Aaron sat behind his large mahogany desk in his private office, a contract resting on the hard surface when a rapping came at the door. “Enter.”

He had spent countless hours tossing and turning last night as he thought about Miss Baxter and her offer as well as how she’d come to be in his carriage. Now he wished to get on with their meeting.

One thing was for certain, Sophia was smitten with the woman. Last night when Aaron had taken her the doll he’d bought, she’d hardly paid mind to it as she rushed to ask him if Miss Baxter could stay for a spell. Sophia went on to tell him that she found Miss Baxter to be a lovely lady and wished to become better acquainted with her. Big words for a seven year old—and they went right to his heart.

Miss Baxter stepped into the office, closing the door behind her.

“Please sit.” Aaron indicated a chair. He watched the subtle sway of her hips as she crossed the room to sit in the high-back leather chair. She was a beautiful woman, the kind that could bring a man to his knees if he were not careful.

She folded her hands on her lap and met his gaze, her violet eyes cautious. “Good morning, Your Grace.”

He smiled on impulse. “Good morning, Miss Baxter.” He could easily understand why his daughter liked the woman as she did. Since Sophia’s mother ran off with her lover, she’d not had a young, pretty woman around to spend time with. Her nanny had served as his nanny and was now quite advanced in years. The same was true of the house keeper, old governess, and cook.

Dismissing his musings, he focused on the task at hand. “I asked you here so that we could further discuss the possibility of you becoming Lady Sophia’s governess.”

Miss Baxter beamed, the worry he’d recognized in her gaze faded away. “I would be honored.”

“Very well.” He tugged at his cravat not at all certain he was doing the right thing. After all, he knew nothing of the woman. That would change here and now. “First I must know more about your background. Where do you hail from? Where did you receive your education?”

“My aunt and uncle raised me for most of my years. Aunt Charlotte taught me everything I needed to know in order to do well in life, and be able to mix with the higher classes. She always said it was imperative for a lady to be well educated, though one must never wear it openly, and to perfect the things expected of women.”

He settled back into his plush leather chair. “Your aunt sounds like a smart woman, though I disagree with keeping ones intelligence hidden. I wish for my daughter to be proud of her learning and abilities.”

“Aunt Charlotte was a smart woman indeed. She has passed on to her final reward.” A small frown pulled at Miss Baxter’s bow-shaped lips.

“I am sorry to hear it. I think I would have liked her.”

“I do not doubt that you would. Lady Sophia would as well. Your daughter is a delightful young woman and I agree with you, Your Grace, she should be happy to show off her brain as much, or more so, than her pretty face.”

The more they talked the more he relaxed. Regardless of how the woman came to be at his house, she seemed to belong. Furthermore, she was well spoken and conducted herself as a lady should. She’d told him she was well versed in the areas a governess must be, and she liked his daughter. He could find no reason not to hire her.

Aaron tapped the contract resting on the desk in front of him. “Have a look and let me know your thoughts.” He slid it toward Miss Baxter who lifted it from the polished surface and began to read.

After she reached the end of the contract she laid it back on the desk then looked up at him. “It is a generous offer, Your Grace. I am pleased to agree with all the terms you’ve laid out, except for one.”

He arched a brow in surprise for he could not imagine what she might disagree with. The contract included every provision he could think of right down to a new wardrobe and time away from the estate for personal matters and relaxation. He held her stare and asked, “Which might that be?”

“I am an accomplished singer and therefore have no need of attending Lady Sophia’s singing lessons. In fact, I should like to instruct her myself.”

Not an unreasonable concession. That is if the woman truly was accomplished. “Let me hear a sample of your skills.”

“As you wish.” Miss Baxter stood with her posture straight though not at all stiff. She drew in a breath then belted out the first lines of Robin Adair. “What’s this doll town to me? Robins not near…”

When she reached the end of the first stanza she stopped and smiled at him.

He had become lost in her voice, mesmerized. Miss Baxter had sung like a nightingale. He could listen to her for the rest of his days and never cease to be held in awe of her skill.

Bloody hell, by the time she reached the second line of the song, he had become completely captivated.

