    Cosmo visibly relaxed, though his tone did not lose its edge as he climbed after her into the waiting carriage. “Just make sure you do a good job of your rendition of Lord Debenham, and don’t make me appear a fool, Miss Hazlett.