“Because I’m so not used to that.” Her smile robbed her words of malice, and she reached for the teapot.
“Use the tea strainer,” I said quietly. “We use leaf tea. That’s right, and pass the milk jug for people to add their own milk.”
Her eyebrows hit her hairline. She looked as if she was about to explode. I had to defuse things.
“Just a taste of what your life will be like.” I grinned. “But most of the time it’ll be mugs in the kitchen.”
“Oh,” she said as she relaxed back with her tea. “It’s all a bit delicate for me.”
I watched her, imagined her in a swirling gown, her hair piled elegantly on top of her head. Then my mind stripped her, and I saw her naked in front of me, her limbs lithe and smooth under my hands. I jumped and forced my mind away.
“I’m sorry, I missed that.” I looked questioningly, sure that she’d spoken.
She was looking at me, puzzled. “I said I don’t think I’m really interested in what you’re offering.”
My heart plummeted. “What?” I’d been so sure she’d be desperate to get away from her life.
She smiled, looking rueful. “Not that it wouldn’t be nice to live like this.” She lifted her eyes, and looked around the room. “No. It’s that I have ideas, something I want to do. This would take up my whole self. I’d have to change completely. I want to be successful in my own right, not just be dependent on someone else all the time.” Her voice broke slightly. “I’m very flattered, er, James. I just think I’m too — well, too independent-minded. I wouldn’t want to have to lose me.” She looked up at me, her eyes sad. I took her hands in mine. I didn’t believe her for a moment.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Toni. Because I think you’d be brilliant at this, and I think you maybe don’t know exactly what it involves.” I shifted closer along the sofa towards her, keeping her hands grasped in mine.
“Can you tell me what ideas you have, what you’re working on to be successful?” I stroked her hand, heard her tiny gasp.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not? Maybe I can help.” I let my fingers trace along hers, up to her wrist, my nail lightly making a path along her skin. “I think you might be worrying too much about how much time you’d need to spend on being the wife of the heir.” I lifted the back of her hand to my lips, just brushing the skin.
“You spend so many hours working now, just to pay your bills. And then you’re so tired, you can’t build your idea.” I sensed her body beginning to respond to my touch, and I moved closer. “You know, not many people can make a success without the help of other people.” I was almost whispering now.
“I couldn’t have done what I did without the backdrop of not having to work a job as well as learning to code. And my family financing my education.” My hand smoothed over her hair, tucked a little tendril behind her ear.
“Look, Toni, being a success isn’t just hard work, it’s knowing the right people to help you. I can help you, with whatever you’ve got in mind. I can provide resources, people, whatever you need. And it’s not cheating, it’s all part of business. Teams do things these days.”
She drew away from me and sat up. Then she went to the windows. I sat, watchful. She stared out over the city. “What exactly would all this involve?” Her voice was cautious, but she sounded to me as if she was almost ready to agree. I felt satisfied, but my body was screaming at me to continue her seduction. I needed to fuck her. My body needed her like a drug. I forced myself back into the present moment.
Standing, I went to her side, and stared out too. I could smell her arousal, her need of me, and I wondered whether she was aware of that too.
“Well, joining the family would mean knowing and doing what is expected of you. So that involves learning a lot. The right way to behave, the right way to speak and the right way to dress. There’s a lot to learn.” I stopped. I was going to tell her about the finishing school, about how wonderful Switzerland was. But I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Leaving the US suddenly felt like too much to ask for, and I wanted her. I wanted her here with me. I could train her.
I smiled. My Fair Lady. A true pygmalion story. God! That would be fun.
“You would stay here, with me. I would teach you how to become a suitable person to be the wife of an Earl, and I would teach you everything that’s needed.” I thought a moment.
“I would work with you on your idea, or, if you’d prefer it, get someone in to help you work on it, bring it forward. Then someone to help with marketing whatever it is.” I pulled out my final weapon. “And I’ve got Lawrence, my secretary to work on finding and paying for a special program to help Sam. A program for disabled vets, because they should always have someone looking out for them. And you won’t be at the diner any more to look out for him.”