“Then he must fight with you against his grandfather.”
“He’s a boy.”
“He is male and the earl. The power will always be in his hand. If you help him wield it, then you can direct that power as you need.”
The lady’s eyes narrowed as she peered at her. There was a flash of teeth, a tentative gesture with her finger, but it didn’t last long. In the end, the lady shifted as if sniffing the air or tasting the idea on her tongue.
“Is that something taught in China?”
This time Li-Na dropped her eyes. “I was a servant to the eldest daughter of a powerful family. I stood in the room while the daughter was taught female things.”
“Like how to hire bodyguards?”
Li-Na shook her head. “I learned that from Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I learned how to influence boys from the Zhong mother.”
The lady leaned forward. “How did she do it?”
“She taught her sons to look to her for their food, their comfort, and their very lives.”
“And it worked?”
No. They rebelled at her cruel ways. They turned their attention to what young men want. And they listened only when the mood suited them. But there was one thing they never forgot.“They learned to respect the strength of a woman.” She lifted her chin. “Madame Zhong taught me that women can be powerful in small ways even if they lose in the large ones.”
The countess shook her head. “I don’t understand your ways. How can a small fight keep my father away from my sons?”
“By telling the boy to choose you over his grandfather. If you have wielded your power well, he will stand by you.”
The woman fell silent as she stared through the front window at her son. “But he’s just a boy.”
“And you are just a woman. There is always power if you want to wield it. It may not be enough, but there is always something you can do.”
The countess looked at her. Her finger was no longer pointed. It had fallen into her lap as her gaze caught Li-Na’s and held. They were coming to the village now with buildings to the left and right. Li-Na wanted to see what she could through the darkness, but she didn’t change her gaze. The lady’s expression seemed weightier than the buildings.
“Daniel is right. You are not the usual servant.”
Li-Na almost laughed. If the lady thought her own servants didn’t push their influence, then she was sadly mistaken. Every soul from the lowest kitchen maid to the mad king sought to control their environment.
“Why won’t you paint something for him?”
The dog was back at her bone, and this time Li-Na didn’t think she could create an effective distraction.
“Because it is mine.”
“You want to control your art like I want control of my sons,” she said. Then her gaze shifted to Daniel’s broad back. Even through his shirt and coat, they could see the flex of his body as he controlled the horse. “Do you think he will best you?”
“Do you think your father will beat you?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The lady smiled, and her finger wagged in a happy cadence. “I hope we are both wrong.”
They came to the inn soon after that. The sun was down, but the coaching inn was filled with light and movement. The innkeeper met them as they alighted, then they all moved from carriage to meal in appropriate societal order.
Lord Daniel escorted his sister-in-law.
Stefan walked with a light step right behind them.