“Ah, yes,” the Duke interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your wealth of experience gained from shepherding your gaggle of siblings. Tell me, Miss Balfour, do you truly believe thatqualifies you to pass judgment on the education of a duke’s daughter?”
Anger flared in Evelina’s chest. “With all due respect, Your Grace, I do not pass judgment. I merely offer my honest observations, as you requested. If you find them lacking, perhaps you would prefer a tutor with a more… aristocratic background?”
The Duke’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Mind your tone, Miss Balfour. You forget yourself.”
“And you, Your Grace, forget that you hired me for this very purpose,” Evelina retorted, her frustration overriding her composure. “If you wished for sycophantic agreement, I fear you have chosen the wrong tutor.”
A tense silence fell over the room. Evelina’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with the realization of her impertinence. She had all but guaranteed her dismissal with such brazen words.
“You will watch your words when you speak to me, Miss Balfour. Do not test my patience.”
Evelina felt her legs turn to jelly under the man’s intimidating gaze. He stared at her, ensuring her silence with his domineering presence.
Then, to her utter shock, the corners of his mouth twitched upward. “Well, well,” he murmured, almost to himself. “You continue to surprise me in the most unusual ways.”
Evelina blinked, unsure how to respond to this sudden change. “I… I apologize if I have offended you, Your Grace. I spoke out of turn.”
The Duke waved a dismissive hand. “No need for apologies. I find I prefer honesty to flattery, even if it comes wrapped in insolence.” He fixed her with a penetrating stare. “Tell me, Miss Balfour, what do you truly think of my daughter’s prospects? Can she overcome her… timidity?”
Evelina took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “I believe, Your Grace, that Eliza has great potential. She is intelligent, well-mannered, and possesses a natural curiosity. Her shyness, I think, stems not from any inherent flaw, but from a lack of confidence. With patience and encouragement, I am certain she will blossom into a charming young lady.”
The Duke listened intently, his expression thoughtful. “And you believe you can provide this… encouragement?”
“I will certainly do my utmost, Your Grace,” Evelina replied firmly. “Every child is different, but in my experience, gentle guidance and positive reinforcement can work wonders.”
“I see,” the Duke hummed, stroking his chin. He was silent for a long moment, seemingly lost in thought. Then, abruptly, he rosefrom his chair, circling the desk to stand before her. “Very well. I shall allow these lessons to continue, on one condition.”
“And what might that be, Your Grace?” Evelina asked, wary of the sudden shift in his demeanor.
His expression grew serious once more. “You are not to mention Eliza’s mother, nor are you to inquire about her in any way. Is that understood?”
The abrupt change of subject caught Evelina off guard. “I… yes, Your Grace. Of course. But may I ask why?—”
“You may not,” the Duke cut her off sharply. “That topic is strictly forbidden. Do I make myself clear, Miss Balfour?”
Evelina swallowed hard, nodding. “Perfectly clear, Your Grace.”
“Good.” He turned away, effectively dismissing her. “You may go. I expect you here at the same time next week.”
Evelina curtsied, her mind racing with questions she dared not voice. “Thank you, Your Grace. Good day.”
As she made her way out of Dunmore House and into the crisp afternoon air, Evelina’s thoughts were a jumble of conflicting emotions.
Relief at not being dismissed warred with curiosity about the Duke’s strange condition. What had happened to Eliza’s mother? And why was the topic so clearly forbidden?
She was excited about the prospect of tutoring Eliza, who had proved herself to be a delightful and brilliant girl. But the Duke had effectively put her on ice, and now Evelina had no idea what else to expect in the coming weeks.
Yet, as she recalled Eliza’s shy smiles and tentative steps towards confidence, she felt a surge of determination. Whatever secrets the Duke might be hiding, whatever nasty skeletons were hidden in dusty cabinets, she would do everything in her power to help Eliza flourish.
The girl deserved nothing less.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Now, Eliza, let us unravel the beauty of these verses together,” Evelina encouraged, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she shared her passion for literature with the young Eliza.
After arriving on time, Evelina had gracefully commenced her lesson with Eliza in the grand study of Dunmore House. With a gentle demeanor and a wealth of knowledge, she took on the role of guiding the girl through the intricacies of literature and etiquette. It felt much like the days of educating her sisters once more.
She sat across from the little girl, a book open between them, delving into the world of poetry.
