No Earls Allowed (The Survivors #2)(27)

And then he’d seen her—her body wrapped in the long, flowing lines of the dress and her hair perched delicately on her head, making the graceful nape of her neck appear porcelain against the blue of the dress. He’d been momentarily stunned by how much he wanted her approval of the breakfast. And then when she’d given it, he wished all the boys would disappear so he could take her in his arms and…

What would he have done? Kiss her? To what end? She was an unmarried lady, not a widow or an actress. He could be attracted to her, but he couldn’t act on it. And that was for the best, because while he was here, he had to maintain strict control. He had his orders. Today he would make sure the building was secure for the boys’ safety. She’d taken steps to hire a new cook and a new teacher. Once those servants were here to take care of the orphanage, she’d have to admit she was not needed here.

When all the boys had finished ladling porridge into their bowls and each taken two rolls from the basket, he filled his own bowl and took a seat at the head of the older boys’ table. He couldn’t think for all the noise the lads made, and he sent a look down the table that had the effect of stopping the conversations in midstream. The little boys quieted, and Neil looked at Lady Juliana, whose eyes were wide at the sudden silence.

“My lady,” he said, “have you seen Mr. Goring this morning?”

She sipped her tea and replied, “I have, Mr. Wraxall. He stepped out for a moment to fetch his own breakfast.”

“But why?” Robbie interrupted. “We made enough for him.”

Neil gave the lad a long look, and Robbie bowed his head. “Sorry, Major. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine, Robbie,” Lady Juliana said.

Neil frowned again. The lad would never learn discipline if she didn’t correct him.

“I believe Mr. Goring wasn’t certain whether enough had been prepared for him. He did not want to assume.”

Neil could tell she was lying because she didn’t want to hurt the boys’ feelings. Goring probably hadn’t believed the boys could cook a decent meal. Hell, Neil wasn’t sure he’d believed it either. But Neil suspected wherever Goring went he had a reason for going other than fear over lumpy porridge. Jasper would be watching, and Neil would know soon enough.

“Since we don’t know when Mr. Goring will return, I’ll need you boys to help me with some of the tasks I had planned,” Neil said.

Most of the younger boys cheered while the older boys looked wary.

“What sorts of tasks, Mr. Wraxall?” Lady Juliana asked.

Neil took a bite of his roll. Considering the limited ingredients he and the boys had had to work with, it was not bad. “Securing the locks, mending broken stairs, and the like.”

“Oh, but those are Mr. Goring’s responsibilities. I am certain he will return within the hour.”

Neil was far less certain. He didn’t think the man would be back until midday, if at all. But that wasn’t the point. “My lady, may I speak with you privately?”

Her brows rose. “Of course. We can speak in the parlor after breakfast.”

Neil rose. “We’ll speak now.”

Her brows lowered again, and she gave him a poisonous look. Slowly, she rose and placed her napkin in her chair. “We will be back in a few minutes, children.”

The boys nodded, keeping their heads down. All except Walter, who grinned as though he expected his headmistress to be scolded and enjoyed the idea.

Lady Juliana swept out of the room, and Neil followed her. She went directly to the parlor and held the door open until he crossed the threshold. Then she closed the door quietly and marched to stand before him. She was petite and she had to look up at him, but that didn’t seem to cow her.

“I don’t know what you are used to in your everyday life, Mr. Wraxall, but let me make one thing clear—you do not give me orders.”

Neil felt the prick of heat that indicated she’d fired his temper. He pushed it down. “Someone needs to.”

Her dark eyes grew round with an emotion somewhere between surprise and fury. “I assure you, sir, that someone is not you. I have been running this orphanage for several months now, and in that time—”

“In that time, you’re lucky it hasn’t fallen apart or worse.” He inclined his head. “I suppose I should not interrupt you, either, but I don’t have time for social niceties.”

“You, sir, are no gentleman,” she said, then immediately covered her mouth. “I do apologize. I should not have said that.”

It was one of the worst insults a lady might mete out, but Neil would not allow it to faze him. “No, you are correct, my lady. I am no gentleman. I’m a bastard, as you must know, and I promise you that I no more want to surround myself with a dozen boys who remind me of my own bastardy every time I look at them than you want to look at me yourself.”

“That’s not what I—”

“But I have my orders, and I will follow them. As you have no teacher for the boys yet, I will keep them employed with assisting me by making repairs around the orphanage.” He began to pace. “The smaller ones can fetch and carry, while the older ones can do most of the work. By the end of the day, I expect the stairs will be sound, the windows and doors secure, and all the chimneys clean so they are not a fire hazard.”