August understood Miss Greengrass' hesitation to be accompanied by him — their situation was awkward, and only made moreso by her being at work while he was mostly here to see one of his sisters. But it was clear that she had not yet met her charge's friend, because August's niece had inherited her mother's stubborn streak. And August had hoped to gently correct her before the children did, but Lysander piped up before he could — "He's my guardian, not my father."

At least Lysander had a patient streak, and sounded more exacting than he did irritated.

"You can play charades too, Miss Greengrass," Lysander added. August shrugged at her. "It seems I'll have to join for a time," he said, with a vaguely apologetic smile.