Rules of Surrender by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online

first time since he’d met her, her green eyes were not cool. She looked on his children with… assessment?
    Wynter jiggled Leila and Robbie to get their attention. ”This lady is the governess your grandmama promised you. Her name is Lady Miss Charlotte, she is clever and, as you can see, very beautiful, and she will teach you.“
    A smile crooked Charlotte’s mouth as she gazed at Leila, and she nodded at Robbie in a comradely way. ”I’m so pleased to meet you. It is always pleasant to make new friends.“
    Wynter jiggled them again, and both children murmured, ”I’m pleased to meet you, Lady Miss Charlotte.“ But they didn’t stand, and they didn’t bow.
    Adorna would have reprimanded them, but before she could, Charlotte said, ”Robbie, if you would bring me my bag, I will find the gifts I brought you.“
    Ah, the magic word! Robbie stood at once, eager for his gift, and fetched the carpetbag Charlotte had so craftily kept near.
    Leila shrank back against Wynter. In the past months she had met too many new people, struggled with too many new experiences, and occasionally she suffered from shyness. And tantrums. And nightmares, but Charlotte didn’t need to know that yet.
    Charlotte paid no heed to Leila’s reserve. Instead, when Robbie delivered the bag, she patted the place beside her. As he sidled up and seated himself, she opened the bag and drew out a carving of a horse some twelve inches high. A master craftsman had shaped the polished wood; the animal seemed to be in motion, its hooves flying, its mane and tail fluttering with the speed of its passing.
    As Charlotte set the carving on the floor by her feet, Wynter felt Leila lean toward that horse.
    ”This is Leila’s gift,“ Charlotte said.
    Charlotte was clever.
    Again delving into the bag, Charlotte plucked from it something that looked like a thin, three-inch pale ivory handle.
    Wynter knew at once what it was. Charlotte was clever. Dangerously clever. He would remember that.
    As Charlotte held the object out to Robbie, Adorna moaned softly and dropped her head into her hands. Robbie frowned and warily took the handle from Charlotte’s palm.
    It took him only a minute to unravel the mystery of his gift. ”Papa! Look!“ He extended the pocketknife, blades out. ”I can carry it with me and I can throw it…“ He paused and looked warily at his grandmother. ”Except not in the house.“
    ”Then we’ll have to practice outside, won’t we?“ Charlotte said. ”We’ll do that during our walks. I was hoping you could show me the correct way to throw it, and Leila would show me how to ride.“ She turned to Leila. Leila, who had not yet taken her gaze from the horse. ”Leila, her ladyship tells me you are a magnificent horsewoman.“
    Leila glanced suspiciously at Charlotte. ”Yes. But I won’t ride sidesaddle.“
    ”Oh, dear.“ Charlotte picked up the horse and stroked it. ”I didn’t know you couldn’t ride sidesaddle.“
    ”I can, too!“ Leila stood up from Wynter’s lap in a sweep of indignation. ”I don’t want to.“
    Robbie didn’t even look up from his labor of extending and replacing the knife blades. ”How would you know? You won’t even try.“
    Before Leila could shout an answer, Charlotte stood. ”Girls can do anything, Robbie. Leila, come and fetch the horse.“
    Leila marched over and took the carving, held it against her chest and stroked it. ”It’s beautiful,“ she said in tones of awe. ”Thank you, Lady Miss Charlotte.“
    ”Girls have better manners than boys do, too,“ Charlotte said.
    Robbie understood the hint. ”Thank you, Lady Miss Charlotte.“
    ”You are welcome, both of you. Robbie, would you bring my bag? With your permission, Lady Ruskin, these two can show me to my bedchamber.“
    ”Yes. Good. You have my permission,“ Adorna said faintly.
    Charlotte took Robbie’s free hand and Leila’s free hand, and as they exited the long salon, Wynter heard her say, ”Did you know it’s more