Lessons After Dark Read Online Free

occasions, so far, Gareth had thought Simon’s judgment sound. On this, however, he could have wished the new Mrs. Grenville had been altogether shrinking and dainty, although her presence in Simon’s study was largely his own fault. Mrs. Grenville had said she’d heard the new teacher had dealt with Elizabeth. Gareth had cleared his throat and said he’d actually like to speak with Simon about the teacher in question…
    â€¦and here they were. The Grenvilles sat in chairs by the fire, Gareth stood while trying not to put his hands in his pockets like a nervous schoolboy, and the Turkish carpet stretched between them like a small sea of good red wine.
    Or fresh blood.
    â€œMrs. Brightmore is—” Bluntness, Gareth decided, would probably serve him well. If it wouldn’t, he was still not capable of anything else at the moment. “She’s a fraud.”
    Mrs. Grenville frowned. When she spoke, her accent—vaguely American, though Gareth didn’t have the ear to place it—made a startling counterpoint to Gareth and Simon’s voices. “She didn’t get the Donnell girl down?”
    â€œYes, she did. Through some trick of the mind—useful, I don’t doubt. But I recognized her. She wasn’t using the same name then.”
    â€œI didn’t know the two of you had met before. I would’ve said something.” Simon was leaning back in his chair, almost lounging, in sharp contrast to his wife’s straight back and intent look.
    â€œWe hadn’t,” Gareth said more sharply than he’d intended. “One doesn’t meet fake mediums.”
    There it was. Except the statement hadn’t provoked the shock or dismay Gareth had thought it would. Mrs. Grenville actually relaxed a bit.
    â€œI wasn’t suggesting you’d signed her dance card or taken her for a carriage ride,” Simon said, half-smiling. “Though I must say I thought the Army made a man less alive to distinctions of class, not the reverse.”
    Gareth felt himself flush. “I hardly meant it like that. I wouldn’t take issue with a colleague’s birth or wealth, but she was a confidence trickster or the next thing to it. She hasn’t admitted to it in words, but, Simon, I would swear I’m right about this.”
    â€œYeah,” said Mrs. Grenville, “you are.” She shrugged. “We should’ve told you earlier, but we didn’t think it’d come up.”
    â€œWhat?” It was hard to be proper with Mrs. Grenville under normal circumstances. Surprise made Gareth blunt. “You knew?”
    Mrs. Grenville lifted her blonde eyebrows in her own rather sarcastic version of surprise. “You didn’t think we’d check her background?”
    â€œIt was good of you to inform us,” Simon interrupted, “but yes, we had some idea of her past.”
    â€œAnd you hired her?”
    â€œI said past .” Simon smiled in a way Gareth recognized from university, a smile that said he could be patient because he was right and you were wrong and he was just about to show you how. It had always made Gareth want to push him into a mud puddle, though there had never been any puddles convenient. “She was a charlatan for several years, and I’d wager you met her then. Now she isn’t.”
    Gareth snorted. “What proof has she shown you?”
    â€œThe same sort I showed you that evening after the Boat Race. I can ask her to demonstrate, if you’d like.”
    â€œNo, thank you.” Gareth repressed a shudder. The window Simon had opened for him in their youth hadn’t shown him anything bad , precisely, but what he’d seen had made his mind hurt. “Simon, are you absolutely certain? There must be someone else.”
    â€œNobody willing to drop their own lives and teach a pack of odd youths out in the countryside,” Simon replied. He glanced over at his wife. “Besides,