One Little Sin Read Online Free PDF

him. “Miss Hamilton, why must you go to Bournemouth?”
    “Because I must work!” Her tone was unflinching. “I’m destitute, MacLachlan, d’ye not comprehend?”
    “But…but why can you not simply stay here?”
    She drew back a good six inches. “Stay here? With you?”
    Alasdair cut her a scathing glance. “Oh, for pity’s sake, Miss Hamilton!” he said. “As—as my governess!”
    Miss Hamilton arched one brow. “Well, I’ve no doubt your first one failed you miserably,” she answered. “But you look rather too old and entrenched in wickedness now.”
    Alasdair scowled. “Oh, for pity’s sake! For the child! The child! If— if —I’m to let her stay on, why can I not hire you to look after the little weanling? Who would know the difference? And who would be better qualified?”
    That took her aback. “I—I—” Miss Hamilton blinked uncertainly. “But that’s foolishness. Sorcha is not yet two years old. She needs a nurse, not a governess.”
    But Alasdair was determined to find a way through this quagmire of moral obligation. “Who says so, Miss Hamilton?” he demanded. “Who makes up these rules? Is there some governess’s handbook I know nothing of?” He shot a quick glance at the sleeping infant. “Why, just look at her! Sharp as a tack, I’ve no doubt. All the MacLachlans are—well, most, anyway. Why, my brother Merrick could read by the age of three and do all manner of sums and such.”
    “So you admit, then, that the bairn is yours?” asked Miss Hamilton.
    Alasdair hesitated. “I admit that it is remotely possible,” he hedged. “I must write to Edinburgh and make some inquiries before I accept the full res-res—the full resp-p-p—” For some reason, his tongue could not quite shape the word.
    “The responsibility?” supplied Miss Hamilton with mocking sweetness. “’Tis a simple word, MacLachlan. Just six syllables. I’m sure you’ll get the knack of it.”
    Alasdair was afraid she was right. “You seem to have all the qualities of a governess, Miss Hamilton,” he returned. “A shrewish tongue and a condescending attitude.”
    “Aye, and I thank you,” she answered.
    He studied her silently for a moment, cursing his own desperation. “So, what of my offer, then? How much does a governess earn, anyway? Just what is all this newfound responsibility going to cost me, even temporarily?”
    She hesitated but a moment. “A hundred fifty pounds per annum would be fair.”
    “Bloody hell!” He tried to scowl. “Miss Hamilton, you are a dreadful liar.”
    She blinked innocently. “Then perhaps you could give me some helpful hints regarding that particular talent?” she suggested. “I’m told one ought to learn at the feet of a master.”
    Alasdair narrowed his eyes. “Look, Miss Hamilton, blackmail me over your salary if you must, but are you staying or not?”
    She bit her lip and cast another glance at the sleeping child. “Three hundred pounds for the first year, payable in advance,” she answered. “Nonrefundable, even if you change your mind. Even if you change your mind next week.”
    Good God, he’d be a fool to agree to such a thing! All totaled, the salaries of every servant in the house would barely equal that. Alasdair was about to tell her to go to the devil, but just as he opened his mouth, the bairn let out a god-awful wail. The money forgotten, Miss Hamilton rushed to the sofa and threw back the blankets. Hastily, she lifted the child from her basket, settling her over her shoulder. Wild, red-blond curls spurted from beneath the child’s snug wool cap.
    “Whisht, whisht, wee trootie,” Miss Hamilton cooed, rhythmically patting her back.
    In response, the child made some happy, babbling racket. Then, just when Alasdair had begun to breathe easily again, the child lifted her head, and looked him squarely in the face. In that moment, he suffered another of those crushing, breath-seizing blows to the gut. He reached out and grabbed hold of a