He reached for the contract and struck through the bit about Sophia’s singing lessons, then inserted that Miss Baxter alone would be responsible for her instruction. By the time he had made the change, he’d recovered his wits and turned his attention back to Miss Baxter. “That was lovely indeed.” He dipped the quill in ink and offered it to her.

“Thank you.” In a smooth and fluid motion of swirls and lines, Miss Baxter signed the contract. She angled her head, bringing her attention back to him. “I would like to start immediately.”

Aaron grinned at her enthusiasm. “Then allow me to take you on a tour of the house and most importantly, familiarize you with the school room. Once we have finished, you can begin your instruction.”

She nodded, rising to her feet. He came around the desk and offered his arm. When she rested her gloved hand on his coat sleeve a wave of longing passed through him. He’d wanted to reach over and cover her hand with his, but he resisted the urge instead leading her from the room. As they made their way down the corridor, he pointed out the various rooms they passed, stopping to peek into each one.

Miss Baxter asked him questions about the staff, the pictures on the walls, and the collection of leather-bound novels in the library. By the time they reached the private family drawing room the two of them were chatting like old acquaintances. He could not help but relax in her presence, and given his experience with beautiful women that terrified him.

He swallowed back his worries and led her toward the door. “This is the family parlor where we spend much of our time together.” He guided her into the room, stopping to gaze at his daughter who sat with her nanny at a table near the fire place.

Sophia looked up with a wide smile. “Daddy! Miss Baxter! Come see my drawing.”

Miss Baxter moved her hand from his arm and crossed the room to look at Sophia’s picture. “How lovely, Lady Sophia.” Miss Baxter pointed at the parchment. “I can tell that this is you and your daddy.” She trailed her finger up to the top of the drawing. “Who is this?”

Sophia angled her head up, meeting Miss Baxter’s gaze. “That is mama, she’s an angel.”

Aaron came to stand behind his daughter. He rested a hand on her small shoulder and looked at the parchment before her. She’d drawn a garden with cobbled paths and flowering bushes. He stood beside her, holding her hand on a path as they both gazed at the bright sky. His dead wife rested on a cloud, her wings spread and halo glistening. His chest tightened, not for her but for their daughter.

“Daddy, do you like it?” Sophia asked.

Aaron swallowed past the tightness in his throat. “You are a wonderful artist, Poppet.”

Her smile grew larger, lighting her eyes. “Good. I thought you might hang it in your office or bedchamber.” She shaded in a colorless flower then held the drawing out to him.

He hesitated a moment before reaching for it. “Might you rather hang it in your room?”

Sophia averted her gaze, her expression crestfallen. “You do not like it.”

“On the contrary,” Aaron said, searching for words to erase the hurt he’d caused. What a bloody fool he was when it came to his daughter’s grief. Still he could not help but be angry when his deceased wife entered their lives. She had no place in Sophia’s heart after what she’d done to them.

Miss Baxter reached out for the picture. “May I?”

Aaron allowed her to take it from his hand. She made a great show of studying the drawing and complementing Sophia on her skill. “I think this would be perfect in the school room. Then your mama would be watching you as you learn and grow. I just know she would be proud.”

“But I do not have a governess to teach me.” Sophia looked to Aaron, a small twinkle of good cheer back in her blue gaze.

“Oh but you do. Miss Baxter has agreed to fill the position.”

Sophia’s eyes took on their usual sparkle as she turned to Miss Baxter.

“And I would be honored if you would consent to hang your art in the school room.”

“Let us do so now.” Sophia jumped from her seat and grabbed Miss Baxter’s hand.

Miss Baxter smiled. “So long as your daddy does not object.”

He grinned at them. “Not in the least. We can continue our tour on the marrow. Meet me in the foyer after breaking your fast and I will show you the grounds before Sophia’s lessons.”

Aaron watched as the pair left the room hand in hand. Perhaps Miss Baxter would be good for his daughter. The way she had handled the drawing and seemed to sympathize with both him and Sophia spoke volumes to her character.

She’d proven herself to be a compassionate woman even if she held a secret. None-the-less, he had to get to the bottom of said secrets. He could not go on blind faith that she was trustworthy and safe to be around his daughter.

Tomorrow he would ask her how she’d come to be in his carriage as he’d meant to do today. God willing her answer would not make him regret allowing her close to his daughter.