“This is why I called you,” Dietrich said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I knew you would be willing.”
“And you didn’t want to deal with it yourself,” Lady Dunham said with a chuckle.
“You wound me,” Dietrich said. “I simply thought she would benefit from your tutoring, as someone who has made a similar transition recently.”
“I see,” Lady Dunham said. “So you want me to do what, exactly?”
Dietrich grinned. “I want you to teach her how to be a lady.”
Lady Dunham laughed. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Isn’t it?” he asked. “You certainly did it well enough.”
Lady Dunham shook her head. “I am still terrible at it. If you want help, you should ask Sophia.”
“Is Sophia home?” Dietrich asked eagerly, before turning to Ella. “Sophia was our friend who found out that her father was nobility even though she was Lord Rendon’s goat girl.”
“And she fell in love with the lord’s son,” Lady Dunham said with a grin, “which is just impossibly romantic. But I think she’s in Riyel at the moment, unfortunately, no matter how eager you are to replace me. But I suppose I can help, at least to start. As you said, I do understand it, I’m just not as advanced as Sophia.”
“She’ll need lessons on manners, tutoring on the local nobility, practice at dining properly, and wearing the right clothes.”
“I think you’ll fit in some of my gowns,” Lady Dunham said, turning and assessing Ella with a kind smile.
“And she said she wants to learn to ride, and perhaps Alexander can teach her to dance. She’s going to need more help than I’ll have time for.”
Ella glanced between the two of them, her frustration with Dietrich growing with every moment.
“How often do I have to ask you to stop talking about me like I’m not here?”
Dietrich ran his hand through his hair, looking appropriately remorseful.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just—I’m used to talking about the horses, and they don’t care.”
Lady Dunham and Ella stared at him.
“What?” he asked.
“You did not just compare her to a horse,” Lady Dunham said, her words forceful, and Dietrich grimaced.
“That was badly done,” he said sheepishly.
“Yes, yes, it was,” Lady Dunham said, shoving him in the shoulder. “Apologize.”
“I am very sorry, Ella,” he began. “I’m out of practice when it comes to speaking to a beautiful woman.”
Ella’s eyes widened at the compliment, and she turned to Lady Dunham, who was still giving Dietrich a glare.
“She should not let you get away with that,” Lady Dunham said. “But since I must be home soon and we haven’t much time, I think we’ll have to let this one slide. Don’t you think?” she said, turning to Ella.
“I—yes.” Ella couldn’t hide the tiny smile that appeared. She liked Lady Dunham. “I suppose we’ll have to let it go.”
“Don’t do it again,” Lady Dunham warned, settling into the seat beside Ella. “Now, dear, tell me about yourself while Dietrich goes to get me a drink.”
“Excuse me?” Dietrich began spluttering, but Beatrice simply waved him off, and he complied, heading up to the counter where Thea was waiting.
“Now that he’s gone, I wanted to ask you—do you think he’s right?”
Ella took the hand that Lady Dunham offered and squeezed it.
