Chapter 32
Isolde
“As I was saying, we a**e by rules in this house. Is that clear?”
My breath hitched as he paused right in front of me. I couldn’t meet his gaze – simply couldn’t. To look into those eyes would surely unravel me, melting my resolve like wax under a flame.
“Is that clear?” he murmured, this time his voice cutting through the space between us.
I nodded, still unable to meet his penetrating gaze. “Absolutely, Lord.”
I could almost feel the hint of a smile on his lips as he moved past me, and the breath I had been holding surged back out like a tide when he did.
“I apologize if I seem overly formal, but this is, after all, a job interview, isn’t it?” His voice was crisp and commanding, each word wrapped in a refined British accent that dripped with privilege and breeding. I dared to look up then, grateful that his attention roamed over everyone instead of being fixed solely on me. He raised an eyebrow, a playful glimmer lighting his expression before he finally turned his gaze directly to
mine.
Heat rushed to my cheeks under his unwavering stare, the electric charge of his presence wrapping around me as if I were drowning in it. I swallowed hard and shifted. awkwardly in the unfamiliar heels I wore.
“Formal is the way I was raised, and it’s the way I intend to raise my own children,” he said, striding confidently to a side table against the elegantly paneled wood wall. With a small pop, he removed the stopper from a crystal decanter, filling a tumbler with. amber liquid. The rich, smoky scent of scotch wafted toward me, drawing my senses in. He swirled the glass thoughtfully, his eyes never straying from mine as he brought it to his lips.
“So, as I was saying…” His voice was soft like velvet, weaving an unbreakable spell that dared me to lean in closer, hanging on his every word. For a fleeting moment, I allowed
Forbidden Lessons
dared me to lean in closer, hanging on his every word. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe he spoke only to me, ignoring the other candidates entirely.
“Yes, Lord?” I found myself responding, as if we truly were the only two people in the
room.
“Rules. We hold them in high esteem in this house, and I expect anyone who wishes to work under this roof to feel the same way.” His smile faded, and he took another sip, lazily swirling the decadent liquid in his glass as he turned his gaze to the other girls gathered in the room.
My mind swirled in the dim light, where the scent of old books mingled with the steely gaze of my potential employer. It was an intoxicating mix unlike anything I had ever experienced a heady brew of excitement and undeniable tension. His eyes drifted back to me, that subtle, smug grin creeping back to life on his lips.
He was clearly toying with me, and we both knew it. He recognized me the girl who had danced on the edge of inhibition during a forbidden night, the one who had let him take me to places only whispered about. The thought sent a shiver through me, and I could sense him savoring the power he wielded over me.
His intense gaze drank in my hesitation, and a thin smile curled at his lips. No way was I going to submit to him like this. I might not leave this place with the job, but I wouldn’t let him steal my spirit. He had taken my body that night, but he would not take my dignity here.
Drawing in a steady breath, I stood a little taller. “I completely agree, Lord,” I said, my voice firm as I addressed him as if we were alone. “Without rules, without discipline, and without a firm hand to guide them, all that exists is chaos.” A smirk flickered inside me, but I kept my expression professional.
He raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and intrigue dancing in his eyes as he nodded slowly.
“And naturally,” I continued. “Disorder has no place in
any
household.”
Yes! I m***lly high-fived myself. His approving grin only drove that point home.
“Excellent Ms. Winlev
Forbidden Lessons Excenen, IVIS. VVIшey.
I froze.
Of course, he had our names for the interview, yet that c** glimmer in his eye told me he’d been savoring this moment, just waiting to drop my name. The girl who had surrendered herself to him those nights was now standing in his study, seeking to be his children’s caretaker, and he found it deliciously entertaining.
The air became thick and charged as we locked eyes, the fire in his steely gaze igniting something deep within me. He took another sip of his drink, finally looking away.
“The rest of you may leave. Thank you for your interest in the position.”
A chorus of sighs filled the space, mixed with curious and angry glances aimed my way as the other candidates gathered their belongings and shuffled out. The door shut with a thud behind the last one, and I felt a shiver race down my spine.
“Isolde Winley,” he mused, letting my name dance over his tongue.
I swallowed hard, that lump in my throat threatening to choke me. “Lord, I-”
“Dr. Emory Hale had nothing but praise for you. He says you’re ambitious, intelligent, driven, and responsible, which is precisely why you’re here in my home.” He tilted his” head, frowning slightly as if searching for something. “I’m assuming Dr. Emory Hale isn’t aware of your more… shall we say, reckless nocturnal activities?”
Heat surged to my face, embarrassment washing over me as I dropped my gaze to the floor, wishing to melt right into it. “That’s not me,” I whispered, desperate to reclaim my dignity. “Lord,” I added quickly, as if that would somehow salvage my pride.