Read Online 1609366867 by Janice Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janice Thompson
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to scoot.” Peter pulled Jacquie into his arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He gazed at Jacquie. “Can you do without me?”
“Yes, but don’t stay away long.”
“Never.”
Peter turned his attention to Tessa. He doubled his fist and gave her a playful punch. “Not sure how I can ever thank you, Tess.”
Her heart flew to her throat and she fought the sting of tears with a shrug. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
He chuckled as he made his way out of the cottage, turning back only long enough to give the ladies a playful wink.
“Now then. Let’s get to work.” Jacquie’s lovely blue skirtswished this way and that as she made her way to the table. Playing the role of servant, she pulled out a chair and gestured for Tessa to sit, which Tessa did, but not without tripping over the chair leg.
“S–sorry.”
A winsome smile graced Jacquie’s lips as she pointed her index finger upward. “Rule number one—a lady rarely acknowledges her own faux pas. She pretends it never existed.”
“What’s a faux pas ?” Tessa asked, her gaze shifting to the rows of silverware surrounding the plate in front of her.
“A mistake. A woman rarely acknowledges her mistakes, at least not publicly. She simply moves forward as if the incident did not take place. That way, you leave the other people wondering if, perhaps, they might have imagined things.” A light giggle followed from Jacquie, along with fluttering eyelashes. How did one go about getting their lashes to flutter like that? Tessa would have to try it. Later, of course, when no one was looking.
They spent the next half hour going over the rules of the table—everything from silverware to goblets to the way one held one’s pinkie finger while sipping tea. Before long Tessa’s belly was full of crumpets and tea, but her head was even fuller. How could she possibly remember all of Jacquie’s instructions? Worn out, Tessa slumped back in her chair and let out an exaggerated groan.
“I know, I know.” Jacquie chuckled. “It’s a lot to take in.” The lovely young woman paused, and her gaze shifted to Tessa’s hands. “Next we’re headed to the bedroom to try on dresses, but before we leave the table, would it offend you terribly if I asked to see your hands?”
“My…hands?” Tessa pressed them behind her back, embarrassment taking hold.
“Yes, if you don’t mind.” Jacquie’s eyebrows arched as sheextended slender, beautifully manicured fingers Tessa’s way. “You will wear gloves much of the time, of course, but a lady’s hands give her away, so one can never be too careful.”
Tessa held out her calloused hands, palms down.
The look on Jacquie’s face spoke all as she took hold of them and leaned down for a closer examination. “Well, I can see we have much work to do. When we’re done with our lesson, I’ll have Iris help you soak these nails and give them a good scrubbing. Cleaning beneath the nails is so important. A clean palette is a good start. But we must do more.” She turned Tessa’s hand over then ran her delicate fingertip along the rough, blistered palms. “I will have Iris bring around some petroleum jelly as well. You must apply it at night before bed, then sleep with gloves on.”
“Sleep—with gloves on?” Tessa bit back a chuckle. “Truly?”
“Yes. It’s a trick I learned from Mother. Within weeks you will have the hands of a lady.” Jacquie blushed and shook her head. “I do hope you will forgive me for that.”
“For what?”
“For implying that you are anything but a lady already. I didn’t mean to suggest such a thing with my comment. Will you forgive me?”
“Me? A lady?” Tessa snorted. “Miss, there’s no need to pretend I’m something I’m not.”
“It’s Jacquie. And what do you mean, pretend?” Jacquie used her napkin to brush crumbs from her lip.
Tessa’s dander rose. “Don’t coddle me. We both know I’m not a proper lady, and there’s certainly no
“Yes, but don’t stay away long.”
“Never.”
Peter turned his attention to Tessa. He doubled his fist and gave her a playful punch. “Not sure how I can ever thank you, Tess.”
Her heart flew to her throat and she fought the sting of tears with a shrug. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
He chuckled as he made his way out of the cottage, turning back only long enough to give the ladies a playful wink.
“Now then. Let’s get to work.” Jacquie’s lovely blue skirtswished this way and that as she made her way to the table. Playing the role of servant, she pulled out a chair and gestured for Tessa to sit, which Tessa did, but not without tripping over the chair leg.
“S–sorry.”
A winsome smile graced Jacquie’s lips as she pointed her index finger upward. “Rule number one—a lady rarely acknowledges her own faux pas. She pretends it never existed.”
“What’s a faux pas ?” Tessa asked, her gaze shifting to the rows of silverware surrounding the plate in front of her.
“A mistake. A woman rarely acknowledges her mistakes, at least not publicly. She simply moves forward as if the incident did not take place. That way, you leave the other people wondering if, perhaps, they might have imagined things.” A light giggle followed from Jacquie, along with fluttering eyelashes. How did one go about getting their lashes to flutter like that? Tessa would have to try it. Later, of course, when no one was looking.
They spent the next half hour going over the rules of the table—everything from silverware to goblets to the way one held one’s pinkie finger while sipping tea. Before long Tessa’s belly was full of crumpets and tea, but her head was even fuller. How could she possibly remember all of Jacquie’s instructions? Worn out, Tessa slumped back in her chair and let out an exaggerated groan.
“I know, I know.” Jacquie chuckled. “It’s a lot to take in.” The lovely young woman paused, and her gaze shifted to Tessa’s hands. “Next we’re headed to the bedroom to try on dresses, but before we leave the table, would it offend you terribly if I asked to see your hands?”
“My…hands?” Tessa pressed them behind her back, embarrassment taking hold.
“Yes, if you don’t mind.” Jacquie’s eyebrows arched as sheextended slender, beautifully manicured fingers Tessa’s way. “You will wear gloves much of the time, of course, but a lady’s hands give her away, so one can never be too careful.”
Tessa held out her calloused hands, palms down.
The look on Jacquie’s face spoke all as she took hold of them and leaned down for a closer examination. “Well, I can see we have much work to do. When we’re done with our lesson, I’ll have Iris help you soak these nails and give them a good scrubbing. Cleaning beneath the nails is so important. A clean palette is a good start. But we must do more.” She turned Tessa’s hand over then ran her delicate fingertip along the rough, blistered palms. “I will have Iris bring around some petroleum jelly as well. You must apply it at night before bed, then sleep with gloves on.”
“Sleep—with gloves on?” Tessa bit back a chuckle. “Truly?”
“Yes. It’s a trick I learned from Mother. Within weeks you will have the hands of a lady.” Jacquie blushed and shook her head. “I do hope you will forgive me for that.”
“For what?”
“For implying that you are anything but a lady already. I didn’t mean to suggest such a thing with my comment. Will you forgive me?”
“Me? A lady?” Tessa snorted. “Miss, there’s no need to pretend I’m something I’m not.”
“It’s Jacquie. And what do you mean, pretend?” Jacquie used her napkin to brush crumbs from her lip.
Tessa’s dander rose. “Don’t coddle me. We both know I’m not a proper lady, and there’s certainly no
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