She could almost feel his dislike of her vibrating from him when he approached where she was standing with Mr. Osborne.
Then, when he reached them, she turned her head slowly and saw, as she had expected, that he was scowling.
“I hope you will not damage any books you take from here, Miss Lindsay,” he said.
“I promise you that Felicity and I will be very careful with them,” Atayla answered. “Apart from these, my Lord, I shall need a number of lesson books and, of course, crayons and pens and other items that are necessary for her lessons.”
“You did not think to bring them with you?” he asked.
“No,” Atayla replied briefly.
“Was that meanness or spite in the person who should have paid for them?” the Earl enquired. “Or was it merely your desire to make me responsible for my daughter in
