“Yes, indeed I did,” she replied, looking at him.
Algernon gave her a curious look.
“What is it? Do we need to go back into the dining room?”
“No,” she answered quickly. “I forgot to say thank you.”
Algernon drew up a curious brow.
“Under usual circumstances, I find your commanding nature most annoying,” she stated matter of factly, squaring her shoulders.
Algernon chortled, but as he looked ready to retort, Beatrice continued, “Tonight though was different. What you did with thewine. How you reminded me to eat. It was needed. My nerves were riling too high and I was losing myself to them. Your commands pulled me away from that, and I am grateful.”
“Tonight though was different. What you did with the wine. How you reminded me to eat. It was needed. My nerves were riling too high and I was losing myself to them. Your commands pulled me away from that and I am grateful.”
The amused look on Algernon’s softened, and he squeezed her arms a little before letting his hands slide down and take her hands.
“I shall tell you as I tell my brother. I am aware of how demanding I am, yet I do it for the good of all. Sometimes, we are in need of someone else to make our decisions for us—decisions that are made for the best. I will never command you to do something that is not in your best interest, Beatrice. I promise you that.”
As he said so, that distrust she still harbored for him melted a little more, and Beatrice believed him.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Imust insist you knock, Your Grace!” Beatrice snapped.
Algernon quickly turned around, but as he caught a glimpse of Beatrice in her nightgown, he could not find it within himself to feel guilty for simply coming into her room as he had been since she had arrived.
“It is past eleven,” he stated matter-of-factly as he heard the rustle of fabric. “I would have never guessed that you were in such a state of undress. In the future, I suggest you rise at seven. You will accomplish so much more in the day.”
Behind him, he heard Beatrice’s grumbling and he smirked. Apparently, she was not too keen on the idea.
“Are you decent yet?” he snapped.
His question was rewarded with an annoyed huff.
“Yes,” she seethed. “You may turn around now.”
Algernon forced his smirk back into a look of disinterest as he turned around and found Beatrice now cloaked in her dressing gown, a most annoyed look on her beautiful face.
“You really must knock when you decided to visit,” she said testily, balling her hands on her hips. “If I am your guest and not your prisoner, as you say, I deserve at least that.”
“Fair point,” he admitted, holding up the books he brought her in one hand, “However this is not a visit. I simply came to give you the books I spoke of last evening.”
Satisfaction roiled through him as Beatrice’s gaze narrowed in on the books, and a blush filled her cheeks.
“Now, these are for study,” he explained, walking over to the small, round table by the fireplace to set them down, “notfor leisure. I expect you to have at least one of them finished within the next two to three days.”
He turned back to Beatrice, but she was still staring at the stack of books as if were a creature that was going to leap out and attack her.
“We discussed this yesterday,” he stated, folding his arms. “There are questions you have that should be answered. These books should provide those answers.”
“And what if they do not?” she asked, slowly drawing her gaze to his. “I gave it some more thought, and what if those books only raise more questions? What am I supposed to do then?”
Despite himself, Algernon smirked and perked a brow.
“Then I suppose I will have to find a way to teach you myself after all,” he replied.
Beatrice’s blush grew from pink to crimson as she absolutely glowered at him.