Ten

He was in fact widely reputed to be one of the most charming men in all which was why he'd never lacked for female companionship.

But Sarah presented a new challenge.

She was vastly distrustful of him and

seemed to think that all he wanted was to seduce her.

Which wasn't far from the truth, of course,but it would not aid his cause to let her continue to believe that his motives were so impure.

He would have to win back her friendship first.

The concept was oddly appealing, even as his body hardened at the mere thought of her.

She would try to push him away.

He was certain of that.

Hmmm.

He would have to be charming and persistent.

In fact, he would probably have to be more

persistent than charming.

Edward bounded out of bed,splashed some very cold water on his face, and left the room with only one aim.

Finding Sarah.

She was sitting under a shady tree,looking heart breaking lovely and innocent, but Edward tried to ignore the latter.

John was some twenty yards away,screaming about Napo and slashing a toy saber wildly through the air.

Sarah had one eye on the boy and one eye on a small notebook in which she was slowly writing.

This doesn't seem like such a dreadful job, Edward said, lowering himself to the ground next to her.

Sitting under a shady tree,enjoying the afternoon sunshine…

She sighed.

I thought I told you to leave me alone.

Not precisely.

I believe you told me to leave your room.

Which I did.

She stared at him as if he were the world's biggest fool.

Edward" she said,not needing to finish the sentence.

Her beleaguered tone said it all.

He shrugged.

I missed you.

At that,her mouth fell open.

Do try to come up with something even slightly

believable.

Enjoying the country air?

He leaned back and supported himself with his

elbows.

"How can you come here and make polite conversation?

"I thought that was what friends did.

"We are not friends.

He grinned rakishly.

We could be."

"No, she said firmly.

We couldn't.

"Now,now,Dior,don't work yourself into a snit."

"I am NOT—"

She broke off, realizing that she was working herself into a snit.

She cleared her throat and then forced her voice into carefully modulated tones.

I am not working myself into a snit.

He smiled at her in an annoyingly condescending manner.

Edward—"

"I do like the sound of my given name on your lips."

He sighed.

Always have.

"My lord—" she ground out.

That's even better.

It implies a certain subservience that is most appealing.

She gave up trying to communicate and turned her entire body away from him.

What are you writing?

He asked, directly over her shoulder.

Sarah stiffened at the feel of his breath on her neck.

Nothing of interest to you.

"Is it a diary?

"No. Go away.

He gave up on charm in favor of persistence and craned his head to get a better view.

Are you writing about me?

"I said it's not a diary.

"I don't believe you.

She whirled around.

Would you cease pestering—"

Her words stopped short when she found herself nose to nose with him.

She pulled back.

He smiled.

She pulled back farther.

He smiled wider.

She pulled back even farther.

She fell over.

Edward immediately jumped to his feet and offered her his hand.

Would you like some assistance?

"NO! Sarah pulled herself upright,grabbed her blanket, and stalked over to another tree.

She settled back down, hoping he would take the hint, but doubting he actually would.

He didn't, of course.

You never did tell me what you were writing,he said as he sat down beside her.

Oh, for goodness' sake!

She thrust the notebook into his hands.

Read it if you must.

He scanned the lines and cocked a brow. Lesson plans."

"I am a governess.

It was perhaps the most sarcastic tone she'd ever used.

You're quite good, he mused.

She rolled her eyes.

"How does one know how to be a governess?

He asked.

It isn't as if one can attend governess school.

Sarah closed her eyes for a moment,trying to fight back a wave of nostalgia.

That was exactly the sort of question Edward would have asked when they were younger.

I don't know how others do it,she finally replied.

But I try to emulate my mother.

She taught Zara and me before she died.

And then I took over and taught Zara until I had nothing left to teach.

I can't imagine your running out of things to teach.

Sarah smiled.

By the time Zara was ten, she was teaching me mathematics.

She has always been—

She broke off, horrified by how comfortable she'd grown with him in these past few minutes.

She stiffened and said,"It's no matter."

One corner of Edward's mouth lifted into a knowing smile, as if he knew exactly what she had been thinking.

He looked back down at her notebook and

turned a page.

You obviously take great pride in what you do, he said.

I thought you hated this position.

"I do.

But that doesn't mean that I will do less than my best.

That would be unfair to John."

John is a brat."

"Yes, but he deserves a good education.

He stared at her, surprised by her convictions. She was a beautiful schemer whose only criterion for a husband was a fortune.

And yet she worked herself to the bone to ensure that a detestable little boy received a good education.

He handed the notebook back to her.

I wish I'd had a governess like you.

"You were probably worse than John," she retorted.

But she smiled as she said it.

His heart leapt, and he had to remind himself that he didn't like her, that he was out to seduce and ruin her.

I can't imagine that there is anything wrong with the boy that a bit of discipline can't mend.

"If it were only that easy.

Lady Fairy has forbidden me to discipline him.

"Lady Fairy. is a cork brain, as my young cousin Jerry would say.

Why did you come to her house party, then? She was quite beside herself that an Billionaire would be in attendance."

"I don't know."

