Perilous Pleasures Read Online Free Page B

asset to the school. I’d hoped she might become one of our permanent teachers, in time, for she has a talent for instruction, especially with the younger girls. But of course, she will have so many more advantages under her guardian’s care. It would be selfish of me to ask you to leave her with us.”
    Zoe could hold still no longer. “But what of my desires? I want to stay at the school with you. Surely you won’t allow my mother to hand me over to some rake.”
    â€œTemper your language, Zoe,” Mrs. Endicott commanded. She turned back to Lord Ramsay. “May I have a word in private with Miss Gervais?”
    He nodded curtly.
    Mrs. Endicott ushered Zoe into her small office, but after she’d closed the heavy door behind them, she didn’t take her usual place behind the large desk. Instead she put her arms around Zoe and gently stroked her shoulder.
    â€œWhy all this wild talk, my dear? I should never have expected such vehemence from you, the most mature of all my student teachers. The Laird of Iskeny is your guardian. After having paid your school fees all these years, it’s understandable he should wish to see you, especially now when he is so ill.”
    This laird had paid her school fees all along? This was the first she had heard of it.
    â€œI thought my mother paid my fees.”
    Mrs. Endicott’s eyebrows shot up. “My dear, we must speak frankly. As bright an ornament as you’ve proven to be to my establishment, I should never have admitted you into it had it not been for the laird’s influence—not with such a mother. But the Laird of Iskeny was quite emphatic that no other situation would do for his ward, and given his rank and wealth, I was persuaded to make allowances. All the more reason you should be grateful to him, instead of treating his emissary with such rudeness.”
    â€œBut if that was the case, why didn’t you tell me? Neither you nor my mother ever mentioned a word about my having a guardian.”
    â€œThe laird preferred it that way, and I respected his desire that I not burden you with the need to express your gratitude.”
    â€œAm I to be grateful, too, that he’s put me into the power of a man like this Lord Ramsay?”
    â€œOf course. I admit it is a bit irregular that he sent a man to fetch you to him, rather than entrusting you to the chaperonage of a lady. But the journey to Scotland is a difficult one and the laird’s illness requires it be made in haste. If I had a maid to spare, I should send her along to preserve the proprieties, but at such short notice it isn’t possible. But, even so, you should have nothing to fear from Lord Ramsay. As your acting guardian, he stands in the same relationship to you as an uncle or older brother. You need fear no stain on your reputation should you find yourself alone with him. But you must know that, Zoe. You’re well aware of the rules of propriety, so well aware that I’m at a loss to understand how you could have had the temerity to call him a rake to his face. What made you speak so rudely?”
    â€œ His rudeness. When he presented himself to my mother, he acted as if he’d come to make me his mistress. He pretended to give me jewels and then let my mother dicker with him over terms before he revealed he’d been sent by my guardian.”
    â€œThat does sound odd.” Mrs. Endicott brought one finger to rest against her long chin. “Still, I’ve heard no ill of Lord Ramsay. The laird writes that he is to be his heir, and that he has been away on the Continent for many years studying medicine. Beyond that, Lord Ramsay’s family is known to me. Their barony has an illustrious history in Scotland and stretches back to the days of the Wallace and the Bruce. You should consider yourself fortunate that he has offered to take you under his wing. It’s a rare opportunity for someone whose own ancestry is so