Page 31 of A Well-Trained Lady

I could tell he had no intention of relenting. “But she will likely need to see it demonstrated first.”

I dipped my chin forward, refusing to look away. “Then I suppose we shall.”

He gave a wink. “Capital.”

This time I could not hide my smile, though I made certain to pair it with a disapproving shake of my head. “Perhaps our first lesson should be the handling of wicked flirts,” I said, shooting Augustus a pointed look. “With one of England’s finest specimens on display here before us, it seems a shame to pass on the opportunity.”

Both ladies giggled, and I gave a triumphant half-smile.

“On second thought,” he said, and I recognized the touch of mischief in his eyes as he continued, “I believe I can spare some time to see how you handle this most unnerving topic.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall, his brow raised as if daring me to continue.

“Very well, Mr. Brundage,” I said, accepting his challenge. “Though I fear you will not find as much satisfaction in the lesson as you presume.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know my thoughts when you’ve concluded your discourse.”

“Oh, but Mr. Brundage, my lessons are not lectures. Come,” I said, beckoning him toward me. “Stand here.”

He hesitated, clearly suspicious of my purpose.

I lifted my shoulders innocently. “I simply wish to demonstrate the protocol, as I believe visuals are easier to recall than explanations.” I paused. “That is, unless you’d rather not?”

He straightened and took a few steps forward. “Here?”

I gave a tight smile to cover my exasperation. “That shall work. Now, say something flirtatious to me.”

Augustus glanced at his sister and Ruth.

“Oh, come now. It is not like they haven’t seen such coquetry on your part before.”

Augustus squared his shoulders and moved his head side to side as though he was about to take part in fisticuffs instead. He gave a charming grin. “Miss Godwin, you are most handsome.”

The ladies giggled wildly, and I rested the tip of my finger on my lips. “Surely you can do better than that.” I took a step nearer him and bit at my lip. Augustus’s eyes fell exactly where I had intended them to. “Tell me how the color of my eyes remind you of sapphires that sparkle in the sunlight, or how the way I move utterly intoxicates you, making all other things fall out of focus.”

Augustus swallowed. “The way you move intoxicates me,” he repeated, his voice stale.

It was nearly too much to see him so utterly disconcerted, and I cleared my throat to stifle a laugh. “Well,” I said, glancing toward Ruth and Sarah, “you will have to simply imagine that he has been successful in his attempt. And once—”

Augustus stepped near and the warmth of him seeped through my dress. “Miss Godwin,” he said, his breath hot on my neck, “if you only knew the effect you had on me, you would not torture me so heartlessly.”

My heart gave a decided thump, but I refused to let him come away victorious. “Much improved, Mr. Brundage. Now ladies, how you react to a gentleman depends entirely on what you wish to convey to him and to those who might be watching. Since in this example we are dealing with a notorious flirt”—I tilted my head to give Augustus another pointed glance—“my best option is to end our conversation with grace and minimize any harm he could inflict upon me.”

“Harm?” Ruth asked, scrunching her nose in concern.

“On my reputation. Flirts and rakes alike rarely have the ability to aid a lady’s reputation, but they can destroy it in one brief encounter if one is not careful.”

The ladies shared a concerned glance, returning their eyes to me with new focus.

“You must make it obvious that you have no interest in their attempts, for both kinds of men are infamous in their inability to acknowledge dismissive cues. In my experience, increasing the distance between you and the offender is the first step, followed by a quickly contrived excuse of needing to be elsewhere.”

“Mr. Brundage,” I said in a pretend acknowledgment of farewell, taking a step away from the penetrating warmth of his body and lifting my hand to him. I glanced at Ruth and Sarah. “The withdrawal of my attention will not be viewed as a slight if I offer my hand to bow over.” I nodded encouragingly to Augustus, and he obediently lifted my hand to place a kiss upon it. I overlooked the way my skin prickled with the tenderness of his display.

“The benefit of such a move, as you are able to see,” I said, gesturing to the distance between us, “is that we are now an appropriate distance apart.”

Both ladies nodded in unison.

“Once that is accomplished, I must offer an excuse.” I turned back to Augustus. “It was so kind of you to seek me out, but I promised—” I looked over my shoulder. “Add whomever would be a reasonable person here,” I said, to clarify. “—my mother that I would join her directly, and she is not one to be kept waiting. Do forgive me.” I offered a curtsy and turned as if to walk away. “Make certain you do not allow him an opportunity to persuade you otherwise, for he will certainly try appealing to your sensitive natures.”

Augustus’s hand gripped mine, spinning me back toward his infuriating smirk. “Please, Miss Godwin,” he said in a most overly dramatic way, dropping down to one knee. “How unfair of you to dismiss me so cruelly. Can you not see how miserable a wretch I am?”