The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

he accepted his family’s praise, with not one word to indicate he was not the lone architect of his masterpiece. Instead, she had to satisfy herself with a very brief but focused glare as she passed by while she digested the rather disconcerting news that Mrs. Lamont was familiar with the very man her governess had been dancing with the previous night. It was some small consolation that the Lamonts only aspired to the social ranks that would enable them to invite a man like Lord Debenham to the house.
    Lissa’s revenge upon Cosmo for his arrogance came in a most unexpected manner about an hour after his return. She was on her hands and knees in the drawing room, turning down the hem of one of Miss Maria’s older morning gowns and wondering if she’d have the chance of conversing with Mr. Tunley if he returned her damaged ball gown that afternoon, as he’d promised.
    Thanks to Miss Maria’s father’s success as a broker in the city, the young lady had a fair selection of evening gowns for her debut, but she’d put on an unexpected spurt of growth and the family was not wealthy enough for luxuries like new morning gowns, which were only for lounging around in at home, besides. The lady of fashion was an expensive creature, with so many changes of clothing required, but Mrs. Lamont was, in addition to being frighteningly ambitious, extremely enterprising. And ruthless.
    Miss Maria, prettier than her mother had ever been, Lissa suspected, was not nearly as clever and did not do much in the way of lounging. When she wasn’t being drilled in deportment, she was to be found flitting around, checking her appearance in her hand mirror and scanning the street from the drawing room window for a sign of the various men who might have caught her interest at the few social events to which she was invited, or taking visits with her family to the theatre or the National Museum.
    Lissa was terrified her eldest charge would discover the absence of her silver-flecked ball gown and every minute that ticked by was spent in an agony that the charming young man she’d met the night before would let her down. It wasn’t too much to say that her entire future rested in his hands, for if he reneged on his promise to return Miss Maria’s dress properly mended before its disappearance was discovered, Lissa would be out of a job. Without a character, she had no hope of securing another position.
    When the parlor maid put her head around the door a moment later and announced with a frown that a gentleman wished an audience with Miss Hazlett, all three heads jerked up. Not Lissa’s for she could only stare at Maria’s daintily shod feet while heat burned her cheeks.
    “Gentlemen callers are not allowed,” Mrs. Lamont responded in warning tones, rising and taking a few threatening steps toward Lissa. “Miss Hazlett, can you explain what this is about?”
    “Excuse me, ma’am, but the gentleman—a Mr. Tunley—says he’s here on behalf of his employer, Lord Debenham.” The girl looked confused, as if she had no idea whether this might be a man of importance or not.
    Mrs. Lamont’s reaction left her in no doubt.
    “What would Lord Debenham want with you, Miss Hazlett?” It was an accusation, not a question, and Lissa made to rise without an answer, though in truth her terror threatened to overwhelm her.
    Mr. Tunley worked for Lord Debenham ?
    It was Cosmo who strode forward, smoothly taking charge and saying, “Tell this gentleman we shall see him in the conservatory.”
    Lissa shook her head, shrugging off his hand upon her shoulder. “But he wants to see me .” Whatever the gentleman had to say must be said in private. Dear Lord, had Lord Debenham learned she was the mere governess and Mr. Tunley was here to warn her? If it were about the dress only, he’d have been more circumspect about it, surely?
    “I was speaking of Lord Debenham to an acquaintance and of His Lordship’s potential interest in a portrait just an hour