He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the edge of her mouth. “I’m going to teach you how to be popular and pretend it was all because of a flower.”
It sounded silly, but it was hard to doubt his air of total confidence. She found herself entering into his enthusiasm as they headed back toward the gig.
“It’s very simple,” he said, “and we’re going to practice on the drive back, but it boils down to this: an honest compliment.”
She frowned at him. “Are you joking? I cannot tell.”
He handed her into the gig. “Not a joke. No matter who it is, you must say something honest to them about your feelings toward them. And it must be a compliment.”
“But I don’t have many feelings toward people. And those I do have are usually not complimentary.”
“That is why you have to practice.” He flicked the reins and they started moving. She had one last moment to look over the dilapidated and thoroughly magical castle. Such things she had done and seen here! But as soon as they passed the moat and were on the road, such as it was, her thoughts dimmed considerably.
“Gwen—”
“I don’t think this will work,” she said glumly.
He blew out a breath. “Gwen, I cannot be constantly fighting you on this. You have agreed to trust my judgment, so I would ask—”
“Yes, I know. I will.” So far he had proven himself correct about so many things. “I will do what you ask.”
Except it was very hard.
He began simply. When they returned home—filled with the tales of plans for their unexpected daffodil harvest—Jackson enlisted his sisters in teaching her the art of an honest compliment. She couldn’t just say she liked someone’s jacket or shoes. She had to listen to whatever they said and respond with a true admiration within five minutes. Five minutes! By that time, she was usually bored with whomever spoke with her.
“You’re a smart woman,” he chided while his sisters were preparing their first test for her. “You’re well-read in a variety of subjects. Surely you can find something to admire in everyone you meet.”
“The two do not go together,” she returned. “Just because I find books fascinating, does not mean I find people the least bit educational.”
“But there is so much more to admire in people,” he said. “Take my father, for example.” The man was reading a newspaper on the opposite side of the room. “Surely you find something worthwhile in him.”
“Of course, I do. I find his determination to protect his family honorable. So many men ignore their responsibilities in favor of frivolities.”
“So go tell him that.”
“What?”
“Say that to him.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Won’t he find that odd? We have not discussed anything together beyond the price of corn.”
“If you speak from the heart, he will hear the honesty in your words.”
“But—” She cut off her words at his expression. His brows were raised, his head cocked to the side, and most telling, his arms were folded across his chest. He was trying to be encouraging, but she knew he was exasperated with her constant questions. She bit back her arguments and vowed to please him in this. Or at least try. The sooner he saw that she was hopeless at it, the sooner they could make other plans.
She approached the earl. “My lord,” she said tentatively. “I…I wish to say something to you.”
He set down the newspaper and eyed her over his glasses. “Yes?” The word carried all the dismissal she’d heard from men all her life. He was tolerating her presence out of politeness, but he truly wished to return to reading rather than speak with her.
Normally she’d make an apology and leave. She had no interest in speaking with someone who would rather be reading, but she had promised and persevered.
“I, um, wished to say that I admire how fiercely you work to safeguard your family’s welfare. I know you and your son have disagreed. I wish to say that I admire that determination.”
He frowned at her, his lips pursed. And then the frown turned uglier, as did his tone. “It does him no credit to send you over with sweet words to change my mind. I don’t care—”
“He didn’t send me!” She frowned. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She wouldn’t be here if Jackson hadn’t forced her. “Oh, this is ridiculous,” she said. She would have said it to Jackson, but he wasn’t even in the room. He’d left for some reason.
“I quite agree,” the earl said as she picked up the newspaper again.