The Arrogant Duke. Anne Mather
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Название: The Arrogant Duke
Автор: Anne Mather
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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‘Surely English women are completely emancipated, are they not?’
‘I’ve just drank two cups of tea, senhor,’ replied Juliet coolly, marvelling at her own composure.
‘Touché!’ He half-smiled, revealing even white teeth, and Juliet felt a strange sensation disturb the pit of her stomach. It was not an unpleasant sensation, and yet it frightened her a little, and she was glad when he seated himself behind the desk, and resumed his lazy scrutiny of the papers on his desk.
Juliet hovered uncertainly by the door, and he nodded to the chair opposite him. ‘Do sit down, senhorita, or I shall have to stand myself, and this may take a few minutes.’
Juliet subsided into the chair again, and linked her hands in her lap, the demure attitude belying the strength of her convictions.
‘So, senhorita,’ he began, ‘I will tell you about Teresa. As you know she is sixteen years of age, and reasonably intelligent. Prior to the accident she attended an academy in Lisbon, my brother lived near there, you understand, but on her parents’ death, and her own subsequent disability, she was brought here — by me.’ He drew on his cheroot. ‘Teresa was not my brother’s child, but the child of his wife, and her first husband.’
‘Yes, Teresa told me,’ replied Juliet, and he frowned.
‘I see. She must have been singularly confiding this afternoon. Still – as I have said, after the accident, I brought her here. There was no one else. Her mother’s family – parents, at least, were dead, she had no brothers or sisters. The child was quite alone. Naturally, as she had taken my brother’s name, she was as much his child as any blood relation could be.’
‘I see.’
‘The accident – it was tragic. The usual motorway pile-up, with Teresa trapped in the wreckage for hours. Hours when she was conscious, and suffered much mental torture.’ He sighed. ‘The hospital could find little wrong with her; there is no injury to her legs, no spinal damage, she simply refuses to walk! It is as simple – or maybe, as difficult – as that!’ He leant forward. ‘And that is why I do not wish her to become emotionally disturbed, in any direction! She already is disturbed, and only time, and affection, and patience can cure her. She has a nurse, Miss Madison is a very capable woman. But she is old, in her fifties, and consequently can provide little companionship to a girl of Teresa’s age.’
Juliet sighed. ‘Then why create so much difficulty about employing a companion for her?’ she exclaimed.
The Duque frowned. ‘You are a very curious young woman, Miss Summers. I do not know that I care for your attitude!’
Juliet’s colour deepened. ‘Why? Don’t you like plain speaking?’
‘Plain speaking? What is this? The right to be impertinent if one so desires?’
‘No. It’s just being truthful, and calling black black.’
‘Hmm! Well, I will reserve judgment, senhorita.’
‘And are you going to tell me why you refused to employ me?’ Juliet determined to have it all out with him.
He shrugged. ‘Estelle did it all, senhorita. As she did before. Only then the girl was an American, Laura Weston. It was a disaster. Teresa disliked her, and there were continual bouts of disharmony in the household. In addition – oh, well, that at least is of no interest to you. So, senhorita, what do you think now?’
Juliet sighed. ‘Of course I should like the job,’ she admitted. ‘Teresa presents a challenge. I never could resist a challenge.’
He smiled, this time without mockery. ‘You have courage, pequena.’
Juliet wished he had said nothing. There was that awful sensation in her stomach again. She got hastily to her feet.
‘Do you want me to tell Teresa?’ she asked.
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