“How many tricks have they played on you?”

“Not so many that I felt the need to run to you.”

Anthony frowned. Always before, he heard about each and every infraction committed by the children. “When were you going to inform me of this situation?”

“Never. It’s my job to deal with the children, not yours. It’s what you paid me to do.”

He caught her wrist and pushed the cuff up to reveal the bruise once more. “This is not part of your job.”

She tugged her arm free and smoothed her sleeve back in place. “No, that was an accident. Greyley, when I reach a point where I feel incapable of dealing with the children, you will hear from me.”

He looked down at her, at the sparkle of humor that lit her eyes, at the genuine warmth that curved her mouth into a smile, and a sudden well of anger made him curse. “I’m going to put a stop to this right now.”

“Nonsense. Let them play their tricks. It will give me the opportunity to play a few of my own. They really are harmless, you know. They’ve done nothing truly malicious.”

“That’s not what my last governess believed.”

“Then she must have been prone to overreaction. Mrs. Stibbons has told me every trick the children have played and none of them warranted the attention they’ve gotten.”

She was amazing. There she stood, having been subjected to God knew how much ink and glue and honey, yet she was able to grin without the least bitterness. The morning light glinted on her auburn hair, setting her creamy skin aglow. “Made of steel, are you, Thraxton?”

She gave him a cheeky grin. “I have my weaknesses. We all do.” She glanced through the doorway at the children. “They are basically good children. And very bright to have executed some of their more elaborate plans. Desford is a natural leader.”

Anthony had no doubt that Desford could lead armies on siege—he’d had the dubious felicity of seeing him in action. “Miss Thraxton, I’m curious. Just what do you hope to gain by operating at the children’s level?”

“Respect and perhaps trust. After that it is simply a matter of establishing a few boundaries and we will all deal famously.”

“You make it sound easy.”

“No, but I enjoy it anyway. I like helping people.” She looked at him and tilted her head to one side, her curls swinging across her shoulder. “You, on the other hand, don’t like helping people.”

Anthony stiffened. “What do you mean by that? I help people all the time.”

“No, you take responsibility for them. You make their decisions, rescue them from their faults, pave the way for them to become even more dependent on you. It’s no wonder you’re always in a bad mood.”

Damn it, why did Thraxton have to always see the worst in him, but the best in everyone else? It seemed grossly unfair. “I’m not in a bad mood,” he snapped.