Page 47 of A Well-Trained Lady

Ruth glanced between us as I directed him to the back of the settee where there was more floor space. “In time for what, exactly?”

“Considering the visit of a certain guest here at Fairhaven, I thought it would be a beneficial time to discuss interacting with gentlemen. Particularly, how to ensure you are conveying your intended hopes during said interactions.”

“You are going to teach us to flirt?” Ruth asked, elation saturating her voice.

I pressed my lips together, unable to keep my gaze from flickering to Augustus’s smirk. “I suppose that is how some people view it.”

Ruth tossed her sampler on the settee next to her and rose, moving to assist Sarah to her feet.

I joined Augustus behind the settee, ignoring the elated sensation in my chest. “I shall require your assistance again, if you are willing?”

His lips lifted at the corners. “Gladly.”

“Yes … well, there shan’t be much required of you in this demonstration. You need only stand here for most of it.”

Augustus’s smile widened. “Am I to be relieved or offended by that?”

I gave a playful shrug. “I suppose it shan’t matter either way, considering you have already committed yourself.” I turned my attention to the ladies, who watched eagerly. “Now, before we begin—”

“You had not begun yet?” Ruth glanced between us. “I was certain you had. But I suppose the two of you are always flirting.”

Augustus chuckled, but I curtailed it with a rebuking glance, already regretting my choice of inviting him along.

I placed my hands behind me in a display of calm, though I could feel the trembling inside. “I was telling Augustus yesterday that language is more than mere words.” I drew in a breath. “To convey a message most effectively, you must not only say the right thing, but you must say it in the right way—intonation, pacing, and inflection are all vital.”

Ruth and Sarah listened intently. Both of their brows drawn low in concentration as I faced Augustus. “I shall use the very line you teased me with yesterday as our first example. Though I will replace Mr. Treynor’s name with yours.”

Augustus nodded, his eyes brimming with amusement.

I overlooked his irksome reaction and moved to face him. “It was an absolute delight to see you again, Mr. Brundage.” My voice was flat, evenly paced, and I did not linger on any word in particular. I gave Augustus a pointed look. “That is a woman being cordial.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Yet what I heard was that I am an absolute delight to you.”

I held up a finger, this time drawing a step nearer to Augustus. I looked up at him from beneath my lashes and lowered the volume of my voice just enough to obtain a sultry tone. “It was an absolute delight to see you again”—my words were slow and intentional, and I placed my hand gently on his arm, leaning toward him—“Mr. Brundage.” I drew out his name a touch slower, nearly whispering it at the end. When his eyes moved to my lips, I used the opportunity to wet them.

His gaze lingered, transfixed.

I lifted a brow. “Well?”

He gave a slow shake of his head. “It seems I stand corrected.”

Both ladies giggled wildly, and I gave a victorious smile.

Ruth stepped forward and took hold of my hand. “You must teach us everything you know!”

“I will teach you what is necessary in order to accomplish your purposes. And I must caution you outright to use these tools prudently. The last thing you should desire is to haphazardly give any gentleman the wrong impression.” I paused. “It is a lesson, I regret, I did not learn soon enough.” I sensed Augustus’s curiosity, but I did not meet his gaze. “Shall we continue?”

Following their agreement, I explained how to go about choosing what words to inflect, discussed pacing in their speech, and exemplified a few different intonations one could use.

“It is your turn,” I said, beckoning to Ruth.

Her eyes widened. “I am to try? Here? In front of all of you?”

“How else should you learn?”

She shook her head and took a step backward. “I simply cannot.”

“Come now, Ruth. Would you rather feel a fool with us, or with a gentleman you are attempting to impress?”