“So, this story…” She indicated the book in her hand, which matched the one open on the desk before him. “It is not a struggle for you to follow?”
“No,” he said in a whisper, still not looking at her.
“Ah, so you’re bored,” she said with a cheeky smile. “You wish for something more complex.”
His head snapped up, and his blue eyes were wide again. “No! I mean…” He grimaced and looked away once more. “I just… I don’t know… why am I doing this? I don’t… I don’t want to.”
Yvette watched Hugh closely, noting the way he fidgeted, how his eyes looked everywhere but at the book he was supposed to be reading, and how full of energy he was. No doubt he’d spent his life doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wished it, and the idea of spending all day cooped up indoors was anathema to his very existence.
Yvette blamed herself for not seeing the problem.
It was easy to forget that Hugh was raised on the street… or so she assumed. Now that his hair was trimmed, his skin was scrubbed clean, and his clothes were sharp and pressed, he looked like a lordling in every respect. He also looked extremely uncomfortable.
“You don’t wish to learn?” she asked him.
“Not really,” he said.
She laughed. “But you have been taught before, yes? You said that you can read and write. Who taught you?”
Hugh grimaced. “My mother…”
Yvette frowned and leaned back, and then she very nearly asked who his mother was. The only thing that stopped her was the look in Hugh’s eyes, the sadness that was clear behind them, and the way his posture withdrew at the mere mention of her. There was pain there, and Yvette did not think it was worth reliving.
She exhaled deeply, a new plan coming to mind.
This was Yvette’s first day as well as Hugh’s, and she was still learning, just as he was. More than that, if she were to be a good teacher to him, he would need to trust her. She thought of her father’s congregation, how he would tell her that half the job was gaining the trust of the people who came to see him – nobody wanted to be preached to by someone whom they did not trust.
It is the same with education. Why should Hugh listen to me when he doesn’t trust me? Likely, he thinks this is all some trick or trap, and that I am a part of it. Which I can’t very well blame him for.
“That’s it, up you get,” Yvette commanded.
Hugh balked. “Wh – what?”
“Stand up,” she repeated. “Clearly, you aren’t in the mood to be taught today, and I am not going to force you.”
She saw how confused he was and how worried. Typically, this saw the return of his stutter also. “But – but – but –”
“What?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Do you want to continue? We can stay here all day, if you like.”
“No…” He spoke slowly as he studied her, searching for the lie that he assumed was next to come. “I… I don’t want… I don’t want to stay here all day.”
“As I thought.” She smirked. “Which is why I have a new idea, one you are sure to love. Would you like to hear it?”
“Yes…”
She rolled her eyes at how hesitant he was. “It is a lovely day outside, yes? Too lovely to spend indoors. So, for your first day of lessons, I think we would do well to go outside and take advantage of the weather. Perhaps play a game or two.”
“A game?” He perked up. “What game?”
In answer to that, Yvette flashed Hugh a wicked grin of mischief.
It was only a few minutes later that she and Hugh walked into the back garden of the manor. Like the rest of the home, itwas utterly gorgeous with its colorful flower beds, verdant grass lawns, and intricately styled hedges used to frame the garden’s edges. At the exact center was a large fountain made of marble, and that was where Yvette led Hugh.
“Now.” She clapped her hands together and beamed. “What’s say we play a game of hide and seek?”
Hugh could hardly contain his surprise. “Truly?”
“Why not?” she shrugged. “I have not played in years, and something tells me that you are a bit of an expert.”
