No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper Page B

that you’d be willing to break some of them for the right man.”
    Joan sighed. “I couldn’t have just had to shoot things a lot, could I? You’ll be training me?”
    “Some. But you’ll have a better guide—my sister, Eleanor.” Both amusement and incipient arousal vanished. Simon sat forward, holding up a hand. “She knows you’re from elsewhere. She doesn’t know you’re from our future, and you’re not to tell her. Nor are you to try to recruit her for a more active role in this scheme. She’s neither a soldier nor a spy, and she’s not well.”
    “All right,” said Joan. “I get it.”
    “I hope you do.”
    ***
    It was a good beginning. At least Eleanor looked at Joan with more interest than she’d shown in anything over the past few weeks and forgot to flinch at the sound of the closing door. She bowed gracefully to Joan, who pulled back the hand she’d extended and made her own attempt. It wasn’t as bad as Simon had feared.
    “It’s good to meet you,” Joan said when Simon had made the introductions. “Thanks for agreeing to teach me. I’ll try to learn quickly.”
    Eleanor, who shrank from her acquaintances these days, was surprised into a smile. “I-I’m sure you’ll be a pleasure to talk with.”
    “I’ll do my best, but I should warn you that I’m pretty ignorant. I can read, though, so if you want to get me out of your hair a couple hours a day, just push a book in my direction.”
    Eleanor tilted her head to the side. “Out of my hair—I’m sorry?”
    “Don’t be. I meant if you want your privacy.” Joan grinned at her. “Please do give me a weird look if I say something that doesn’t make sense. It’ll help me learn.”
    “Oh,” said Eleanor. “Well, I’ll certainly try, if you’d like.”
    “I would. But don’t worry too much about it. I’ll pick up vocabulary, and I’m sure you have plenty of other things to teach me.”
    “Yes. Simon, I’m sorry for asking, but—”
    He laughed gently. “Part of the reason I asked you is that I don’t really know, myself. You can assume, though, that she knows nothing a young lady should.”
    Eleanor’s eyes went wide and she looked swiftly, half apologetically, over at Joan, only to relax a little when she saw that the other woman wasn’t upset. Eleanor frowned a little, forehead wrinkling, and then tentatively spoke. “Dancing, of course, and proper forms of address, and table manners. General etiquette, but you’ll probably learn that out of a book and only practice with me.” She added slowly, “History and literature would be nice, though not essential.”
    She was too polite to say what both she and Simon knew. Most young ladies in Society knew no more of literature than the latest novel and no more of history than the last scandal. Eleanor was interested in those things, though, so Simon said, “I think those would be quite useful. And we’re hardly pressed for time.”
    “I’m very glad to hear that,” said Eleanor, and thought a moment longer. “Riding, though I admit I’m quite unskilled there. It would be good if you could play or sing, though there are alternatives.”
    “Can’t play an instrument or anything,” Joan said, “but I can sing decently. At least, nobody ever told me to shut up. I don’t know any of the songs here, though.”
    “Easy enough to remedy,” said Simon, “and one of the grooms can teach you to ride.”
    “I’d be glad to teach what I know,” said Eleanor, “only please don’t consider my word final. I’m hardly the most fashionable girl in England.”
    “That shouldn’t be a problem,” said Joan.
    “I’ll leave you for a few hours,” Simon said, “since I have some business to deal with. Do make the house your own, Miss MacArthur, by all means, and the grounds as well. Ellie, I’d consider it a great favor if you’d show her about, since I’m a rather negligent host at the moment.”
    Another smile appeared on Eleanor’s face. “It’d be my