“And what, pray tell, might you be thinking, Master Edward…?” chuckled his governess dryly.
Blinking, Edward looked up guiltily into Miss Violetta’s calm, faintly ironic young face. “O-only that I shall try, Miss,” he attempted what he hoped was appropriate humility, “to be w-worthy of your instruction and guidance.”
“A fine beginning,” she admitted, nodding her regal head approvingly. She seemed to smile at the way his soft blue eyes blinked so helplessly up at her, desperately curious and yet not daring to look down again without her clear command. She held his tremulous gaze for a torturously long moment, and then at last, apparently simply for her own amusement, she chided the over-obedient lad on the scrupulousness which she herself had taught him. “But now, naughty child, stop dawd
