Corinne
She struggled to care for her younger sister - and turned to an alluring
stranger out of desperation.
Sean
A handsome and wealthy widower, his heart went out to the charming waif he
found on his doorstep on evening. And he asked her to stay.
Corie sent the child to Sean Garrick's house, hoping against hope that he was kind enough to take Kenny in, to give her a home. She had not other choice, but her heart ached at this broken family bond. Posing as a governess, she worked her way into Sean's employ - and his heart. Would he be man enough to love this daring woman - and keep this newfound family as his own?
"Now, then," he said, crossing his legs at the knee and smiling directly into her eyes. "You're looking for a posting, are you?"
Corinne swallowed heavily, realizing she had his full attention and his scrutiny. "What?"
"A job, Miss Alexander. I believe you are here to inquire about a position?"
"Oh! Right!" she said and straightened in her seat, primly smoothing her gaudy yellow gown. "I know you have a girl..."
"How do you know?"
Corrine blinked, startled by his interruption. "What?"
"How do you know I have a child here?"
She studied his expression for a moment, deciding he was not annoyed, as his tone had led her to believe. "Why, I've seen you with her," she said. "Walkin'. And all the folks hereabout know of her."
"Indeed? 'All the folks'?" Sean was thoughtfully conducting his own examination of her expressions. "And you've decided the child needs a governess?"
"Well," she drawled, dropping her eyes to study her skirt again. "Most people hereabouts like their children well looked after, and I thought...since I'm between...postin's, it wouldn't hurt to ask if you'd be needin' some help with the girl."
Sean was biting his lip to keep from laughing at her struggle to present a believable picture. "You've had previous experience, then?"
"Oh, yes, sir!" she piped. "I looked after a girl from the time she was a babe."
"You have references, I assume?"
Corie's pretty hazel eyes grew large and round. " can get some," she threw in, her mind momentarily spinning in turmoil as she tried to recall anyone she knew who might know how to write.
"Yes, I would definitely need to see reference," he said quietly, and his gaze fell aside to the small table. His hand hovered in the vicinity of his pipe, but then returned to the arm of his chair as Mrs. Pringle entered the room. "Ah, good. Thank you, Mrs. P.," he said as the woman placed a large tray on the table between them.
The housekeeper shot him a frown that spoke of her deepest thoughts, sniffed softly as she passed by Corinne's chair, and exited hurriedly.
Corinne's gaze fell to the silver tray beyond the teapot and the cups and the small plates to an array of pastries the like of which she had never seen before.
"Shall I pour?" Sean asked, sliding forward in his seat.
Corinne nodded dumbly as she tore her attention away from the tempting sweets.
"Lemon? Cream?"
Corinne swallowed the rush of saliva that suddenly flooded her mouth...if her stomach growled now, she would die! "Cream, please."
"Tart?" he asked pointedly, studying her yellow dress.
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