Page 79 of The Duke's Pet

“It looks like the d for dog.”

“Yes, but it’s the other way around.”

“I can see that.” She stared at it harder as if that would help. It didn’t, all that resulted in was more frustration.

“It’s a b, like in birds,” he said eventually.

“Ah, okay. So this book is about dogs and birds.”

“No, well, it’s about dogs, but this b has different letters after it to the word bird, can you tell?”

“Er, yes, I think so.”

“It says breeds. Look, this is the r, and two e’s together make that sound.”

Jemima curled her toes on the rug and tried to keep her breathing steady but the more the duke tried to teach her, to explain each word, the more aggravated and annoyed she got.

By the time she reached the fifth page she was none the wiser and totally exasperated and confused.

He was getting annoyed too, by her lack of understanding. She could tell by the tone of his voice and the stiffening of his shoulders.

“How does anyone learn how to read?” She jabbed her finger on their current page. “It’s impossible.”

“I can assure you it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. How did you learn?” She’d used a sharper pitch than intended.

“As a child. My governess taught me.”

“So it’s impossible to learn as an adult.” She frowned, knowing angry lines were plowing over her forehead.

“You are wrong.” His features tightened. “And you should watch how you speak to me.”

“I don’t want to learn anymore. What good will it do me?” She snapped the book shut. A puff of dust rose up from it.

“It will do you a lot of good.”

He went to reach for the book but she yanked it away.

“Jemima!”

“No, no, it won’t do me any good at all.” Soon she’d be out there in the big wide world again. Admittedly with some cash but even then, knowing a few words—animal words—wasn’t going to help her any. “Don’t you see that it’s pointless?”

She stood and paced to the fire. All the irritations and frustration were burning her up. It was like a red-hot fire in her belly spreading outward, racing through her veins, spinning in her mind.

“I demand that you come here and sit down and we will do this until you learn to read.”

“That’s not going to happen.” She stared at the flames licking from a thick log in the base of the hearth.

“Yes, it is, and if I have to tell you again you’ll be over my knee for a sound spanking.”

“I don’t care. I’d rather have a spanking than sit looking at these stupid letters and words.”

A fit of fury seized her and she flung the book into the flames. Instantly it caught, the dry pages shriveling and the cover curling.

“Jemima.” He was at her side, his shoulder nudging hers as he reached for the poker. “That was my father’s book. How dare you.”

She clasped her hands over her mouth, gasped and stepped backward. What in heaven’s name had she done?

---