Seven

We will be entertaining guests for the next few days, Lady Fairy continued. Very important guests.Several barons, a few viscounts, and even an earl. Lord and I move in lofty circles.

Sarah shivered as she remembered the one time she had had to brush shoulders with the nobility. She hadn't found them particularly noble. Edward. His face came to her mind. Some years and she could still remember every detail. The way his eyebrows arched.His laugh lines when he smiled.The way he had always tried to tell her he loved her when she least expected it.Edward.His words had been proven false, indeed.

Miss Sarah!"

Sarah snapped out of her reverie. Yes, my lady?"

"I would prefer it if you would endeavor not to cross paths with our guests, but if that proves impossible, do try to conduct yourself with the appropriate decorum. Sarah nodded, really wishing that she didn't need this job so badly.

That means you mustn't raise your voice. As if anyone other than nasty Julie ever gave her cause to raise her voice.Yes, my lady."

Sarah watched as Lady Fairy stalked off again, making sure that she was well out of sight. Then, as she resumed her search for Julie, she took great pleasure in saying, I'm going to find you, you bloody little beast.

She wrapped into the west garden, each step she took punctuated by a mild mental curse. Oh, if her father could hear her thoughts! Sarah sighed. She hadn't seen her family in seven long years. She still corresponded with Zara, but she'd never returned She couldn't forgive her father for tying her up that fatefully evening, and she couldn't bear to face him, knowing that he had been correct in his judgment of Edward.

But governess had not proven easy, and Sarah had held three positions in the past some years. It seemed most ladies didn't like their children's

governesses to have silky sable hair and dark blue eyes. And they certainly didn't like them to be quite so young and pretty. Sarah had become quite adept at fending off unwanted attention. She shook her head as she scanned the lawn for Julie. In that measure, at

least, Edward had not proven any different from the other young men of his class.

All they seemed to be interested in was luring young women to their beds. Especially young women whose families were not powerful enough to demand marriage after the act.

The position had seemed a godsend. Lord wasn't interested in anything besides his horses and hounds, and there were no older sons to plague her on their visits home.

Unfortunately, there was Julie, who had been a little terror from the first day.

Spoiled and ill-mannered, he practically ruled the household, and Lady Fairy had forbidden Sarah from disciplining him.

Sarah sighed as she walked across the lawn, provide that Julie hadn't gone into the head maze. Julie!" she called out, trying to keep her voice down.

"In he-ere, !"

The little wretch always refused to call her Miss Sarah. Sarah had brought

the matter up with Lady Fairy, who had only laughed it off, remarking on how original and clever her son was. Jullie?" Please, not the maze. She'd never learned her way around it. In the maze, you clod head!

Sarah groaned and muttered, I hate being a governess." And it was true. She hated it. Hated every second of this beastly subservience, and hated having to pander to spoiled children. But most of all she hated the fact that she'd been

forced into this. She'd never been given a choice. Not really. She hadn't believed

for one moment that Edward's father wasn't going to spread vicious gossip about

her. He wanted her out of the district.

It was governess or ruin.

Victoria entered the maze. Julie?" she asked cautiously. Over here!"

It sounded like he was to her left. Saran took a few steps in that direction Sarah!" he shrieked. I bet you can't find me!"

Sarah ran around a corner, man than another, and another. Sarah!" she

yelled. "Where are you?"

"Here I am, Sarah."

Sarah nearly screamed with frustration. It sounded as if he was straight

through the hedge to her right. The only problem was that she had no idea how

to get to the other side. Maybe if she went around that corner.

She made a few more twists and turns, wretchedly aware that she was

completely lost. Suddenly she heard an awful sound.

Julie's laughed. "I'm free, Sarah!"

Julie!" she yelled, her voice growing shrill. Jule!"

"I'm going home now," he taunted. "Have a nice night Sarah sank onto into ground. When she made her l way free, she was going to kill that oy. And she was going to enjoy doing it.

Eight hours later Sarah still hadn't found the exit. After two hours of searching, she finally sat down and cried. Tears of frustration were becoming increasingly common these days. She couldn't imagine that t much he household had

failed to note her absence, but she rather doubted that Julie had confessed to

leading her into the maze. The wretched boy had probably sent whoever was looking for her in the exact opposite direction. Sarah would be lucky if she only had to spend one he sighed and looked up at the sky. It was probably nine in the evening, but twilight still hung in the air. Thank goodness Julie hadn't thought to play his prank in the winter when the days were short. The tinkle of music floated through the air, ba sign hat the festivities of the house party had begun, obviously without a thought to the missing governess. I hate being a governess, Sarah muttered for about the twelfth time that day. It didn't make her feel better to say it out loud, but she did so anyway. And then finally, after she had begun to fantasize about the scandal that would

ensue once the Valley found her dead body in the maze three months hence, Sarah heard voices. Oh, thank the heavens. She was saved. Sarah jumped to her feet and opened her mouth to shout out a greeting.

Then she heard what the voices were saying.

