Page 42 of Once Upon a Midnight Dream

That was all.

She had better have that conversation with the instructors as soon as possible.

“I do believe I am offended,” Charles whispered in Lilly’s ear. “Am I not also a gentleman?”

Lilly yelped in surprise, then playfully slapped his forearm in the manner a sister would an annoying younger brother.

“Do not sneak up on me, Charles. I nearly had an apoplexy.”

Grinning, he winked. “If you had not been staring at Zander as if he were a licorice drop, you would have seen me approach.”

Fifteen

Under an apple tree in the same orchard

After several humiliating heartbeats

“Do not be ridiculous, Charles. I was not staring,” Lilly retorted with more emphasis than required.

You certainly were, too, staring.

A gentleman would not have mentioned her lapse in good judgment, but Charles was as near to a brother as she had, and they had pledged many years ago to always be honest and forthright with each other.

She dug her fingernails into her palms rather than remind him how often he sent longing looks toward Miss Charlene McKenzie, his senior by eight years, who seemed oblivious to Charles’s warm regard.

“I was deciding what to do about Miss Wobblecroft,” Lilly said beneath her breath while sending the mooning woman a pointed glance. She folded her arms. “She has become positively…predatory. For all we know, Zander is a married man. I cannot have the teachers making fools of themselves or acting like wantons.”

“Wantons, eh?” Charles’s voice shook with humor, but the thunderous look she leveled him brought his mirth under control.

“I am sure you will find a satisfactory solution, Lil.”

Chastity belts?

Saltpeter?

Does saltpeter even work on women?

“I can prescribe nettle tea, willow bark, and camphor. They all cool the body’s humors,” he offered, helpfully, though he could not keep his face straight.

The rotter, teasing her so.

“A cold diet is thought to dampen sexual desire, but I am quite certain bloodletting is ineffectual for reducing libido.” He chuckled at his poor jest.

Lilly ignored his ridiculous suggestions, for she suspected he directed them toward her and not the other teachers. That was what came of him being her best friend for most of their lives.

Charles took liberties that no one else dared, and Lilly rarely minded.

A chorus of, “Bunny. It’s a bunny,” from the youngest children interrupted their conversation.

Sure enough, a gray-brown rabbit pelted hell-bent for nothing toward the meadow, its little black-button eyes wide and terrified.

“I presume you need to speak with me, Charles?” Lilly said dryly as she continued picking apples.

Miss Wobblecroft still shadowed Zander’s every move, and irritation tip-toed up Lilly’s spine.

The woman was not paid to flirt.

Had she forgotten she had children to supervise?