Had Grace not already decided how poorly suited she was to a career as a governess, being corrected by a literal child might have been her moment of realization. She did not have any comeback, no well-rehearsed apology. She simply shut up and nodded, averting her gaze to the floor. Her mind urged her to steel her spine and recover what dignity she still had (because the mere act of being in the room with Mr. Echelon-Arnost had unfortunately stripped her of most of it), but in the next moment the boy had extended the invitation to join the game.
Miss Ellie did not look as pleased, her gaze flickering back and forth between the two adults as if the thought of playing with them either made her very nervous or very annoyed. Grace had still not figured out all of her micro-expressions. Grace tried to smile at her, but it seemed to go unnoticed.
"I played charades growing up," she confessed, moving her attention to Mr. Echelon-Arnost, his charge, and the other little girl. "I have four siblings." She left out that their age gap made any meaningful competition an impossibility, but they had played. Many times, however brief.
Miss Ellie did not look as pleased, her gaze flickering back and forth between the two adults as if the thought of playing with them either made her very nervous or very annoyed. Grace had still not figured out all of her micro-expressions. Grace tried to smile at her, but it seemed to go unnoticed.
"I played charades growing up," she confessed, moving her attention to Mr. Echelon-Arnost, his charge, and the other little girl. "I have four siblings." She left out that their age gap made any meaningful competition an impossibility, but they had played. Many times, however brief.