She shut her mouth. Oh, blast.

"Come here, you big stallion," a female voice giggled. You're always so original, Helene. The male voice epitomized civilized boredom, but he did sound slightly interested in what the lady had to offer. Oh, this was just her luck. Eight hours in the maze and the first people to join

her were a pair of trysting lovers. Sarah rather doubted hey would be pleased to learn of her presence. Knowing the nobility, they would probably find some way o make this awkward situation look as if it were her fault.

"I hat being a governess," she breathed hotly, sitting back down on the ground. And I hate the nobility."The female voice interrupted its giggles long enough to say, Did you hear something?"

"Shut up, Elsa."Sarah sighed and clapped her hand to her forehead. The couple was

beginning to sound quite amorous, despite the man's somewhat lazy rudeness.

"No, I'm sure I heard something. What if it's my husband? Your husband knows what you are, Elsa."

"Did you just insult me?"

"I don't know. Did I?"

Sarah could just imagine the man crossing his arms and leaning against the hedgerow.

You're very naughty, did you know that? Elsa said.

"You certainly like to remind me of it."

"You make me feel naughty, too."

"I don't think you've ever needed assistance in that endeavor."

sir, I'm going to have to punish you."

Oh, please, Sarah thought, sliding her hand to cover her eyes.

El out another trill of high-pitched giggles. Catch me if you can!"Sarah heard the rhythm of running feet and sighed, thinking that she would be trapped in the maze with this couple for an extremely awkward amount of

time. Then the footsteps came closer and closer. Sarah looked up just in time to see a blond woman come tearing around the corner. She didn't even have time to yell out before Helene tripped over her and landed ungracefully on the

ground."What the hell? Elsa screeched.

"Now, now, Elsa" came the male voice from around the corner. "Such

language is unbecoming to your pretty mouth."

"Shut up, Valley. There is a girl here. A girl. Elsa turned to Sarah.

"Who the devil are you? Did my husband send you?"

But Sarah didn't hear her. Valley? Valley? She shut her eyes in

agony. Oh, dear Lord. Not Edward. Please, anyone but Edward.

Heavy, booted footsteps rounded the corner. Elsa, what the hell is going

on? Sarah slowly looked up, her blue eyes huge and terrified. Edward.

Her mouth went dry. She couldn't breathe. Oh, God.Edward. He looked older.

His body was still rock hard and powerful, but there were lines on his face that hadn't been there some years ago, and his eyes looked forever grim. He didn't see her at first, his attention still on the fuming Elsa. "She's

probably that misplaced governess Valley was talking about."He turned

to look at Sarah. "Been missing since—"

The blood drained from his face. "You."

Sarah swallowed nervously. She'd never thought to see him again, had never

even tried to prepare herself for how she might feel if she did. Her body felt strange, rather queer, and she wanted nothing more than to dig a hole in the ground and bury herself in it.

Well, that was not entirely true. Part of her wanted very much to scream out her fury and rake er nails across his cheeks.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he bit out.

Sarah gathered up her pride and looked back at him defiantly. "I am the misplaced governess."

Elsa kicked Sarah in the hip. "You'd better call him 'my lord' if you value your position, girl. He is an earl, and you would do well not to forget it."

"I am well aware of what he is."

Elsa flicked her head in Edward's direction. "Do you know this girl?"

"I know her."

It took all of Sarah's will not o cringe at the ice in his voice. She was wiser

now than she'd been seven years ago. And stronger, too. She rose to her feet,

stood straight, looked him in the eye, and said, Edward."

"That's a fine greeting," he drawled.

"What's the meaning of this?" Elsa demanded. "Who is she? What are you

—" Her head swung from Sarah to Edward. "Did she call you Edward?"Edward didn't once take his eyes off Sarah. "You'd better leave, Elsa"

"I most certainly will not." She crossed her arms.

"Elsa, "he repeated, his voice laced with low warning.

Sarah heard the veiled fury in his voice, but apparently, Elsa did not, because she said, "I can't imagine what you would have to say to this…this governess person."

Edward turned to Elsa and

roared, "Leave us!"

She blinked. I don't know the way out."

"A right, two lefts, and another right," he bit out.

Elsa opened her mouth as if to say more, then obviously thought better of it.

With one last nasty glance in Sarah's direction, she quit the scene. Sarah was more than half inclined to follow her. "A right, two lefts, and another right,"

she breathed to herself."You're not going anywhere," Edward barked. His imperious tone was just enough to convince Sarah that there was no use even attempting to make

a with him. If you'll excuse me," she said, stalking past him.

His hand landed on her arm like a thunderstorm. "Get back here, Sarah."

"Don't give me commands," she burst out, whirling to face him. "And don't

speak to me in that tone of voice."

"Goodness," he mocked. "Such demands for respect. Most odd coming from a woman whose idea of faith—"

"Stop!" she yelled. She wasn't certain what he was talking about, but she couldn't bear to listen to his scathing tone of voice.Just stop! Stop!"