For a moment, he said nothing, and she couldn't tell if his silence was meant to mock her or if he was truly considering her words. "Dreams won't shield you from reality," he said, his voice low and intimate. "From your father's expectations, or the whispers of society. They'll only make the fall harder when you're forced to wake up."
Her lashes lowered, her courage faltering under the intensity of his gaze. "I know that. But even if they don't come true, they make the reality...bearable."
Andrew's lips twitched, though it wasn't quite a smile. "You're more naïve than I thought," he murmured.
When they finally reached her family's home, they entered through the back door and made their way up the staircase to David's study. Lavinia felt a flutter of nervous anticipation in her stomach. She had no idea what to expect from theselessonsAndrew had mentioned. All she knew was that her life was about to be turned upside down.
David was already seated at his desk, poring over some papers. He looked up when they entered and then rose to his feet.
"I'll leave for a brief while to give you room to teach my sister," David said. "But you'll keep things appropriate. We have limited time, and I trust you know the importance of this. She has to secure a match, Andrew. Please, I am relying on you."
Andrew nodded, the faintest hint of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "I understand," he said calmly.
With that, David left the room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway as he made his way down the stairs. The silence that followed felt heavy, as though the weight of the moment had descended fully on Lavinia's shoulders. She glanced at Andrew, unsure of what would come next, her mind racing with a mix of nerves and curiosity. She was acutely aware of the tension in her chest, and the fear of making a mistake.
"Well then, Lady Lavinia," he said, breaking the silence. "Shall we begin?"
Lavinia nodded. He walked over behind the desk and sat where David had been seated, then gestured for her to sit across from him. Nervously, she did, folding both hands in between her legs.
"Our first lesson, Lady Lavinia,” he started by saying, "will be about keeping a gentleman's interest. Now, the first thing any man notices about a woman is her appearance. That's the truth of it. It's the first step to getting their attention."
Lavinia's chest tightened as she waited, heart pounding in her ears. She had braced herself for the inevitable comment on her figure, for the critique she was certain would come. It was the one thing she couldn't change, the one thing that always made her feel out of place among the slender women of theton. She couldn't control it. Her rounded curves were simply part of her.
Andrew cleared his throat as he continued. "A woman must command attention, not in a loud or showy way, but in a way that invites interest. You do not command that attention, Lavinia."
Lavinia bit her lip, holding her breath. Was this the moment? Would he mention it?
But he didn't.
"You're quite pretty, Lavinia," he continued. "But you are not confident in yourself and it shows in the way you dress and your inability to hold eye contact."
"Confidence is what will draw attention," Andrew went on, oblivious to her inner turmoil. "The way you present yourself can make all the difference. How you hold yourself, how you look at a man, it tells him everything about your self-worth."
"It's not intentional," she said to him. "I try, I just can't help it."
"You can, and you will," he said to her. "Let's continue with our lesson. I want you to imagine I'm a suitor now. Try to make conversation with me."
Lavinia's eyes widened. "A suitor?"
"Yes," he answered plainly.
Lavinia blinked, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. A suitor? How was she supposed to talk to him like that? She attempted to think, trying to come up with something suitable to say, but everything felt too forced, too artificial. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure of what to say.
"Ask me about my favorite book," Andrew prompted. "Gentlemen love talking about their interests. It's a good way to start a conversation."
"I thought you said men weren't interested in books?" she questioned.
"I saidmostmen aren't. But I like to make exceptions." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Plus, it would be better if you talked about something you know about. So, come on. Ask me."
Lavinia hesitated before speaking, her voice quiet. "What...what is your favorite book, Your Grace?"
Andrew threw his head back, laughing softly, the sound warm and genuine. "You need to sound more interested in what I'm saying. Don't just ask the question, show that you intend to listen to the answer. Show curiosity. Try again."
Lavinia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she nodded, trying to shake off the self-consciousness that had settled over her. She glanced at him, trying to steady her breath and find the right words.
"What is your favorite book, Your Grace?" she asked and smiled. Somehow, his smile had managed to partially ease her tension. "Do you read a lot?"
Andrew's gaze softened, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Much better," he said. "Now, when you ask that question, you listen closely to my answer. Don't just wait for your turn to speak. A good conversation is a back-and-forth exchange, not a series of questions.
