Baroness García thought Maria was making excuses; she couldn't believe that such a young girl could be a teacher for a noble lady. But after Simon confirmed it, she could only watch begrudgingly as the two girls left hand in hand, silently cursing Maria.

She was convinced that Maria had used her looks to deceive the young Duke into making such an unwise decision. She imagined that, under the tutelage of someone like Maria, the young lady of the Duke's house would likely turn out to be all show and no substance. The Baroness could almost foresee the embarrassment that would unfold two years later when this young lady made...