Page 48 of A Well-Trained Lady

She frowned. “Perhaps I shall simply refrain from speaking to gentlemen altogether.”

Augustus chuckled. “I could support that idea.”

I shot him a hasty scowl before regarding Ruth again. “You shall do wonderfully, and I will help you along.”

She shook her head again.

“I will go.”

I looked at Sarah, trying to hide my shock behind a smile. “Superb.” I took a step away from Augustus and gestured her forward.

Sarah sent Augustus an apologetic glance before facing me. “May I try it on you instead? I know that might be odd, but it seems preferable to flirting with my brother.”

I stifled a laugh. “Of course.”

Sarah gave a nod and took a step closer to me, drawing in a slow inhale. Her eyes moved to mine with intention, but she paused. “What name should I call you, though? I don’t know why it seems so complex, considering it is all for fun, but I’d prefer to address you as a gentleman. Unless you oppose?”

“Not at all. Perhaps Mr. Godwin is acceptable?”

She nodded, and then looked at me from beneath her lashes, her cheeks a lovely shade of pink from the embarrassment. “It was an absolute delight to see you again, Mr. Godwin.” She had changed the inflection as well as the intonation—her voice full of sweetness and innocence—and it worked perfectly for her.

“Well done,” I said, reaching out to squeeze her hand.

Augustus shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face. “Too well done, I daresay. And here I was thinking I only had Ruth to worry about for now.”

“Sarah is seventeen,” Ruth said with a beseeching look. “And it is not at all uncommon to see ladies younger than her out in Society.”

He reeled back. “After that demonstration I will likely be postponing her come out for another several years.”

At seeing both ladies’ overdone pouts, I touched the hand hanging at his side ever-so-briefly. “Come now, Augustus, do not tease them so. Despite your hindrance, they are resolved to become sensible ladies. Do you not think it best if they are made aware of all the techniques? Both for encouraging the gentlemen they hope to, as well as avoiding giving false hope to undeserving recipients?”

Augustus released an exaggerated exhale. “I suppose I cannot keep them little forever.”

They beamed back at him, as I resumed my spot at his side. “Shall we continue, then?”

“Oh, yes,” Ruth said, linking her arm with Sarah. “We have been looking forward to this lesson most of all.”

Augustus lifted a hand toward them, pinning me with a look of validation. “See, that is precisely what worries me.”

I shook my head at his ridiculous, yet charming, overprotection. “Before we discuss incorporating touch into your interactions with gentlemen”—Ruth and Sarah shared a giddy glance, and my own heart quickened in anticipation—“I want to mention a few tips for displaying your interest during a conversation. The first, and most significant, is that men desire to feel important and therefore must be flattered constantly.”

Augustus laughed. “That is a most unfortunate generalization, I daresay.”

“I assure you, it is not.” His doubtful expression pressed me to continue. “As you well know, I have undergone a thorough study of gentlemen these past three years, and I feel quite comfortable offering my opinion on the matter. And I have yet to meet a gentleman immune to flattery.”

Augustus’s lips pushed together, and he crossed his arms. It was obvious he did not care to know how I had come to such conclusions.

I rested my hand on his arm. “I hope you do not feel I am attacking your sex, for women are by no means immune to flattery. We are simply more aware of its use, and therefore it becomes a choice whether or not we will allow for it.”

“And how does one go about flattering a gentleman?” Ruth asked, impatience evident in her tone.

“You must show great interest in what he has to say despite how dull it is.” The ladies both laughed. “Do not speak of yourself, except to showcase your similarities. Compliment him whenever possible without sounding trite. And never disagree with him.”

Augustus gave a disbelieving laugh. “Again, it is preposterous to believe that a man can be so easily swayed by any woman engaging him in such tactics.”

“I did not say any woman. Flattery is an art, and like all art, there exists a range of skill. Only the most proficient have such great influence. That is why I feel it is important to teach.”

Augustus glanced down at my hand still on his arm. “Because you are obviously one of the masters?” His smile did not reach his eyes, and I withdrew my hand.