“Indeed.” I laughed. “At least it’s keeping them out of trouble.”
“No young boy is truly a young boy if he doesn’t get intosome trouble.” His words rang with familiarity.
“You sound like your grandmother,” I said.
His smile grew, and it was more than a little devious. “My grandmother is a very wise woman.”
My thoughts flickered back to her words about encouraging a match between us. He couldn’t be referring to that, could he? I still wondered how long he had been standing at the door, and if he had overheard the conversation.
I didn’t dare look at his face for any clues. I fixed my gaze forward, watching my brothers’ delighted expressions. On the subject of my brothers, Mrs. Everard and Owen were completely right. No matter what could be done to improve their behavior, Aunt Ruth’s expectations would never be satisfied. It was impossible to alter the natural inclinations of a young boy to the extent that she desired in so short a time. Their behavior could be adjusted, yes, but they couldn’t lose their mischievous spirits entirely. And I didn’t want them to.
Owen’s voice broke into my thoughts. “I don’t wish to neglect my responsibility any longer. I will make a plan to begin giving them lessons.”
I was puzzled for a brief moment, but then remembered that Mrs. Kellaway had charged him with the responsibility of training my brothers—something that I had not been very pleased with. But now that Owen had proved himself to be more responsible than I had first assumed, I felt guilty that this ordeal had been thrust upon him.
“You really don’t have to. It is my responsibility,” I said in a brisk voice.
“Iwantto help, if you will allow me to.”
I kept my gaze fixed on my brothers straight ahead. I didn’t like receiving favors from people without being able to repay them somehow. It made me feel like some kind of thief. “You must be very busy with your profession. I don’t wish to intrude on your time.”
I caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye. It looked like he was shaking his head. “It is not an intrusion.”
“But it is an inconvenience,” I countered.
“No.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “You cannot deny that you are motivated by a sense of obligation.”
He sighed. “The only things motivating me are my concern for the well-being of your brothers, and selfishly, my desire to spend more time with you. I was disappointed when the tour was over.”
My heart jumped at his confession. I would never admit that I had been disappointed too. I gave up a reluctant smile, looking down at Eve’s mane. It shone in the sunlight. “Very well. But please, tell me how I can repay you.”
He cast me a look of exasperation. “I don’t desire payment.”
“Please.” I waited, considering the thoughtful expression emerging on his face. After a few moments of silence, Owen’s mouth lifted in a triumphant grin.
“Fine,” he said. “I will tell you how you can repay me.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “With knowledge.”
My brow contracted. “Knowledge about what?”
“You. I find you frustratingly difficult to read, and you don’t seem eager to speak of yourself. Not for free, at least.” He gave a mischievous grin.
Drat it all.What had I just committed to? I thought back to our conversations, and realized that I did tend to turn thesubject away from myself on most occasions. “What do you mean?”
Owen studied my face for a brief moment, his eyes squinting in thought. “For every lesson I give Peter and Charles, I shall be permitted to ask you a question of my choosing. And you must answer honestly.”
I started sweating. “But these questions…they must be appropriate.”
He scowled. “Of course.”
“And not too…invasive.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
I shot him a glare. Why had I insisted that I repay him? Why had I not seen this coming? He had already discovered some things about my life in the orangery that I didn’t want anyone to know, and now he had this sneaky way of discovering even more. I tried to look the least bit unsettled. “We have an agreement, then.” I was proud of how steady my voice sounded.
“Good. My first lesson will be tomorrow morning. Meet me by the water gardens after breakfast.”
