Sweet Rogue of Mine (The Survivors #9) - Shana Galen Page 0,39

not quite as difficult as she’d supposed.

“Because I want you to imagine.”

“I don’t need to close my eyes to imagine.”

“I do, and we will do this activity together.” She turned toward him and took his hands in hers. “Now close your eyes. Close them. There you go. No, keep them closed.” She squeezed his hands in reassurance when he did as she asked. Then she closed her own eyes. “Now I want you to imagine a square, Mr. Pope. Do you have the image of a square in your mind?”

“Yes.” He was very still, but she felt the slight tremor of his hands on hers.

“Good. Imagine it drawn on a sheet of parchment. It fills the parchment and is outlined in black ink.”

“Fine.” His hands tightened and then released in hers.

“Now we will fill in the details about this square. It is full of smaller squares. Thirty-six, to be precise. In your mind, divide the square into thirty-six smaller squares. Across the top, number the first row of squares one to six. Then do the same along the side.”

“Go on,” he said when she did not speak for a moment.

“I am writing the numbers in the squares,” she said. “You cannot possibly be done. It takes a moment to write each.”

“I can write very quickly in my imagination.”

She huffed, determined not to lose her patience. “It is important that you remember this square, so you must take your time.”

“Fine.”

They sat there, hands clasped, eyes closed.

“Am I interrupting?”

Pru jumped and released Mr. Pope’s hands as though she had been caught doing something she should not. Mr. Pope did not seem surprised at the intruder. He had probably heard her coming. “What is it, Mrs. Brown?” he asked calmly.

“I have your dinner, sir. If you want it, that is.”

Mr. Pope had not turned toward Mrs. Brown, and now he tilted his head up toward Pru, who had risen to her feet. A woman in a white cap, plain dark blue dress, and a clean apron stood in the doorway. She was plump with graying hair and a kind smile.

“Have you eaten yet, Miss Howard?” Mr. Pope asked.

“Me?” she asked.

He raised his brows as though to ask who else he might be speaking to.

“No, but Mrs. Blimkin will set something aside for me.”

“Mrs. Blimkin?” Mrs. Brown asked. “You must be the vicar’s charge then. I didn’t realize that when we met yesterday.”

“I am, Mrs. Brown. Do you know the vicar?”

“Oh, I know everyone. I am sure you will want to wait and save your appetite for Mrs. Blimkin’s fare. She is certainly a better cook than I.”

“Oh.” Pru did not want to hurt Mrs. Brown’s feelings. “I doubt that is true.”

“I don’t,” Pope said.

“Mr. Pope!”

“It’s true,” Mrs. Brown said. “I was a maid, not a cook, and well, Mr. Payne has replenished the larders to some degree, but he is a man and doesn’t know what we need and—”

“Say no more, Mrs. Brown. I understand completely. But I do not mind simple fare. I am quite used to it.”

“You’ll join me then?” Mr. Pope asked.

“I would be happy to eat Mrs. Brown’s dinner,” Pru said.

“Bring it in here, Mrs. Brown,” Mr. Pope directed. “We’re in the middle of a lesson, and I don’t want to keep Miss Howard too late. We will eat and...study.”

“Yes, sir.” She hurried away, and Pru sat in her seat and smacked Mr. Pope lightly on the arm.

“What was that for?”

“How could you criticize her cooking? I’m certain she is doing her best.”

“I should hope not,” he said.

“Mr. Pope!”

“Don’t chastise me until you taste it.”

“I am certain it will be delicious. I should speak to Mrs. Blimkin and have her intercede. The farmers and merchants in Milcroft do not know Mr. Payne, and he would not know where to go to get the best flour or produce. I can have Mrs. Blimkin choose some items for the larder and have them sent.”

“Why would you do that?”

Pru was at a loss for words for a moment. The answer seemed obvious. “To be helpful.”

“Why do you want to help me?” He seemed genuinely not to understand.

“I like you,” Pru said.

His head jerked up as though he’d been surprised by a loud noise. Was he stunned that she enjoyed his company? Why was that difficult to believe?

“Shall we continue with our exercise?” she asked. “We were imagining our six-by-six square.” She took her seat beside him again. “And we had added the numbers one through six along the top. These are the