“Poor Chef,” Lucien murmured. “He wishes we’d cut him intocôtes de porcafter all.”
“Don’t worry,” Jack assured him. “That’s probably what the twins are doing.”
See? Both obstinatetêtusunderstood each other far better than they liked to let on.
Désirée rolled her eyes. “Pay attention to the table, please. Prepare to be amazed and astounded.”
Jack leaned closer and lowered his voice. “What do you think about children?”
She missed her shot.
“I am amazed,” said Lucien, deadpan.
Bastien nodded. “I am astounded.”
Uncle Jasper, however, was fast asleep.
Désirée ignored all three and turned to face Jack. “What do you mean, what do I think about children?”
“Mine,” he clarified quickly. “Their education.”
She frowned. “What’s wrong with their education?”
“They haven’t got one.”
“Take your shot,” Bastien called out.
Jack brandished his cue. And missed. Possibly because his eyes were on Désirée, rather than the table.
“You are seeking advice?” she asked. “From someone who has never birthed nor raised a child?”
“Take your shot,” Bastien groaned.
She did. Perfect point.
Jack’s gaze was still on her. “I’m seeking advice from a young lady who I assume knows other young ladies. Do you know anyone with experience teaching children?”
Tutoring. She imagined any number of young women would leap at the chance to tutor Jack’s children—if only because it brought them closer to Cressmouth’s most eligible resident bachelor. But did she know anyone with actual experience teaching children?
“Désirée…” Lucien warned.
She took another shot. Another point.
Désirée had the same amount of child tutoring experience her friends did—which was to say, none at all. What shedidhave was a family in desperate need of money, and years of practice wrangling the three biggestenfantsof all—Lucien, Bastien, and Uncle Jasper.
An idea tickled her skin. If she could cram English conjugation down Lucien’s stubborn throat, certainly she could tutor Annie and Frederick in… whatever ten-year-olds needed tutoring in.
“You don’t knowanyonecapable of teaching children?” she asked carefully.
Bastien leaned a hip against the table. “Désirée has plenty of experience with children. She tutors Lucien all the time. Weren’t you saying you wished those lessons would stop? Here’s your chance.”
“The only thing I recall wishing to say,” Lucien gritted out, “is that you can take this bright red ball and shove—”
“I’ll do it,” Désirée said decisively.
Jack startled backward. “You’ll be their governess?”
“Their… what?” she stammered.Governesssounded significantly more involved thantutor. Then again, money was money. The faster they earned it, the sooner they could leave. “What kind of governess?”
