The Letter by Sandra Owens Page B

speak.
    “As much as I have enjoyed playing your lady’s maid these past few days, there is a young woman named Fanny sitting in my study as we speak. She is here to step into the role.”
    Did that mean no more kisses on her forehead before she retired?
    “Tell me what you are thinking. You sit there so contained and quiet. I can’t tell if this pleases you or not.”
    She couldn’t tell him she would miss the feel of his lips on her skin, so she said what she thought he wanted to hear. “It pleases me. I haven’t had a lady’s maid since I left my father’s house, and I have missed having one.” Somehow, she would have to find a way to keep the woman from seeing her.
    His eyebrows furrowed, and he frowned. “Why haven’t you?”
    She shrugged as if the answer didn’t matter. “Leo didn’t allow it.”
    “Why the hell not?”
    “I don’t know, he never explained why. Likely just another way to isolate me, or perhaps it was nothing more than to prove I was at his mercy. It could even be simply because he didn’t want to spend the money on me. Maids expect to be paid, you know.”
    There was anger in his eyes again, but she understood his wrath was for her and not directed at her. Every day she waited for him to show his true colors, and every day he was nothing less than kind and caring. She shrugged. “Who knows what Leo thought. I certainly never did.”
    Dark blue eyes fixed on her, the rage in them giving way to sadness and regret. For so long, her heart had been encased in ice. Against her will, she felt a crack in that block of frozen wasteland, the sound of it so loud she feared he might have heard. She didn’t want to feel charitable toward him, was surprised when her hand reached out to touch his face.
    He gave her an astonished look, and then closed his eyes, leaning into her palm. He was like a great cat in need of a pet. She pulled her hand back before the urge to do so overtook her. He sighed and opened his eyes. They were watery, and he blinked several times before standing and holding out his hand. She would love to know his thoughts.
    “Shall we go downstairs and introduce you to your lady’s maid?”
    Relieved the strange moment of intimacy had passed, she placed her hand in his. When they entered his study, a young woman dressed in a plain brown dress stood and curtseyed. Standing next to her was a gentleman. He gave her a respectful bow.
    “Johnston, allow me to introduce you to Lady Brantley. My lady, Johnston is my secretary and has arrived uninvited due to his overwhelming curiosity as to why I would need a lady’s maid.”
    The tone of Michael’s voice was mocking. She looked at the man to see his reaction. Mr. Johnston’s lips twitched and his eyes sparkled with humor. She smiled. “Mr. Johnston, though it is a pleasure to meet you, I would not wish to be the cause of unexpected travel.”
    “Pray do not concern yourself on my account, my lady. I have other business to discuss with Lord Daventry and then I expect to be ordered back to London tomorrow.”
    “Or I may even order your meddling self to return today.”
    Diana turned to Michael. “Oh, you must not. It is too late in the day for travel, and Mr. Johnston should be invited to join us for dinner.”
    “Well then, Johnston, the lady wishes you to stay and so you shall. We went trout fishing today and have more than enough to accommodate your surprise appearance.”
    The crack in the ice widened. She had spoken without thinking. If she had done so with Leo, he would have knocked her across the room. But she never would have made such a mistake with her husband. Yet in Michael’s presence, it seemed a natural thing to do. Even more astonishing, he granted her request.
    “Thank you, Lady Brantley,” Mr. Johnston said. “As you have likely saved me from the danger of being accosted by highwaymen in the dark of night, I am in your debt. And, I should add, I dearly love trout.”
    “You are too dramatic by half,