business or it will not work. I will remain professional.”
Phillip smiled at John’s tension. “Thank you for your honesty, Lord Blackburn. I do have a request, though.” He puffed a couple of times on the pipe. Being a man, Phillip knew how men thought, and even with the best of intentions, spending a lot time around a woman, especially an attractive one, could drain your willpower in no time. He’d had a similar experience himself with Melissa’s mother which had ended in marriage.
John waited with extreme patience. All kinds of ideas were tossing in his head. “Yes sir?”
Phillip admired John’s calm and confident attitude. “I would like your training sessions to take place here. Miss Beckett will act as chaperone of a sort, at least by being here at the cabin. Also, if your personal status changes with my daughter, I would like to be made aware of it.”
It only took a second to understand what he’d meant and in that second he swallowed hard. “Of course sir.” John recognized the meaningful look in Mr. Howard’s eyes. Man to man, all it took was that brief look.
Phillip liked him, he liked him a lot. He had a good feeling about the lad and a gut notion told him that this young man would forever be involved in their lives in some way. In what way he couldn’t be sure, but there was an everlasting presence about him. “Thank you.” He moved back to the subject at hand with a smile. “Have you ever taught a young lady before?”
John returned his smile. “No sir, I have not. It will prove to be quite a challenge.”
Phillip’s smile widened. “Lord Blackburn, I have to inform you that my daughter in herself is quite a challenge, much less the situation you two will be in. Please indulge me I want to know how you two plan to conquer this quest of yours?”
John obliged, telling him of the kind of training Melissa would need to be at peak performance. Then they’d move onto the more difficult task of getting her on the track in public.
Phillip had ideas of his own and so they collaborated their ideas, drank their preference of liquor, and laughed together at quirky thoughts about this or that. Unthinking, they forgot to invite Melissa in to help with any opinions she had to share.
At least that’s what she thought when she heard the bellowing of laughter coming from the sitting room behind the closed door, but at least they weren’t arguing, she reasoned. She leaned closer to the doorway, trying to pick up any words they spoke. Before they could say anything of importance Melissa had been caught.
“Melissa Louise.” Miss Beckett whispered in disbelief.
Startled, Melissa scrambled from the doorway. “Auntie, you gave me a start,” she gasped, her hand clutching at her chest.
Miss Beckett gave her a look of knowing better than that. “I’m not surprised you were startled, being sneaky like you were.”
The blush on Melissa’s cheeks gave away the innocent face she tried demonstrating. “Sneaky? I was curious, that’s all.”
“Curious? You were eavesdropping on a personal conversation and you know it, lass. Now get your bum in the kitchen and help your auntie with supper.” Miss Beckett made a sweeping motion with her hands toward the kitchen.
Melissa delayed. “Auntie, they were talking about me. Haven’t I the right to defend myself?”
When her auntie’s eyes began to narrow and her lips thinned Melissa knew it was time to quit and she stomped off toward the kitchen.
Chapter Six
Miss Beckett was grateful to get out into fresh air. She hadn’t relaxed like this in years. When Lord Blackburn had suggested a picnic by the stream today she had figured it would be more hassle than it was worth having to prepare food and then transport it, but when he sweetened the offer by having lunch already made and a carriage for travel, she couldn’t turn him down. Acting as chaperone could have some benefits, she thought, sitting next to Melissa upon a blanket provided
Phillip smiled at John’s tension. “Thank you for your honesty, Lord Blackburn. I do have a request, though.” He puffed a couple of times on the pipe. Being a man, Phillip knew how men thought, and even with the best of intentions, spending a lot time around a woman, especially an attractive one, could drain your willpower in no time. He’d had a similar experience himself with Melissa’s mother which had ended in marriage.
John waited with extreme patience. All kinds of ideas were tossing in his head. “Yes sir?”
Phillip admired John’s calm and confident attitude. “I would like your training sessions to take place here. Miss Beckett will act as chaperone of a sort, at least by being here at the cabin. Also, if your personal status changes with my daughter, I would like to be made aware of it.”
It only took a second to understand what he’d meant and in that second he swallowed hard. “Of course sir.” John recognized the meaningful look in Mr. Howard’s eyes. Man to man, all it took was that brief look.
Phillip liked him, he liked him a lot. He had a good feeling about the lad and a gut notion told him that this young man would forever be involved in their lives in some way. In what way he couldn’t be sure, but there was an everlasting presence about him. “Thank you.” He moved back to the subject at hand with a smile. “Have you ever taught a young lady before?”
John returned his smile. “No sir, I have not. It will prove to be quite a challenge.”
Phillip’s smile widened. “Lord Blackburn, I have to inform you that my daughter in herself is quite a challenge, much less the situation you two will be in. Please indulge me I want to know how you two plan to conquer this quest of yours?”
John obliged, telling him of the kind of training Melissa would need to be at peak performance. Then they’d move onto the more difficult task of getting her on the track in public.
Phillip had ideas of his own and so they collaborated their ideas, drank their preference of liquor, and laughed together at quirky thoughts about this or that. Unthinking, they forgot to invite Melissa in to help with any opinions she had to share.
At least that’s what she thought when she heard the bellowing of laughter coming from the sitting room behind the closed door, but at least they weren’t arguing, she reasoned. She leaned closer to the doorway, trying to pick up any words they spoke. Before they could say anything of importance Melissa had been caught.
“Melissa Louise.” Miss Beckett whispered in disbelief.
Startled, Melissa scrambled from the doorway. “Auntie, you gave me a start,” she gasped, her hand clutching at her chest.
Miss Beckett gave her a look of knowing better than that. “I’m not surprised you were startled, being sneaky like you were.”
The blush on Melissa’s cheeks gave away the innocent face she tried demonstrating. “Sneaky? I was curious, that’s all.”
“Curious? You were eavesdropping on a personal conversation and you know it, lass. Now get your bum in the kitchen and help your auntie with supper.” Miss Beckett made a sweeping motion with her hands toward the kitchen.
Melissa delayed. “Auntie, they were talking about me. Haven’t I the right to defend myself?”
When her auntie’s eyes began to narrow and her lips thinned Melissa knew it was time to quit and she stomped off toward the kitchen.
Chapter Six
Miss Beckett was grateful to get out into fresh air. She hadn’t relaxed like this in years. When Lord Blackburn had suggested a picnic by the stream today she had figured it would be more hassle than it was worth having to prepare food and then transport it, but when he sweetened the offer by having lunch already made and a carriage for travel, she couldn’t turn him down. Acting as chaperone could have some benefits, she thought, sitting next to Melissa upon a blanket provided
Similar Books
