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“Lord Lee Beom Sook is an excellent tutor, Ni Na!  He’s even better than you are at explaining things.  For the first time, I feel like I understood an assignment today,” Ae Ri raved as she returned an hour later to sit next to Ni Na.

As she continued to work on the problem before her, Ni Na smiled sweetly at her.  “I’m glad that he helped you.”

Ae Ri bobbed her head.  “I’m going to ask Kim Jung Sook if he can tutor me every day.”

Ni Na glanced up sharply as her eyes flew to meet hers.  “You are?”

Ae Ri didn’t miss the subtle quaver in her friend’s voice.  “Yes,” she responded firmly.  “Lord knows I need the help.”

Ni Na released an amused puff of air through her nose.

“And what better way to keep all these other girls away from your man, eh?” she whispered as she leaned close to Ni Na’s ear.

Her friend nearly choked.  She gasped then chuckled.  “Really, Ae Ri!  He’s hardly my man,” she breathed quietly. 

But her eyes slid across the room.

To discover him gazing at her.

The corners of her lips flipped up as she sent him a sweet smile before shyly glancing back down at her parchment.

“What was that?” her friend hissed into her ear. 

“What?” she murmured absentmindedly as she began to doodle a beautiful jade eye on her parchment.  Of course, she didn’t have her paints to color that iris in.

“You were gazing longingly at Beom Sook.”

“Ae Ri!  Why are you calling him by his given name?”

“Because my best friend is in love with him.”

“Pfft.  Hardly!  I’ve known the man for less than twenty-six hours.”

“Uh-huh.  You’re already counting the hours, are you?”

But Ni Na ignored her.

Ae Ri tilted her head sideways.  “Can I come stay the night tonight?”

Ni Na’s head snapped up.  “No!”

Ae Ri’s eyes grew wide.  “What?  Why not?”

“Uhhh,” Ni Na searched frantically for an excuse.  “I, uh, promised Auntie Dan O that I would play with her granddaughter tonight.” 

Ni Na had long had the habit of calling her beloved lady’s maid by the affectionate title, Auntie.

Ae Ri narrowed her eyes.  “Since when do you play with the servants’ grandchildren?”

Ni Na glanced at her.  “What?  You know that I love children!  Her precious little Da Hee is adorable!  I play with her quite often.”

“Yeah, but you’ve never made an appointment to do so, have you?”

“Auntie Dan O made some special plans with her friends.”

“So you’re babysitting?” Ae Ri asked incredulously.

Ni Na shrugged.

“Well…I could help you.”

Ni Na’s eyes slid to the side.  Then up towards the ceiling as she tried frantically to think of a reason that her friend couldn’t come.  “That’s all right.  You’d be bored.”

“You know that I like kids too,” Ae Ri pouted.  “Come on, Ni Na.  Why don’t you want me there?”

Ni Na heaved a deep sigh.  “I’m meeting a lady for dinner,” she admitted grudgingly.

“What?”  Ae Ri frowned.  “What lady?”

“Um.  Just one of the lords’ wives.”  Which wasn’t a complete lie.  Lady Lee had once been married to Lord Lee Beom Sook’s father.  Before he died.

“Well,” Ae Ri furrowed her adorable brow, “why didn’t you just say so?”

Ni Na shrugged.  “I don’t know.  Truthfully, I’m a bit nervous.  I guess I just didn’t want to think about it.”

Her friend continued to look at her strangely.  “I’m sure…it will be fine.  Why would you be nervous?”  She narrowed her eyes.  “Because of your father?  You’re worried about offending the lady?”

Ni Na grabbed the ready excuse and bobbed her head.  “Mm-hmm.”

“Oh, silly!” Ae Ri placed her hand on her shoulder.  “If there is any girl in the nobility who can impress a lady, it’s you.  You have nothing to worry about.  You’re sweet.  Polite.  Demure.  Poised.  A paragon, darling,” she announced dramatically.

“Sung Ae Ri, can you please quiet down?” Jung Sook suddenly broke into their conversation.  “Some of my pupils are interested in hearing what I have to say.”

Embarrassed, Ae Ri hung her head.  “Sorry, Kim Jung Sook.”

The teacher bobbed her head and returned her attention to the entire class.  Saving Ni Na from further complications.  She sighed with relief.  Before bending her concentration on Jung Sook’s words.  And tamping down on the butterflies that had begun to swim around in her stomach. 

Oh, not because she was meeting Lady Lee tonight.  No, those pesky creatures were seeking an exit from her tummy because of a certain dashing gentleman.  One who kept flashing those gorgeous, jade eyes at her.  What had she been thinking when she’d invited him to dinner tonight?  Sometimes, her boldness shocked even her.