He paused, then leaned forward.

But I'm glad I did."

She didn't move for a few seconds, couldn't have moved if her life depended on it.

She could feel his breath on her cheek, and it was so achingly familiar.

"Don't do this,she whispered.

"This?

He swayed forward, and his lips brushed her cheek in the most feather-light of caresses.

"Don't!"she said sharply, remembering her anguish at his desertion so many

years before.

She didn't need her heart broken again.

It wasn't even completely mended from their last encounter.

She jerked herself away and stood up, saying,

"I have to tend to John.

There is no telling what kind of trouble he will get

himself into."

"Tend away, he murmured.

John!

John!

The boy came galloping over.

Yes, Sarah?

He said insolently.

Sarah clenched her teeth for a moment, trying to ignore his rudeness.

She'd long since given up trying to get him to call her Miss Sarah.

Sarah, we—"

But she didn't get to finish, because in the space of a second, Edward was on his

feet and looming over the boy.

"What did you say?

He demanded.

How did you address your governess?

John's mouth fell open.

I called her…

I called her…

"You called her Miss,didn't you?"

"Yes, sir, I did. I—"

"Do you realize how disrespectful that is?

This time it was Sarah's mouth that fell open.

"No, sir, I did not. I—

"Miss Sarah works very hard to take care of you and give you an education, does she not?"

John tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"From now on you will address her as Miss Sarah.

Do you understand?"

By this point John was starting at Edward with an expression that hovered between awe and terror.

He nodded furiously.

"Good, "Edward said firmly.

Now shake my hand."

"Sh-shake your hand, sir?"

"Yes. By shaking my hand you officially promise to address Miss Sarah properly, and a gentleman never reneges on his promises, does he?"

Sarah thrust his tiny hand forward.

No, sir.

The two males shook hands, and then Edward gave the boy a little pat on the

back.

Run along back to the nursery, John.

Miss Sarah will follow in a moment."

John practically sprinted back to the house, leaving Sarah slack and utterly limp.

She turned to Edward, nearly dumbstruck.

What did you…

How did you…"

Edward beamed.

Just offering you a bit of assistance.

I hope you don't mind."

"No!" Sarah said with great emotion.

No, I don't mind.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It was my pleasure, I assure you."

"I had better see to John."

Sarah took several steps toward the house, then

turned around, her expression still dazed.

Thank you!"

Edward leaned back against the tree trunk, utterly pleased with his progress.

Sarah couldn't stop thanking him.

It was a most satisfying state of affairs.

He should have disciplined the boy ages ago.

A full day passed before Sarah saw him again.

A full day of waiting, of wondering, of dreaming about him even when she knew that was absolutely the wrong thing to be doing.

Edward had broken her heart once, and she had no reason to believe that he wouldn't do it again.

Edward.

She had to stop thinking of him that way.

He was the Billionaire of Valley, and his title dictated his behavior in a way she could never hope to understand.

It was the reason he'd rejected her, the reason he'd never once seriously contemplated marrying a poor Carpenter's daughter.

It was probably the reason he'd lied to her. During the past few years Sarah had learned that seducing young innocents was considered a kind of sport among noblemen.

Edward had just been following the rules of his world.

His world.

Not hers.

And yet he had solved her problems with John. He certainly didn't have to do that.

The young boy was now treating her as if she were the queen.

Sarah had never had such a peaceful day of governess in her career.

Oh, she knew that heroes were supposed to slay dragons and quote verse and all that, but maybe, just maybe, all it really took to be a hero was getting the world's most difficult six-year-old to behave.

Sarah shook her head.

She couldn't afford to place Edward on a pedestal.

And if he tried to see her alone again, she would have to send him on his way.

It didn't matter if her heart soared when she saw him, or if her pulse raced,or if her

—

She forced herself to stop in mid-thought and turned her mind back to the matter at hand.

She and John we're taking their daily walk around the Fairy grounds.

For the first time in memory,he hadn't stomped on her foot or poked at some poor insect with a stick.

And he called her Miss Sarah every chance he got.

Sarah was pleased that he had finally learned a lesson in manners.

Perhaps there might be hope for the boy after all.

John raced ahead, then whirled around and ran back to her side.

Miss Sarah,he said with great gravity,have we any special plans for today?

"I am glad you asked, John, she replied.

We're going to play a new game today.

"A new game?"

He looked at her with a bit of suspicion, as if he had already discovered all of American's worth while games.

Yes," she said briskly, we are.

Today we are going to discuss colors.

"Colors?

He said with that particular brand of disgust only a boy of six years can convey.

I already know my colors."

He began to list them.

Red, blue,

green, yellow—"

"We are going to learn new colors,she cut in.

"…purple, orange…"He was shouting now.

John!"

Sarah spoke in her sternest voice.

He quieted down,something he probably wouldn't have done before Edward's

intervention.

"Do I have your attention now?"

Sarah asked.

John nodded.

Excellent.

Now then, today we are going to study the color green.

There are many different shades of green.

For example,the leaf on that tree over there is

not the exact same color as the grass we are standing on, is it?