I nodded, casting him a suspicious look.
He grinned in his triumphant way. I lost to Owen often in piquet, but why did it feel like I had just lost a much greater battle? I was suddenly very nervous. The portion where Owen would teach my brothers was harmless, but the thought of my payment—his having free reign over my secrets, I certainly did not like. I didn’t even know if I had secrets, but if I did, I was sure that Owen could uncover any truths he wanted. He was very good at things like that.
To ease my worries, I told myself that I would just have to become even better at hiding things about myself. ForIwas very good at things like that.
CHAPTER 15
Istood with my brothers at the water gardens, fidgeting with my gown. Owen would be arriving at any moment. As I waited, I cast my gaze at all the sculptures, fountains, and the large man-made waterfall at the center.
I was about to venture to the stables to visit the horses, when I saw Owen step out the back door of the house. My stomach twisted with nerves. I hadn’t the slightest idea of what he had planned.
A minute later, he walked up beside us. “Good morning,” he said in a friendly voice. His hair was untidy from the breeze, his jaw freshly shaven. I stared at the sharp corners for a little too long.
I snapped my gaze away fast. “Good morning.”
He flashed his familiar grin. “I’ve decided upon their first lesson.”
“What is it?”
He answered by speaking to my brothers. He turned to face them, bending over to be closer to their height. “I am going to teach you boys the first and most important lesson that you can learn as a gentleman. It is absolutely essential.”
Peter and Charles exchanged an eager glance. They would eat up any words Owen spoke. “Tell us!” Peter said with a grin.
Owen paused a few seconds longer for suspense. “I am going to teach you the proper way to treat a lady.”
I scoffed.
He turned to me with a look of surprise. “What? Have I not redeemed myself?”
I shrugged, willing myself to have a teasing glint in my eye. “Partially, I suppose.”
He stepped closer to me, and I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between his eyes and his brows and lashes. Facing the sun, his eyes looked brighter blue than usual, but his lashes and brows remained every bit as dark. They seemed to be the perfect frame for the picture of the sea that his eyes made me imagine. He tipped his head down to look more directly at me. “Then you must allow me to finish the task.”
I tried to look unaffected by his closeness and the tone of his voice.
“Please take a seat,” he said to my brothers.
They immediately obeyed, plopping down on the grass.
Owen paced in front of them. “What do you suppose a gentleman ought to do if a lady appears to be in need of assistance?” His voice sounded so professional that I had to bite back laughter. It was all so ridiculous.
“He should help her?” Peter guessed.
Owen nodded. “Good.”
“What if she doesn’t want him to help her?” I cut in.
Owen looked at me with a half smile. “Then she will be sure to let him know.”
A small grin crept onto my lips.
“A true gentleman will cease whatever he is doing to assist her,” he continued. “No matter how important the task may seem.” He walked over to me. “Annette, will you climb up therefor a moment?” He pointed to a large stack of stones that spanned the waterfall. The top stone must have been fifteen feet high and was covered in slick moss.
I looked at him in disbelief. “What?”
“I climbed it often as a boy. For you, I arranged the stones in a staircase to make the climb safer.” He smiled crookedly. “Unless you don’t think you are able.” His voice carried that challenging note that made my pride flare.
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you truly telling me to climb somethingagain?”
