a friend, too, for he always seem afraid of how Leon’s going to react if he does anything wrong.
Someday she’ll just have to show him that he’s a duke and can do anything as he pleases, well, except with her, that is.
* * *
“So this is it? The Heartily Academy of Management?” Rose thought this was a dream paradise.
It was built with the same design and structure as the Heartily
manor. Flowers filled the place and beautiful butterflies fluttered by with the bees for the nectar of the flowers. There were young men and women all about studying and chattering, romping around with joy.
It shocked her when Miss Namine told her that they’ve had the school ever since Leon was born. Must had been over twenty years now.
Why didn’t he ever mention anything about it to her? She knows so very little of him. She would make sure he tells her everything when he gets back. He told her earlier that he was going out with Lord Longsword to check on Hargate since they’ve left him far too long at his sister’s place.
Hopefully he comes back soon. She knows there’s still the marquess for him to take care of, but she wants him to stay a night with her before he goes off, just in case something happens.
Oh, she doesn’t want to think about it but after seeing him all wounded the last time, it worries her. She can’t bear to see him hurt like that again. She just hopes that wherever he goes, he’ll return safely to her, for all she knows she could really be with child. It’s too early to know but their last coupling could result so. They still haven’t even wed either. She doesn’t want her child to be born out of wedlock and without a father.
Leon just better go get His Grace and come back to her before seeking Lord Lansing again. She won’t ever forgive him if he dies in the act.
Oh, lord, she has really got to stop the ridiculous thoughts. Leon won’t die. He’ll return no matter what. He will be okay. She just have to believe in it.
“Oh, Lady Rose, come look at this,” said Miss Lavender as she pick something up from the ground.
“Ewe, Lavender, put that down!” Phoenix cried, pushing Lavender’s hand away as she wave up what seems to be a worm.
Rose gave out a startle cry, too, and jumps back when Lavender brought it to her.
“Lavender!” Namine shrieked as Lavender threw it on her blouse and strip it off.
“It’s just a millipede,” Lavender laughed. “Don’t have to go naked.”
Miss Namine colored as she stares down at her light chemise tuck in her pants and shook her blouse out to get rid of the bug.
“You’ll pay for this,” Namine said to Lavender, putting her blouse back on and continued leading the tour.
They went through the art room and watched the pupils paint.
“Aidan taught this class mostly,” Lavender informed her. “Sometimes Avange help.”
Next, they walked down the art gallery down the hall filled with old paintings from famous artist like Leonardo da Vinci to Donatello.
“You were able to obtain the Mona Lisa?” Rose inquired when she saw it hanging on the wall.
“No,” said Namine. “It was just a mock painting from one of the pupils. We just wanted to hang it up to fool people.”
“It looks so real,” Rose said, reaching out to touch it.
“We could probably sell it off, too,” Phoenix added. “But Leon said it’s against the law and we’ll get in big trouble.”
“That’s right,” Rose agreed, trailing along to examine the next painting.
Next, they went to the woodshop around the corner and pass along the shelves and tables made by the students.
Rose realized that there were only males in the class and no ladies at all.
“Leon didn’t want the ladies to cut themselves,” Phoenix explained. “He didn’t even let me in here till I was sixteen.”
Many of the young gentlemen stop their work and came to talk to them. They were all under the age of twenty-two and very charming. They all truly adore the Heartily Sisters. Most of them were disappointed that Miss Avangelene didn’t show up.
“She said she was going to show us how to break a lock the last time,” said one of the young lads. “Now we’ll have to wait because Headmaster announced this morning that we have to go home for a couple of months due to the upcoming constructions at the school.”
“There’s no con–”
Rose saw Miss Namine pinched Phoenix and