“That is exactly why I hired you, Miss—”
“Not yet, you haven’t,” she interjected.
“Why I hope to hire you,” Nick finished. The girl had an imperious streak, an unusual quality in a servant. For his needs, however, it would be a useful trait. “I wish to hire you to tutor my youngest brother, especially in music. That will comprise the majority of your duties.”
“But clearly not all of them,” she said.
“As a governess of your standing, I assume you are an expert in decorum and appropriate social standards.”
“Of course.”
“And I also assume you’ve taught those standards to the girls under your care?”
“I have.”
“And no doubt those standards apply to young men as well as young ladies?”
She pressed her lips together, obviously searching for an argument to counter him.
“Miss Knight?” he gently prompted.
She shot him a look of pure hostility. “Yes, my lord. Of course the same standards apply.”
“Good. Then what I wish you to do is remind my brothers what those standards are. Theywereraised as gentlemen, but certain events have caused them to forget themselves. A refresher course is required.”
“And what would such a course entail?” She cast a disapproving glance at his brothers. “Beyond the obvious.”
Nick shrugged. “The usual one—how to engage in polite conversation with young ladies, how to conduct oneself appropriately at a dinner party, how to dance—”
“They already know how to dance,” barked Angus.
“Just reels, Grandda,” Grant said. “Oh, and the sword dance. But I don’t think many girls know that one.”
Alec choked, trying not to laugh. When Nick shot him a glare, his friend simply gave him a bland smile.
“And it would be fun to learn how to waltz,” Graeme said, suggestively waggling his eyebrows at Miss Knight.
“Ye wish to be caperin’ about like dandies?” Angus growled.
Miss Knight seemed to shake herself free of some sort of mental paralysis. “I am not a dancing teacher, my lord. I’m an educator.”
“For God’s sake, Arnprior,” Alec said. “Why don’t you simply hire a dancing master? Surely he could help the lads with those other”—he waved a vague hand—“social things.”
“I tried that. It didn’t work.” The horrific experiment of a few months ago remained vivid in his memory. The dancing master had barely survived the week.
“Bloody caper merchant,” Angus muttered.
“Let me see if I understand you correctly, my lord,” Miss Knight said. “You wish me to tutor your youngest brother. As well, I am to train your older brothers to be accomplished, well-mannered gentlemen for the purpose of putting them out on the marriage mart. And I am to do that without the help of other instructors who specialize in such matters.”
Nick met her irate gaze with an approving smile. “That sums it up nicely, I think.”
“Would you also like me to teach them fencing and boxing?” she asked sarcastically.
“Oh, we already know how to do those,” Grant piped up.
“Good Christ,” Royal said, shaking his head. “This is a complete joke.”
“I am forced to agree with your brother, Lord Arnprior,” Miss Knight said. “This must surely be a joke.”
