Free Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd Page B

cruel.“
    Now Wynter leaned forward, too, his eyes flashing. ”I will not allow anyone to mock them!“
    ”How will you stop it? Beat up other little boys like your son? Invade a debutante’s boudoir and forbid her laughter?“
    ”Papa, I don’t like this England. Can’t we go back home?“
    Leila’s quivering voice recalled Charlotte to her senses. No matter how incensed she was, she had no right to pass her fear to these innocent children. Despite her own experience.
    Taking Leila’s hand, she held it between her palms. ”Sweetheart, you’re going to be so unique, other girls will want to be you.“
    Leila sniffed and attempted a wobbling smile.
    But Robbie frowned as forbiddingly as his father, and Wynter…
    Wynter sat with his arms crossed over his chest, glowering at her. ”This whole scene is your fault.“
    Prudently, Charlotte placed Leila’s hand on the table and gave it a pat. ”I may have spoken unwisely, but you, sir—“
    ”I am reasonable. I am logical.“ His accent grew as strong as she’d ever heard it. ”I am a man.“
    Charlotte had to take a breath before she could trust herself not to raise her voice. ”In my experience, gender has little to do with logic or reason.“
    ”Your experience! You have been nowhere.“
    How cruel to disparage her for that! For the misfortunes that had made her life a dull and constant duty. ”You’re right, my lord. I bow to your wisdom. Tell us—how do men and women in other countries differ from the men and women in England?“
    She thought he might try to mumble some nonsense about foreign women knowing their places, but instead he announced, ”You are insolent, Lady Miss Charlotte.“
    He was wrong, he was immoderate and he was upsetting the children. And she, the lowly governess, was expected to bend to him. She would, of course. She always did, but heat blossomed on her chest and her face, and she knew her fair complexion had betrayed her fury. In as reasonable a voice as she could manage, she said, ”I have been hired to teach these children, and you are obstructing me. Unless we can reach some compromise—“
    ”I do not compromise,“ he stated flatly.
    ”Ah.“ Without volition, she shoved back her chair and tossed her napkin on the table. ”Then there is no reason for me to remain. I leave you to your supper. I wish you good fortune in finding a governess who suits your exacting standards.“
    And in a move that Lady Ruskin would have admired, she twirled on her heel and stalked away.
    CHAPTER 8
    Charlotte made it to the stairway before she stopped, hand on the carved newel post. How was she going to explain this scene to Hannah and Pamela? She had lost her temper, her common sense, her equanimity because of one man and his… his… surliness.
    It was not his charm which had so shaken her.
    Not that it mattered. No matter what the provocation, she had never created a spectacle before. And in front of the children! If Miss Priss behaved in such a bellicose manner, they could certainly be excused for thinking they could.
    Except they couldn’t. She had kept herself awake at night worrying how to successfully integrate these children into English society. Now she wouldn’t be there to guide them, and she’d set a bad example. She had betrayed the trust the children had put in her.
    More, how could she have forgotten herself so much as to quit her desperately needed employment? She had tarnished her own sterling reputation. She had lied to Adorna when she had guaranteed she would succeed. She had lost the hundred pounds paid to the Governess School as a placement fee, putting her friends’ venture in peril.
    With one hand, she clasped the post until the sharp edges pressed into her palm. The other she used to pull her handkerchief from her sleeve and swipe at her damp eyes. She hated knowing she had been a fool for any reason, but to be foolish over a man! Ah, that was the greatest humiliation.
    The door from the terrace slammed so hard