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“That sounded suspiciously like something.”

She smiles and returns to her fractions.Before I can interrogate her further, the library doors open.

Irina walks in.

She is wearing a pale green dress and carrying a handbag that looks as though it requires its own insurance policy. Her dark hair is perfectly arranged, and she gives Anya a bright smile before looking at me.

“Anya, darling, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you.”

Anya looks up. “I'm doing maths with Elle.”

“I can see that,” Irina says.

Her gaze moves over the books on the table, then settles on my phone beside the notebook. “What are you doing, exactly?” she asks. “Teaching from a phone?”

I look at the screen. It is displaying a worksheet I downloaded this morning. “Yes,” I say. “It's remarkably versatile technology.”

Irina gives me a thin smile.“I would have thought a proper tutor would have a lesson plan prepared.”

I put down my pen. “I don't have a formal lesson plan yet. I've only been here a few days, and I'm still figuring out what Anya already knows and what she enjoys.”

“Right,” Irina says. “Of course. You're not a real nanny.”

I look at her. “I have a master's degree in finance and economics, actually, so I think I can manage fourth-grade fractions without causing permanent academic damage.”

Her smile tightens. “I wasn't questioning your education.”

“Good, because I spent quite a lot of money on it.”

Anya looks between us.

I can see the moment she decides to intervene.

“Aunt Irina, can we go outside?” she asks.

Irina's expression softens immediately. “Of course, darling. I thought we might spend some time by the pool.”

Anya closes her book.

I look at her.

“Traitor,” I mutter.

She gives me a tiny wink..

I stare at her.

This child is going to be a menace when she grows up.

“Go on,” I tell her. “But don't forget we still have two fractions left.”

“I won't,” she promises.

Irina places a hand lightly on Anya's shoulder as they leave. I watch them go, annoyed despite myself. I know what Irina is doing.

She has been hovering around Anya ever since I arrived, appearing whenever we are together and finding reasons to take her away. She is perfectly pleasant when Nikolai is present, but when he isn't, she has a way of making it clear that I am temporary staff and she is family.

I should not care. I am temporary staff.