“They went to the study,” Jenkins said
Dietrich sighed. “I suppose we’ll see them when they come back out.”
Ella glanced at him. Why did he say it that way?
“I’ve walked in on them kissing before,” Dietrich said, covering his mouth with his hand, as if it was some scandalous secret—which, to Ella, it was.
She had never walked in on anybody kissing before.
She hadn’t even seen anyone kiss in her presence before Lord Alexander and Beatrice, at least not that she remembered. Perhaps her father and stepmother had kissed in their bedchamber, but outside of it? Never.
“I see,” she said gravely.
Dietrich grinned. “I am sorry to scandalize you in this manner, but it is better that you know,” he said.
Jenkins laughed. “You’re going to have her thinking that Lord and Lady Dunham are completely indiscreet,” he said. “Rest assured, Miss Ella, you don’t have to worry.”
“Was there something to worry about?” Ella was confused. “Thank you,” she said, even if she wasn’t quite sure what she was thanking Jenkins for.
But she needn’t have worried about seeing something scandalous, because Beatrice came walking around the corner at that moment.
“Oh good, you’re still here,” she said to Dietrich with a winning smile. “I need you—”
“What now?” Dietrich asked, his tone wary.
“I need you to help me teach Ella to dance,” Beatrice said brightly.
“Nope,” Dietrich replied, backing away. “I don’t dance.”
“And yet, she needs a partner,” Beatrice said.
“Have Alexander do it.”
“He will be dancing with me,” Beatrice said with a mischievous grin. “How do you expect us to teach her to dance if she has no example to look at?”
“The same way my mother taught us to dance,” he grumbled.
“Well, it’s simply more fun this way,” Beatrice said. “Now, don’t tell me you can’t dance because you and I both know you dance splendidly.”
Ella looked up at Dietrich with a mischievous grin. “You dance?” she asked.
It seemed as if he did not like the idea of her knowing that.
“Beatrice,” he grumbled.
“Yes?” she asked sweetly.
“I have to go back to work,” he said, glancing toward the door.
“Good thing this will only take a few minutes,” Beatrice said, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the sitting room.
Dietrich continued to grumble as Lord Alexander joined them, and Jenkins moved to the piano and sat on the bench.
Ella didn’t know what she was supposed to be doing, so she simply stood waiting.
Dietrich moved closer and held out his hand, waiting for her to accept it.
She took a deep breath before carefully resting her hand in his.
