Chapter 3
“They’re popular romance novels.”
It was the first time in nearly thirty minutes that Irene had heard Chloe’s voice. Those blue eyes fixed on her with a sharp, probing gaze. A faintly mocking smile touched Chloe’s lips as she looked at the speechless Irene.
“Well? Aren’t you going to tell me I shouldn’t be reading such vulgar books?”
Her voice was as clear and refreshing as an open sky, but it did nothing to soften the chill beneath it. Irene glanced between Chloe’s expressionless face and the book she had just closed.
“Why shouldn’t you?”
“Because they’re trash.”
“Then why do you read them if that’s what you think?”
“Because they’re entertaining. They’re ridiculous.”
“Isn’t that enough? People don’t read popular romance novels to learn something from them.”
Chloe studied Irene, now seated across from her. Despite the inscrutable blue eyes and utterly unreadable face fixed on her, Irene didn’t look away.
A moment later, a flicker of interest surfaced in Chloe’s gaze.
“Do you read books like these too, Miss Irene?”
“No.”
“How irresponsible. You say it’s enough that they’re entertaining when you don’t even know what they’re about.”
The brief spark of curiosity vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Chloe reopened her book and lowered her gaze once more. The only sound that broke the silence was the steady turning of pages.
Only thirty minutes had passed. There were still three hours left. She couldn’t spend all that time sitting in silence. Just as Irene began considering how she might improve her relationship with Chloe—
After turning a few more pages, Chloe spoke without taking her eyes off the book.
“You can leave.”
“I can’t do that. His Grace hired me, and—”
“I’ll explain it to my brother. So just go. And stop interrupting me.”
Cutting Irene off without hesitation, Chloe let out a derisive scoff.
“I don’t like talking to people. It’s boring. It’s tedious. And I especially can’t stand people who dance around what they mean. Honestly, I’m already irritated.”
At that, Irene recalled the advice the head maid had given her before she was shown to Chloe’s library.
‘The young lady can be rather blunt. Especially with her governesses. She tends to be even ruder with them. I imagine it’s because she’s embarrassed. After all, who assigns a governess to an eighteen-year-old lady?’
The head maid had gone on to say that there had been so many governesses who had either been dismissed or resigned of their own accord that one could scarcely count them on both hands.
Only then did Irene understand why this position had fallen into her lap instead of going to one of the renowned governesses.
“Then, if I promise not to interrupt you, would you mind if I stayed here and read as well?”
Once she set aside both her suspicion and her scruples, reality came into focus. A governess’s position with House Whitmore truly was an exceptional opportunity.
The salary was twice the usual rate. She would no longer have to live in a rented room that never saw the sun and perpetually smelled of the gutter. Her employer was a gentleman. In other words, as long as she could get along with the young lady before her, a comfortable life was all but guaranteed.
Reaching toward the stack, Irene picked up one of the books. A derisive laugh followed.
“And you call yourself a teacher? Is it really appropriate for you to read trash like that?”
“Well, if Miss Chloe reads it, I don’t see why I can’t. You said yourself that they’re entertaining.”
Answering with more confidence than she felt, Irene opened a paperback titled <The Lovers of Lady Celine>.
Chloe looked her up and down with undisguised skepticism. Go on, then. Read it. One page. Then another.
Irene had a habit of reading quickly, her eyes racing across the pages.
The faster she turned them, the redder her face became…
…Lord Lime slipped between Lady Celine’s thighs, claiming her damp flesh without the slightest hesitation. Aaah! As his great length pressed into her secret depths, a breathless cry escaped the lady’s lips…
She had said they were trash…but Irene hadn’t imagined they would be this explicit.
Trying to cool her burning cheeks, she unconsciously fanned herself with one hand.
Flap, flap. Chloe glanced at the fluttering hand and immediately spoke.
“That…”
“Ah! I’m sorry. I’ll keep still.”
Startled, Irene quickly lowered her hand. Instead, Chloe reached across the table, swiftly snatched the book from Irene’s hands, checked the title, and frowned.
“I thought you said you’d never read these before.”
“I haven’t, but…”
Thump!
Closing the book with a sharp snap, Chloe abruptly rose to her feet. She hadn’t realized it while they were both seated, but perhaps because she resembled her brother, Chloe was surprisingly tall.
“This one’s far too explicit for a beginner. There’s proper starter material. First I need to figure out your tastes, so let me ask you a few questions.”
Chloe folded her arms, already deep in thought.
“Do you prefer bad men or nice men? Well, honestly, most of them are bastards anyway. But bad boys are definitely more entertaining than nice ones. The more you read, the more you find yourself looking for the bad ones.”
“I-I’ve never really thought about something like that…”
Overwhelmed by Chloe’s rapid-fire questions, Irene hesitated. As Chloe sorted through the pile of books, she continued to ask.
“No. On second thought, it’d be easier if you started with a governess as the protagonist. How do you feel about widowers with children? Or would an affair be better? Affairs are definitely more stimulating, but they can be a bit much for beginners.”
As if she knew the contents of every book just by looking at the title, Chloe deftly plucked out several volumes from the pile and lined them up in front of Irene.
As Irene stared, almost entranced, at the mountain of books, Chloe’s voice broke through.
“Answer me.”
“Pardon?”
“I asked whether you’d rather read about a widower or an affair.”
Neither sounded particularly appealing.
“Um… the former, I suppose…”
“Okay. You’ll end up reading both eventually anyway.”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump…
The books began to pile up.
Irene could only stare blankly as the tower before her grew taller and taller. A moment later, Chloe plucked two more books from another stack and held them out to her.
“Start with <The Live-in Governess of House Islan>. Since it’s about a ducal household, it’ll be easier to relate to. After that, read <Private Lessons from a Swindler>.”
Accepting the books almost on reflex, Irene found herself staring blankly at the rose illustrated on the cover. Shouldn’t she be trying not to relate to these sorts of people?
“For now, just read those two. Then tell me whether you enjoyed them or not, and I’ll recommend something that suits your tastes.”
“Um… thank you.”
The gratitude in Irene’s voice was genuine. For the briefest instant, a smile flickered across Chloe’s otherwise expressionless face. It was so fleeting Irene almost thought she’d imagined it.
But for that single moment, Chloe looked unmistakably pleased.
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