Beatrice turned.
And there Gideon stood. Perfectly composed. Perfectly proper.
REINFORCEMENTS
Gideon was not dressed for society. No coat. No elaborate cravat. Only shirtsleeves, his dark hair not quite ordered, the top button of his shirt undone in a manner that ought not to have been noticeable.
It was.
He cut a bow. First to her, then to Persephone. Polite.
But when Beatrice met his gaze, expecting that familiar warmth, she found only composure.
Her smile faltered. “I’ve rearranged things a bit,” she managed, gesturing toward the mattresses. “Seeing as there will be more students than when it was only me being tossed about.”
There. Surely that deserved at least a flicker of amusement.
“Very sensible, my lady.” Not even a twitch of the lip.
Beatrice couldn’t help but to stare at him. Was he being formal because Persephone was present?
Gideon clasped his hands behind his back. “I’ve made a few additional arrangements, in order to ensure we make the most of our time.”
Beatrice stilled. “What sort of arrangements?”
Before he could answer, Mr. Drake appeared in the doorway. “My lady,” he said, “Lord Longstaffe.”
Beatrice blinked.
The viscount entered with the ease of a man fully confident in his welcome. His gaze took in the mattresses, the cleared floor, Persephone’s breeches, Beatrice’s attire—and paused.
“Well,” he said mildly. “Hawkins wasn’t exaggerating.”
Hawkins.
Beatrice glanced at Gideon, but his expression gave away nothing.
“Longstaffe,” Gideon said, stepping forward to greet him. “Good of you to come.”
“To this?” Longstaffe’s gaze swept the area again with unmistakable interest. “My dear Hawkins, I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Well,” Gideon said. “You may feel differently after one or two of the ladies throws you flat.”
Longstaffe’s eyes brightened. “There are worse fates.”
A beat passed.
Then, as though recalling there were ladies present, he placed a hand over his heart and added, “For educational purposes, naturally.”
Beatrice ought to have smiled.
She might have, had her thoughts not snagged on one stubborn fact.
Gideon had invited him. A man who she barely knew.
Not merely mentioned the lessons. Not simply asked for advice. He had invited another instructor into the room, into her undertaking, into the very heart of what she had begun.
She turned to Gideon. “He is your… other arrangements? She stared until he had no choice but to meet her gaze.
