the truth, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to see my brother do this for the world. Well, that and I hope to sample the fruits of the lessons without guilt of gluttony—it would be, after all, purely academic in nature.”
Jane couldn’t be sure, but she swore the earl muttered “impertinent baggage” under his breath. What was she to make of the pair of them? What on earth did one say to such a request? She struggled to come up with the nicest possible way to turn them down. However misguided, there was certainly no malice in the request, and she didn’t want to sound rude. “While I appreciate that you would—”
“Oh, my, I quite forgot,” Lord Raleigh said, shamelessly interrupting her. “We’ll pay half in advance, of course.”
Jane blinked. Pay? Was he trying to pay her back in a roundabout way for the cabinet? It was tempting, but she’d already turned down his charity once today. She laid her hands on the counter as she considered what to say to such a thing. “I really don’t—”
“I was thinking it would be fair to offer you what Beatrice’s last dance tutor charged. Does a pound a lesson for four lessons seem adequate?”
Four pounds? She gripped the edge of the counter, desperate for something solid to anchor her. Such an exorbitant sum for lessons would almost be criminal. “I can’t possibly—”
“Actually, Richard,” Beatrice interrupted, “it was a pound per lesson, but no supplies were necessary, and I was his only pupil. I only think it fair that we offer six pounds for the pair of us plus the cost of ingredients.” And here Jane had thought the girl to be the more sensible of the two.
“What kind of tutor charges that kind of money?” The words escaped before she could stop them.
The smile that Lord Raleigh gave her bordered on mischievous. “The very best in their field, that’s who.” As compliments went, it was surprisingly flattering.
Looking back to his sister he nodded, making sounds of agreement. “Excellent point, Beatrice. Very well, will seven pounds for four lessons and any supplies be adequate?” His tone was so mild, one would have thought he had asked if his coat was suited for the weather.
Jane chewed the inside of her lip, warring with what she should do. There was no doubt they were attempting to make up for the damage to her shop, the money for which she had already rejected. On principle she should say no, but . . .
Mrs. Brown’s threats had not been idle. In one month’s time, Mr. Byrd would most assuredly be on her doorstep, inspecting the shop for any hint of damage. And even if the offer of lessons was manufactured for her benefit, it still allowed her to contribute something of worth in exchange for the money. An honest, fair exchange, if grossly overpriced.
She didn’t like the uneasiness snaking through her chest at the thought of being beholden to them, but she would be foolish in the extreme to refuse. Even if he looked upon her profession as some sort of hobby .
Her pride ached as if it had been physically pinched, but her responsibilities to her brother and her landlord meant that she couldn’t afford to turn down such an offer. She straightened her posture and nodded. “My only free day is Sunday. I think one until four in the afternoon would be the best time. I cannot possibly teach you to properly bake in four lessons, but I’ll do my best to teach you to bake both the biscuits and the scones. The cost of ingredients is inclusive in any lessons, so let us agree at five pounds.”
Raleigh grinned hugely, looking very much like a satisfied wolf. She drew a breath, suddenly very grateful that Lady Beatrice had decided to join them. Jane didn’t have the fortitude to be alone with the man, even if propriety allowed such a thing.
“I accept your terms,” he said, reaching into his jacket and laying the money on the counter.
“There is one more thing,” she said, her eyes flitting up to meet his.
He raised an
Jane couldn’t be sure, but she swore the earl muttered “impertinent baggage” under his breath. What was she to make of the pair of them? What on earth did one say to such a request? She struggled to come up with the nicest possible way to turn them down. However misguided, there was certainly no malice in the request, and she didn’t want to sound rude. “While I appreciate that you would—”
“Oh, my, I quite forgot,” Lord Raleigh said, shamelessly interrupting her. “We’ll pay half in advance, of course.”
Jane blinked. Pay? Was he trying to pay her back in a roundabout way for the cabinet? It was tempting, but she’d already turned down his charity once today. She laid her hands on the counter as she considered what to say to such a thing. “I really don’t—”
“I was thinking it would be fair to offer you what Beatrice’s last dance tutor charged. Does a pound a lesson for four lessons seem adequate?”
Four pounds? She gripped the edge of the counter, desperate for something solid to anchor her. Such an exorbitant sum for lessons would almost be criminal. “I can’t possibly—”
“Actually, Richard,” Beatrice interrupted, “it was a pound per lesson, but no supplies were necessary, and I was his only pupil. I only think it fair that we offer six pounds for the pair of us plus the cost of ingredients.” And here Jane had thought the girl to be the more sensible of the two.
“What kind of tutor charges that kind of money?” The words escaped before she could stop them.
The smile that Lord Raleigh gave her bordered on mischievous. “The very best in their field, that’s who.” As compliments went, it was surprisingly flattering.
Looking back to his sister he nodded, making sounds of agreement. “Excellent point, Beatrice. Very well, will seven pounds for four lessons and any supplies be adequate?” His tone was so mild, one would have thought he had asked if his coat was suited for the weather.
Jane chewed the inside of her lip, warring with what she should do. There was no doubt they were attempting to make up for the damage to her shop, the money for which she had already rejected. On principle she should say no, but . . .
Mrs. Brown’s threats had not been idle. In one month’s time, Mr. Byrd would most assuredly be on her doorstep, inspecting the shop for any hint of damage. And even if the offer of lessons was manufactured for her benefit, it still allowed her to contribute something of worth in exchange for the money. An honest, fair exchange, if grossly overpriced.
She didn’t like the uneasiness snaking through her chest at the thought of being beholden to them, but she would be foolish in the extreme to refuse. Even if he looked upon her profession as some sort of hobby .
Her pride ached as if it had been physically pinched, but her responsibilities to her brother and her landlord meant that she couldn’t afford to turn down such an offer. She straightened her posture and nodded. “My only free day is Sunday. I think one until four in the afternoon would be the best time. I cannot possibly teach you to properly bake in four lessons, but I’ll do my best to teach you to bake both the biscuits and the scones. The cost of ingredients is inclusive in any lessons, so let us agree at five pounds.”
Raleigh grinned hugely, looking very much like a satisfied wolf. She drew a breath, suddenly very grateful that Lady Beatrice had decided to join them. Jane didn’t have the fortitude to be alone with the man, even if propriety allowed such a thing.
“I accept your terms,” he said, reaching into his jacket and laying the money on the counter.
“There is one more thing,” she said, her eyes flitting up to meet his.
He raised an
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