Eleven

John's little head shot back and forth between the leaf and the grass.

No,"he said, as if not quite believing what he was seeing.

It's not.

He looked up excitedly.

And it's not quite the same color as the stripe on your dress!

"Very good, John.

I'm very proud of you."

He beamed.

"Let us see how many different shades of green we can find.

And once we're done we shall find names for all these greens.

"There is moss on the rocks in the pond.

"Yes,indeed.

We shall call that moss green.

"What is the green on your dress called?

Sarah looked down and surveyed her drab dress.

I believe it is called forest green.

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

It's much darker than the forest.

"Not at night.

"I've never been outside in the forest at night.

Sarah smiled.

I have."

"You have?

He looked at her with new respect.

Now then, what other colors can you find?"

"What about the dress my mama was wearing this morning?

It was an icky color, but it was green."

Sarah was inclined to agree with his assessment of Fairy dress, but she wasn't about to say so.

Your mother's dress was not,'

John" she said diplomatically.

And we call that color I suppose it would be called green."

He let the word roll around in his mouth for a moment before pointing a stubby finger to Sarah's right.

What about his lordship's coat?

That's green, too.

Sarah felt her stomach plummet to somewhere in the vicinity of her feet as she turned her head.

She groaned.

It would have to be Edward.

There were at least a dozen his lordships" on the property for the house party, but no, it would

have to be Edward walking toward them.

Not that she thought this was any coincidence.

"Good morning, Miss Sarah, Master John." Edward swept into a courtly bow.

Sarah nodded her head, trying to ignore the way her heart was soaring and her pulse was racing.

She let out a snort, thoroughly disgusted with herself.

That is certainly a nice greeting,"

Edward said, smiling at her reaction.

His gaze locked with hers, and Sarah felt the breath leave her body.

She probably would have stood stock still all afternoon, staring into his eyes, if

John had not interrupted them.

My lord!"came the voice from below.

Reluctantly, both Sarah and Edward looked down.

"We're practicing colors,"John said proudly.

"Is that so?"

Edward crouched down to the boy's level.

Did you know that objects have their colors because of certain properties of light?

One cannot see colors in the dark.

Scientists call this concept the wave theory of light.

It's a relatively new discovery.

John blinked.

"My lord,"Sarah said, unable to suppress a smile.

He'd always been so passionate about the sciences.

Perhaps that is a bit beyond the scope of a Six-

year-old."

He looked up at her sheepishly.

"Oh yes, of course.

John coughed, clearly wanting to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand.

Today," he said firmly, we are discussing green."

"Green,you say?

Edward lifted his arm and pretended to look at his sleeve with great interest.

I am wearing green."

John beamed at the attention he was receiving from Edward.

Yes, we were just talking about you."

Edward leveled a rather knowing look in Sarah's direction.

You were?"

"Yes." John turned to Sarah. "Miss , weren't we talking about his lordship's coat?"

"You certainly were,"Sarah retorted, not enjoying herself in the least.

The boy tugged at her sleeve.

What kind of green is it?"

Sarah regarded Edward's coat, an article of clothing so expertly tailored it might well be classified as a piece of art. "

Bottle green, John. It is called

bottle green."

Bottle green," he repeated.

This far I have learned moss green, and bottle

green, and green, which I shall call green—"

John!" Sarah reprimanded.

"Very well."

He sighed.

I shan't call it green. "

But—"

The boy looked up sharply at Edward.

Do you know what color the stripe on Miss Sarah's dress is?"

Edward stood, letting his eyes rest on the stripe, which happened to be on her

bodice.

No," said, not looking back down to John.

"I don't know."

Sarah fought the urge to cover her breasts with her hands.

It was absurd, she knew, because she was fully dressed.

But she felt as if Edward could see straight

to her skin.

"It's forest green," John proclaimed.

And Miss Sarah should know, because she has been in the forest at night."

Edward arched a brow.

Has she?"

Sarah swallowed painfully, trying not to remember the magical evenings

she'd sneaked out of her room and run through the forest in Kent with Edward.

It was impossible, of course.

Those memories played poignantly through her mind every day.

One can't see colors in the dark," she said peevishly.

The Billionaire said so."

"But you said that forest green was as dark as the forest at night," John persisted.

"Perhaps if the moon was out," Edward mused.

One could see a bit of color,

and it would be so very romantic."

Sarah glared at him before turning back to the boy. John," she said, her voice sounding odd to her ears.

"I'm sure the earl is not interested in our color

games."

Edward smiled slowly. "I'm interested in everything you do."

Sarah tugged at John's hand.

We really should not keep his lordship.

I am certain he has many important things to do.

Things that don't involve us.

John didn't budge.

He looked up at Edward and asked, "Are you married?"

Sarah coughed and managed to get out, John, I'm sure that is none of our business."

"No, John, I'm not,"Edward replied.

The boy cocked his head.

Maybe you should ask Miss Sarah.

Then you could come live here with us."

Edward looked as if he was trying very hard not to laugh.

I asked her once."

"Oh, God." Sarah groaned.

Life didn't get very much worse than this."You did?" John said.

Edward shrugged his shoulders.

