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"Who had the thought of getting Vonna the new set of clothes?

" Rutherford investigated once he was sure that no one would eavesdrop on their conversation.

nHis study room was a sacred space that not anyone could just simply waltz into.

nRaylene looked up at the man who had circled her waist as she sat on his lap.

nThe large desk close to the window had a large and elegant chair to match it.

nOn this chair was the St. Claire couple, the husband on the chair with the wife secure on his lap.

nRaylene and Butler Limo were the only ones who had ever entered this room after Rutherford.

n'Ruthy only calls me here when he has something important to discuss.' The dainty woman in his arms thought and then looked up into his eyes.

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"Why do you ask that?

" She replied with another question after hearing this.

nRutherford frowned at the defensive words and body language of his usually docile wife.

n'There are only a handful of people who can make her defensive.' He remarked and then leaned closer.

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"Answer my question first.

" He demanded while tightening his hold around her waist.

nThe handful of people who could gain such protection from her were… her husband, her two children, and one outsider.

n'I am pretty sure who this person might be.' He speculated yet stayed silent for her to admit to it herself.

nRaylene caved soon enough under his intense glare and bowed her head, looking wronged and aggrieved.

n

"Paula gave me that idea and it seemed right at that time.

" She muttered and clutched the shirt on his body.

nBy now she had understood that there was something wrong and she needed to know what it was.

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"Did I do something wrong, Ruthy?

" She whispered while playing with the sparkling black gems that were used as buttons on his shirting.

nRutherford's glare softened when he saw her meek and mellow appearance and he patted her head as he let out a defeated sigh.

nWhen Raylene was fretting on how to show her support to her daughter's unique endeavors, it was Paula who had suggested that she get the seamstress to stitch Yvonne some new clothes.

nEven the idea of stitching the equestrian uniform was the personal maid's suggestion.

nRaylene frowned and looked up when she heard her husband's sigh.

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"Ray, do you have any idea how much trouble Vonna would have been in if I had called someone else to be her trainer instead of Desmo?

" He inquired and was met with a stupefied face.

nRaylene's eyes widened when she heard this and then tilted her head to the side, displaying that she would need further explanation.

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"The clothes she wore are only meant for boys.

" He started his explanation.

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"If the other nobles were to hear about this, then they would spread nasty rumors about our baby girl.

" He elaborated so that she might grasp what he was explaining.

nRaylene panicked and her eyes were instantly filled with tears. She began hiccuping and soon soft sniffles were heard in the room.

n

"There there, I know that you didn't know about this.

" Rutherford comforted her while patting her back.

nHis wife had always been easy to frighten and she would start crying at the smallest of things.

nYet this time her tears were justified since this matter concerned the reputation of their daughter.

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"What should I do now? What if… What if… ?

" She could not go beyond this as she broke down in his arms.

nRutherford, ever the doting husband, brought her close in his embrace and rubbed her back with one hand while the other gently wiped the tears away from her face.

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"There is no need for you to think about 'what if' right now.

" He disclosed and smiled when she looked up.

nHe fished out a grey handkerchief and wiped her face clean while Raylene sat obediently, letting him do as he pleased.

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"How so?

" The curious cat in her was jumping to get some answers.

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"Oh, I would kill Desmo if he spreads this news to anyone outside this estate.

" He casually revealed this death threat he had made to his friend before he could leave.

nThough he was not able to obtain information on why Desmo had accepted Yvonne as his pupil even after she failed, he had done one thing right.

nHe succeeded in threatening the Captain of the Red Scorpion Knights to keep his lips sealed regarding matters concerning his daughter.

n

"Since it is Desmo, we don't have to worry about word spreading…

" He muttered once again.

nRaylene's smile blossomed and she felt reassured after hearing his words but that did not last for long.

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"But we don't know how long we can keep this matter a secret. Sooner or later people will notice that something strange is going on in our estate.

" He remarked about the conclusion that he had come up with.

nPeople would surely ask questions as to why the Captain made such frequent visits to their place.

nThey most certainly could not use Howard as an excuse since he would be at the Royal Academy for the entire month.

nThey also could not ensure that the other tutors who came to their estate would keep their mouths such about this information.

nUpon hearing this problem, Raylene smiled and tapped her husband's shoulder indicating that she had something to say.

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"I can schedule her classes in such a way that the other tutors never meet the Captain.

" She offered her suggestion.

nRutherford could not help but grin at his naive and cute wife who could surprise him at such times by coming up with this brilliant plan.

nHe swiftly pulled out a paper from the compartment in his desk and then grabbed a pen that was already on the desk.

nSince this was the place where he dealt with matters pertaining to the St. Claire family business, everything they needed was already here.

nRaylene was well aware of Yvonne's daily schedule and she quickly made a note of the present schedule.

nRutherford glanced at the tiny and elegant handwriting which had a vast deviation from his bold and boorish handwriting.

n

"If we move this over here and this… over here.

" He took over since he had better knowledge about the training module that Desmo had discussed with him.

nA few minutes later, the proud parents looked at the final outcome and were satisfied with what they had come up with in the spur of the moment.

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"This way none of the outsiders will ever know about her training sessions with the Captain.

" Raylene clapped her hands while rejoicing.

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"Hmmm… Desmo can be our dirty little secret.

" Rutherford declared and then smirked.

nHe would like to see the look on his old friend's face when he would soon be told to sneak in and out of the estate to avoid any gossip to spread among the other noble families.

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"If anyone asks about today's visit then we can use Duke Tanner's children as an excuse for his arrival.

" He snickered and then went back to hugging his wife.

nRutherford then sneakily leaned closer and began placing kisses on her neck which made her moan almost instantly.

nHearing her soft moans that were now causing his body to heat up, he moved her hair away from her ear and pressed his lips against her earlobe.

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"We haven't done it in this room, have we?

" He questioned in a deep and husky voice which made her shudder.

nShe meekly shook her head as her eyelids fluttered shut after feeling his hot breath over her ear.

nRutherford smirked before he grazed his teeth at the top of her earlobe following which he gently nibbled on it and finally took it into his mouth.

nAn involuntary moan escaped her mouth when her sensitive ear was now being sucked by her husband.

nShe could not help but squirm while still seated on his lap which only heightened his need to eat her alive.

nJust as Raylene was about to lose herself in the sensations that he was arousing in her body, she recalled something that also needed her attention.

nShe placed her hands on her husband's chest and pushed herself away from him, successfully detaching from the tongue which was licking her ear.

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"My Lord…

" She whimpered when he would not let her go as he leaned closer once again.

nBut he seemed to have come back to his senses when he heard the formal way that she had just addressed him.

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"Call me Ruthy when we are not in public, Ray.

" He reminded her before breathing into her ear.

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"What will happen to Paula now?

" She did not waste time and blurted out her thoughts before he could start assaulting her senses once again.

nJust the name of another woman being mentioned caused his sensual feelings to come crashing to the floor.

nHe gritted his teeth at this woman in his arms who had turned him on and then just as swiftly she had caused him to get repulsed with just a few words.

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"What about her?

" He growled in a low voice as his eyes bore into his wife's face.

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