Mr. Hunt, I Presume (Playful Brides, #10.5)(9)

She shook her head. It did no good to contemplate the past. She must look to the future. Hadn’t that been her maxim since the day she’d left Brighton behind, wiping away the last of her tears and refusing to ever shed them again for any man?

Least of all, Collin Hunt.

“I’ll just leave you to look around for a bit,” Lucy said. “I’ll meet you back in the nursery when you’re ready.”

Erienne nodded happily and glanced around. She wouldn’t take long, but she dearly appreciated the few minutes to explore her new home. She had been apprehensive agreeing to this position. In the last few days since first meeting with Lucy, she’d refused it outright more than once. But the duchess refused to take no for an answer. It wasn’t until Lucy mentioned a sum of money that Erienne had seldom dreamed of that she finally relented and told the duchess she would think about it. After all, the amount Lucy had offered for one month’s pay had been more than she’d made in an entire year at the Hilltops’.

Erienne would be a complete fool to refuse it. Her brother needed surgery to remove a bullet from his back and she was used to sending all her money home. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pay for all of Peter’s medical bills, and then some, over the fact that she might encounter a man from her past if she took the position. That would have been entirely selfish of her. She had been merely thinking about it, however, not at all convinced that she would take the position, but she’d discovered to her acute chagrin that Lucy Hunt could be extremely convincing, almost ridiculously so, when she wanted to be. She’d sent Erienne letters every day begging her to accept, along with gifts of gowns, flowers, and books. She’d even written to Lady Hilltop and asked her to put in a good word for her.

The lady had written posthaste to tell Erienne she’d lost her wits if she refused a position in the illustrious Duchess of Claringdon’s household. “Why, I daresay the entirety of Hilltop House could fit in one bedchamber at Huntingdon.”

But now that she was actually here, Erienne’s middle was filled with nerves at the prospect of seeing Derek. Had Lucy told him about her? He had to remember her. How else had Lucy known who she was?

Erienne didn’t hold out much hope (fear?) of seeing Collin. Lucy had assured her that he worked constantly and stayed in his apartments in London. He could usually be found in his offices at Whitehall, neither of which were places Erienne would ever be likely to visit in her role as governess to the duke and duchess’s children. She supposed she might face him eventually at some holiday like Christmastide, but that was a long way off.

Erienne trailed her way over to stand in front of the painting of the two girls. She’d admitted her past with Collin to Lucy, but had significantly downplayed the effect it had had on her, though she had asked Lucy to promise not to attempt to arrange for them to meet. “I realize it may come to pass, eventually, but I would dislike it immensely if you were to … orchestrate it.” She’d cleared her throat, hoping the duchess wouldn’t ask too many personal questions about her past with Collin.

“I completely understand,” Lucy had replied, patting her on the shoulder and giving her a sympathetic look that Erienne greatly appreciated.

That had been the end of their discussion about Collin, thank heavens.

Now, Erienne twirled in a circle, taking in the gorgeous surroundings once more. The children seemed well-behaved, the pay was exorbitant, and her suite was magnificent. She might have an awkward moment with Derek at first, and someday she might have to suffer through an excruciating encounter with Collin, but she would worry about that when the time came. For now, she intended to enjoy every moment of this glorious new position.

Lucy had been beyond generous in allowing her a few moments to settle in. She should get back. She mustn’t take advantage of the duchess’s generosity. Erienne hurried into the corridor, closing the door to her rooms behind her, and made her way back to the nursery.

When she entered the room she stopped short, her breath caught in her throat.

Collin was standing there.

Erienne’s heart pounded so heavily her chest hurt. The tall, dark-haired man faced away from her, his broad shoulders blocking Lucy from her view, but she could hear the duchess’s voice coming from the other side of him. Wait. No. It wasn’t Collin. She closed her eyes and expelled her pent-up breath. It was Derek. Of course it was Derek, not Collin, standing there. The two brothers simply looked so much alike. She took a fortifying gulp of air for good measure and straightened her shoulders.

“Your grace?” she called softly.

Lucy stepped around her large husband, a wide smile on her face, as Derek turned to Erienne.

“Ah, here she is now. I was just telling Derek about you,” Lucy said.

Erienne lowered her chin, but forced herself to meet Derek’s eyes, which instantly widened. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been perhaps seventeen years old. On leave from the army, he’d come home to visit his family. He’d been a tall, handsome young man, and now he was larger and even more handsome. Except for his dark eyes, he looked so much like Collin.

Her knees nearly buckled. Why had she done this to herself? Was the money and the suite of rooms truly worth this constant reminder of Collin? She pressed her lips together. Hard.

Lucy hurried over to her side and threaded her arm through Erienne’s as she’d done so many times before. “Derek, may I present Miss—”