"Right ye are, sir. I never did approve of having dogs in the house." Mrs. Bird went to the kitchen door and snapped her fingers at Minotaur.
The big dog reluctantly inched out from under the table and, with a last hopeful glance at Ethan, slunk into the kitchen.
"How are we going to study geometry outdoors, Mr. Chillhurst?" Robert asked.
"We will begin by measuring the distance across the stream without actually crossing it," Jared said. He watched as Olympia went back to concentrating on her eggs.
"How can you do that?" Ethan asked, his curiosity apparently piqued.
"I will show you," Jared said, his eyes still on Olympia's face. "And when you have the knack of it, I shall tell you the tale of how Captain Jack used the technique to find his way out of a jungle."
"A jungle in the Isthmus of Panama?" Hugh asked.
"No, this was a jungle on an island in the West Indies," Jared explained. He smiled to himself when Olympia glanced up, her attention caught at last. Good old Captain Jack, he thought ruefully.
"What was Captain Jack doing in the middle of an island jungle?" Ethan asked.
"Concealing a treasure chest, of course," Jared murmured.
Olympia's eyes widened with interest. "Did he ever go back to the island to dig up his chest?"
"I believe he did go back for that one," Jared said.
"Did Captain Jack really use geometry to find his way off the island?" Robert asked.
"Yes, he did." Jared took a sip of coffee and studied Olympia's expression over the rim of the cup. The unfocused look had returned to her eyes. She was lost in her thoughts again. Even the bit about Captain Jack had not held her for long this morning. Something was definitely wrong.
"Did Captain Jack slit a man's throat and leave his bones on the treasure chest as a warning to anyone who dug it up?" Hugh demanded.
Jared nearly choked on his coffee. "Where the devil did you get a notion like that?"
"I've heard that pirates always did that," Hugh said.
"I have told you, Captain Jack was a buccaneer, not a pirate." Jared drew his watch from his pocket and checked the time. "If you are finished, you may leave the table. I want to speak privately with your aunt. Run upstairs and gather some pencils and paper. I'll join you in a few minutes."
"Yes, sir," Robert said eagerly.
Chairs scraped loudly as the three youngsters scrambled to leave the room.
"One moment, if you please," Jared said quietly.
All three turned back obediently.
"Did you forget something, Mr. Chillhurst?" Robert asked.
"No, you did. All three of you forgot to excuse yourselves properly to your aunt."
"Sorry, sir." Robert sketched a little bow. "Please excuse me, Aunt Olympia."
"Beg pardon, Aunt Olympia," Hugh said. "Have to leave now."
"Excuse me, Aunt Olympia," Ethan sang out. "Got to prepare for our studies, you know."
Olympia blinked and smiled vaguely at all three. "Yes, of course. Have a pleasant morning."
There was another concerted rush to the door. Jared waited patiently until the room had been cleared. Then he gazed down the length of the table at Olympia.
She looked so very pretty sitting there in a shaft of warm sunlight, he thought. There was an astonishing sense of intimacy to be found in this business of sharing the morning meal with her. A now-familiar stab of desire went through him.
Today Olympia's striking, intelligent face was framed by the neatly pleated frill of a modest white lawn chemisette. The bright yellow shade of her high-waisted gown accented her red hair, which was loosely pinned beneath a dainty white lace cap.
Jared wondered fleetingly what she would do if he got up and went down the length of the table to kiss her. That thought led to a vision of Olympia lying atop the table amid the clutter of dishes and teacups. He could see her now with her lovely legs dangling over the edge of the table, her skirts pushed up to her waist and her hair in wild disarray.
He could also see himself in the mental image. He was standing between Olympia's soft, white thighs, his body violently aroused, honey on his hands.
Jared stifled a groan of frustration and made a grab for his self-control. "Something appears to be troubling you this morning, Miss Wingfield. May I inquire what the problem is?"
Olympia glanced quickly toward the kitchen door and then cast another hurried look at the door that had closed behind her nephews. She leaned forward and lowered her voice.
"As it happens, I have been very anxious to talk to you all morning, Mr. Chillhurst."
Jared wondered fleetingly if she would continue to call him Mr. Chillhurst after she had reached her first climax in his arms. "I believe we have some privacy now. Pray, tell me what is on your mind."
Olympia's brows drew together in a look of intense concentration. "Something very strange happened in the library last night."
Jared's stomach knotted. He strove to keep his voice calm and reassuring. "Unfamiliar, perhaps, Miss Wingfield, but I would not term it strange. Men and women have, after all, been enjoying such pleasant interludes since the days of Adam and Eve."
Olympia stared at him blankly. "What on earth are you talking about, sir?"
Just his luck, Jared thought gloomily. At long last he had found his own personal siren only to discover that she was cursed with the sort of brain that tended to concentrate on one thing at a time.
Nevertheless, it was an enormous relief to know that she was not, apparently, having second thoughts about the passion that had flared between them.
"Do not concern yourself, Miss Wingfield." Jared rested his elbows on the table and planted his fingertips together. "I was referring to something quite inconsequential."
"I see." Olympia shot another cautious glance toward both doors. "About last night…"
"Yes?"
"Minotaur barked sometime around two. I went downstairs to see what had alarmed him." She pitched her voice even lower. "Mr. Chillhurst, I found the brandy decanter overturned."
Jared stared at her. "Are you talking about the one in your library?"
"Yes, of course I am. It is the only brandy decanter I own. It was Aunt Sophy's, you see. She and Aunt Ida always kept it in the library."
"Miss Wingfield, perhaps it would be best if you continued with your tale," Jared said.
She gave him an impatient look. "That is precisely what I am attempting to do, sir, but you keep interrupting me."
"My apologies." Jared drummed his fingertips together.
"In addition to the overturned decanter, I also discovered that a window in the library was open."
Jared frowned. "Are you certain? I do not recall a window being open in there earlier."
"Precisely. There were no windows open."
"Perhaps the breeze from the window knocked the decanter over," Jared said slowly.
"Not likely. That decanter is extremely heavy. Mr. Chillhurst, I believe someone entered my library last night."
"Miss Wingfield, I must tell you that I am not pleased."
Olympia's eyes widened. "Neither am I, sir. Nothing like this has ever happened before around here. It is rather alarming."
Jared studied her over his steepled fingers. "Are you telling me that you went downstairs all by yourself to investigate strange sounds in your library? You did not wake Mrs. Bird or loose the dog first?"
Olympia brushed the matter aside. "There is no cause for concern, sir. I was armed with a poker. In any event the library was quite empty by the time I got there. I suspect Minotaur's barking frightened off the intruder."
"A poker? Good God." Jared was suddenly furious at her lack of common sense. He got to his feet and started toward the door. "I believe I shall have a look at the library, myself."