“Better,” he murmured, and she rolled her eyes.
“Do you ever say anything else?”
“Not when there is no need.”
They came to the end of the set with a modicum of grace, and she saw Owen across the way. Recalibrating, perhaps?
“Thank you,” Maria said when courtesy demanded it, and found she grudgingly meant it. “You interrupted, but you did not ruin.”
“We aim for efficiency,” he winked at her.
“I aim for kindness.”
“Kindness without efficiency is embroidery on a rag,” he said. “Pretty, but still a rag.”
“Who taught you metaphor?” she demanded. “You should seek redress immediately.”
He laughed, but then quickly sobered. “You should be very thankful that I asked you for this dance.”
“But it feels as though you wish for me to be thankful for everything,” she replied. “So, this does not feel out of the norm.”
“You need to understand that because I have danced with you,” he replied. “Your value in the eyes of your suitors has just gone up.”
“Because of another man giving me attention?” she replied, raising an eyebrow.
“It seems that you understand very little about how men work,” he said, smiling at her now.
“I am learning,” she sighed. And realized that it was true. She did not understand much at all. They were confusing creatures. “So, he values me more now?”
“He should,” Stephen nodded. “It gives him the incentive to do better now, to impress you. So that he is the one that you end up choosing.”
“Is it really that simple?” she asked, befuddled.
“It can be,” he shrugged his shoulders. “Men can be simple creatures, really.”
“I would like to argue the opposite.”
“Then once again,” he smirked. “You do not understand men enough.”
“Can I trust you to be the one who teaches me?” she asked.
“Well, you have trusted me thus far. And it seems to be working well for you,” he gestured to the blue of her dress, making her blush.
“Yes, well. I took your advice.”
“You look splendid in it,” he replied. She almost wanted to ask him if he was in his senses.
In what world does a duke, any duke, give her a compliment?
“Well, then,” she cleared her throat, feeling flustered all at once. “I listened to the other things as well. I tried to be interesting in my conversation with him.”
“Mr. Rondell, you mean?”
“Who else?” she replied. “And well, it felt like it worked. I am not sure, though.”
“Yet you still doubt yourself,” Stephen shook his head. “Perhaps my lessons have not been working as well as I thought. We shall have another one tonight.”
“So that you can get me to work on my self-esteem?” she questioned.