She wouldn't have me."

John whipped his head around to face Sarah.

You said no?"

His voice rose to a shriek on the last word.

Sarah was spluttering, quite unable to get a word out.

"Miss Sarah?" Edward prodded, looking as if he hadn't enjoyed himself quite

so heartily in many years.

"I didn't say—Oh, for God's sake.

Sarah looked at Edward with a ferocious

expression.

You should be ashamed of yourself, my lord."

"Ashamed?He feigned innocence.

"Using a young boy like this to satisfy your…your…"

"My what?"

"Your need to hurt me. It is unconscionable."

"Why, Miss Sarah, I'm insulted that you would think I would stoop to such

levels."

"There is no need to stoop," she said icily.

You have always been lodged some where between the gutter and hell."

"Did you say hell?"

John screeched.

Edward began to shake with silent laughter.

John, we are going back to the house this instant," Sarah said firmly.

"But my colors!

I want to finish with green."

She snatched his hand and started hauling him toward the house.

We shall have our tea in the green salon."

Sarah didn't bother to look back.

The last thing she wanted to see was Edward hunched over with laughter.

If Edward's intention was to torture her into insanity, Sarah thought wryly

later that day, he was doing a rather good job of it.

She never dreamed that he would dare seek her out in her room again; she had

made it abundantly clear that such behavior was unacceptable.

But obviously he didn't care, because at one o'clock, while John was taking his riding lesson, he slipped into her room with nary a guilty look.

Edward!"

Sarah exclaimed.

"Are you busy?"

He asked, his face a picture of innocence as he closed the door behind him.

"Busy!" she nearly screeched.

Get out!"

If you didn't want company, you should have locked your door."

"You can be certain I will adopt that habit in the future."

Sarah paused,

trying to unclench her jaw.

She wasn't successful.

What are you doing here?"

she ground out.

He held up a plate.

Bringing you a piece of chocolate cake.

I know how much you love it, and I didn't think Fairy.

was the sort to share her sweets with the

governess."

Edward you must leave."

He ignored her.

Although I cannot imagine that Fairy. is unaware that you are far more beautiful than she is, and I would not put it past her to purposefully

try to make you fat."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Really, Sarah, you are most unappreciative. Very bad manners. I'm

surprised at you."

Sarah thought that she must be in the middle of a very strange dream.

That could be the only explanation.

Edward, lecturing her on propriety?

"I must be insane," she muttered.

If you're not, then I must be."

Nonsense.

What could be wrong with two friends enjoying each other's company?"

"That is not our situation, and well you know it." Sarah planted her hands on her hips.

"And I'm going to have to ask you not to play your silly games with

me in front of John anymore.

It isn't right."

He held up his hand as if making a solemn vow.

No more games in front of

John."

"Thank you."

"Although I did convince him to call you Miss Sarah did I not?"

Sarah let out a sigh.

She was beyond annoyed with him for that afternoon's antics, but her sense of fair play demanded that she thank him.

Yes, Edward, I do thank you for your intervention with John yesterday, but—"

He waved his hand.

It was nothing, I assure you.

"Never the less, I thank you.

However—"

"The boy needed a firm hand."

"I agree with you, but—"

"It is really too bad that I had to be the one to do it, as that task ought to fall to his parents."

She planted her hands on her hips again. "Why do I get the idea that you are

trying to stop me from speaking?"

"It may be"—he leaned casually against the door jamb—" because I know

you're trying to dismiss me."

"Exactly."

"Bad idea."

"I beg your pardon.

I said it's a bad idea.

Most inadvisable."

She blinked in aggravation.

It is quite possibly the most advisable idea I've

had in a long time."

"But you wouldn't want to be deprived of my company," he returned.

"That is precisely the end I am trying to achieve."

"Yes, but you'll be miserable without me."

"I am quite certain I can judge my own emotions with greater clarity than

you."

"Would you like to know what your problem is with John?"

"Would you like to tell me?"

she asked, with no small amount of sarcasm.

"You don't know how to be stern."

"I beg your pardon.

I am a governess.

I make my living by being stern."

He shrugged.

You're not very good at it."

Her mouth opened in consternation.

I have spent the last some years working

as a governess.

And in case you don't recall, just yesterday you said I was quite good at it."

"At the lesson plans and that sort of thing.

He waved his hand nonchalantly in

the air.

But discipline—Well, you'll never excel at that."

"That is not true."

"You've never known how to be properly stern." He chuckled and touched her cheek.

I remember it so clearly from before.

You would try to scold me, but

your eyes were always too warm.

And your lips always turn up just a bit at the

corners. I don't think you know how to make a serious frown."

Sarah eyed him suspiciously.

What was he up to?

He had been so furious with her yesterday morning when he stole into her room.

But since then he'd been positively congenial. Utterly charming.

"Am I correct?"

He asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She leveled a shrewd state in his direction. You're trying to seduce me again, aren't you?"

Edward wasn't eating or drinking anything, but he choked nonetheless,requiring Sarah to give him a hearty whack on the back.

I cannot believe you said that,he finally said.

"Is it true?

"Of course not.

"So it is true.

Sarah, are you listening to a word I am saying?