wicker chair , his tall frame blocking the morning light streaming

close that Eleanor could feel the heat emanating from him.

w voice, his tone calm and collected,

g up a finger, "you're just an employee, nothing more. You're here to do your job wel

ry," she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I have n

p another finger, "as long as you stay in this house, you

pered, "Don't you dare try to seduce me again. The mistake

had been hit over the head. Eleanor bit her lip hard, even tasting bloo

s she forced out the words: "Even if you're the

ightened up, turned, and headed for the doo

ng a distance of more than three feet from him. They cl

d of the second-floor corridor, and pushed it open without knoc

oster bed draped in silk canopies, and a walk-in closet larger than her entire apartment. A girl

nce. She had Damian's dark hair and delicate features, but her expres

slamming her book shut. "My whole weekend ha

elyn, this is Ms. Hayes, your new governess," he announced, his tone leaving n

She looked Eleanor up and down. Eleanor braced herself for the sam

met her gaze firmly, without a fawning smile or the slightest h

er closely. Then, to Eleanor's utter surprise,

to meet you. You're completely different from the last one. He

ease. She took Evelyn's outstretched hand.

rowing slightly. His sister's easy ac

ian said curtly, breaking the rare silen

ed to the large table, picked up Evelyn's history textbook, and opened a page. The chapter was ab

his suffocating presence from her mind. She turned to

with the date or

g in South Carolina. She had to make a choice: stay and work for her former master, earning a

ediately piqued E

ed, vividly recounting the dry facts with captivating narration, his attention began to shift.

ck-witted, and completely

erene and simple beauty that was more captivating than