Page 9 of His Scandalous Lessons
“Miss Mary,” he said. What was that voice? Good god, he sounded as if he were in a bedchamber, welcoming a woman to his bed. Anne could see the effect it had on her poor maid; she doubted there was a woman alive who could withstand it. “If I may speak with you for but a moment?”
Mr. Grey smile a slow, utterly beautiful smile and beckoned with his fingers. The poor girl drew closer, helpless to resist. Anne watched in fascination. She wondered if it ought to disgust her how easily he was able to disarm a woman, but was this not the skill she sought him for? Was it not what she wished him to teach her? With only three weeks to snare a husband, she had little time. Certainly none to consider the morality of it.
He leaned down and whispered something in Mary’s ear.
“Oh, but I couldn’t,” she protested a moment later.
Mr. Grey whispered something else. Good god, was he trying to seduce Anne’s maid?
Then he took a bundle of bill folds out of his pocket and thrust it into her hands. “Yes?”
“And I’m off,” Mary said brightly. She looked over at Anne and winked. “Enjoy yer holiday, Miss.”
Anne only sputtered a response as the girl grasped her shawl from the seat and bounced out of the carriage. Mere heartbeats later, the whistle blew for the remaining passengers to board. Without a single explanation, Mr. Grey settled across from her. He removed his hat and casually crossed his legs at the ankles.
The railcar was not big enough for him. He took up an excessive amount of space.
There was just...too muchof him.
Drawing back as far as possible, Anne asked, “What did you say to my maid?”
Mr. Grey lifted a shoulder. “I told her that if she wished, there was a position waiting for her with a lady friend of mine. It has the benefit of holidays, increased wages, and an employer who wasn’t a complete monster. Then I gave her some money for more incentive to flee.”
“How do you know my father is a monster to his servants?”
“Easy,” he murmured. “Because he’s one to his daughter.”
Anne was glad she wasn’t looking at him, because otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to bear it. She was quiet as the train chugged forward. Her breathing didn’t sound right. Too quick, too ragged. It betrayed much of her uneasiness.
Take your time. Calm yourself.After all, Mr. Grey seemed to be in no rush. He watched her as if amused by her discomfort.
“We will establish rules, you and I,” she said finally. “If we are to work together.”
“Rules,” Mr. Grey echoed. “What sort of rules?”
“For how to conduct ourselves, of course. The first is that I do not wish to discuss either my fiancé or my father, unless it is useful to your cause or I choose to bring up the matter.” She flicked her gaze up. “Is that understood?”
He nodded once. “Quite.”
“The second is that for every lesson you give me, I will provide information on my father’s colleagues, including men he has blackmailed. Who it is will be at my discretion. At the end of the two weeks, I will provide the rest of the information regardless of whether I am successful at securing a husband.”
Mr. Grey tilted his head slightly. “You would give me so much in the event of failure?”
Anne pressed her lips together. Perhaps she should not have made such a concession at first. Were she a man, her father would have lectured her on showing her hand too early. One cannot make demands when one had given the game away.
But Anne was not her father. She was not heartless, and she would not be as ruthless, either.
“My father's allies force tenants to vote against their best interests or risk being thrown into the streets. They deserve to have their say in a private ballot. I could not live with myself if I didn’t do everything possible to ensure that right.”
Mr. Grey stared at her. “You care?” he asked in a low voice.
“My father might be a monster, sir, but I am not. I only ask that you not take advantage, and be honest with me in all things.”
“Is that rule three?”
“If you like.”
Mr. Grey outstretched his bare hand, pausing just short of touching her. Asking for permission, she realized. As if she were a wild animal he was allowing to scent him, to gain his trust. Anne slid her hand into his, but was surprised when he proceeded to slowly remove her glove, finger by finger.
