Maria, who had been demonstrating fan language to Eleanor and had just performed an example, held the fan and looked at the man at the door with her sparkling eyes.

"We're having a lesson," she replied, pausing before asking, "Is there something you need, Duke?"

Only then did Simon realize that they weren’t alone in the room. He also became aware that his outburst had been somewhat inappropriate.

Especially when he saw his sister turning around, holding a fan, and elegantly unfolding it as she followed her teacher’s example. It dawned on him that he had probably misunderstood the situation.

Realizing that he might have misunderstood the situation, Simon's previously...