Love Rents A Room -
Chapter 165: Teaching And Learning
Chapter 165: Teaching And Learning
Joanne’s face brightened seeing Jeffrey. "You’re awake," she said and walked to him.
"Top of the morning to you, Lady Joanne," Jeffrey smiled and gave a deep bow. Joanne’s smile widened.
"Gordon!" Jeffrey strode in, a lopsided grin on his face. "She has a gentle Shire and a psychotic Appaloosa back home, and both treat her like royalty. Trust me, she knows what she’s doing."
Then he glanced at the snorting pony. "No offense, Betsy. You’re not a real horse, no matter what you tell yourself."
The stable erupted in laughter. Even Betsy seemed to huff indignantly.
"You have horses?" Gordon asked, surprised and impressed. "In that case... what do you think of Greta?"
He led her to a stunning black Arabian, sleek and proud. The horse lifted her head as Joanne approached, and as soon as their eyes met, something clicked. Greta let her stroke her nose, gentle and trusting.
Joanne’s face lit up. "She’s perfect."
Jeffrey joined her, climbing onto a gorgeous pearl Andalusian. He looked right at home in the saddle, every inch the nobleman he didn’t care to act like.
Together, they mounted and rode out into the morning. And in that golden hush between dawn and day, Joanne felt something shift again in her heart—something deeper than happiness, more certain than belonging.
The ride around the vast estate had been nothing short of magical—open meadows stretching far beyond sight, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees, and the rhythmic beat of hooves beneath them grounding her in a world that felt both real and surreal.
Now, they sat beneath the shade of a sprawling oak, the golden morning sun kissing their skin as they sipped cool water from glass bottles handed to them by a passing stablehand.
"It’s not rude to tell them your preferences," Jeffrey said casually, breaking the quiet moment between them.
Joanne blinked, confused for a second. They’d been talking about horses, riding trails, and the insane beauty of the estate. Where did this come from?
He turned to her, a knowing smile curling on his lips. "You would’ve taken the pony if I hadn’t shown up when I did, wouldn’t you?"
The sun caught his eyes just then—those golden flecks shimmered like tiny stars. He looked almost too beautiful to be real.
She dropped her gaze with a sheepish sigh. "Well... I didn’t want to be a diva," she mumbled, swirling the water in her bottle. Then, clearing her throat, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about last night. You didn’t have to tell them I only eat game meat. I mean, I’m a guest. I can’t be too—"
"Exactly," he cut in gently, but with a calm that disarmed her defensiveness. "You’re a guest. And they want to serve you well. That’s their job, Jo. That’s what Philip expects of them too. They can’t do that if they don’t know what you like."
Her eyes widened. "It’s not rude?" she asked, genuinely baffled, like someone had just told her gravity was optional.
Jeffrey chuckled, the sound warm and low as he reached out to pull her into a sideways hug. She melted into him, her shoulder resting against his chest.
"It’s not just you," he said. "It’s kind of a whole thing with where you grew up, huh? Even if they paid for something, people still apologize when they get the wrong order. They don’t want to be a burden. Even when they’re the customer."
Joanne laughed softly, because it was true. "It’s like... complaining means you’re being ungrateful."
"I get it," he said, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But being honest about what makes you comfortable isn’t being ungrateful. You’re giving them a chance to do their job right. That’s actually... respectful."
She let that sink in. A new way to see politeness—not as self-erasure, but as clarity, as cooperation. Maybe her version of humility wasn’t always the kindest path—not for herself, and not for others trying to care for her.
"I guess... I can try," she said finally, her voice quiet but resolute. "It won’t be easy, but... I can start."
Jeffrey smiled. "That’s all anyone can ask."
And in that moment, beneath the sun-dappled canopy, with the fresh scent of earth still clinging to her boots, Joanne felt something shift inside her—small, yet quietly profound. A part of her old self made space for someone new. Someone braver. Someone learning.
And that was a good thing to know.
Jeffrey was teaching her how things worked in his part of the world—not with condescension, but with patience and care. She could’ve figured it out on her own eventually, perhaps the hard way, but having him beside her, gently guiding her... she welcomed it. She wanted this. Him. This shared growing.
It made her think—was this one of the reasons his family once thought she was fake? That her quiet deference, her effort to be agreeable and unassuming, was seen as insincerity? That she was playing a part because there was money at stake?
It was possible. Painfully possible.
And with that realization, came a new resolve. The next time she met his family, she would speak her mind. Not with arrogance, but with grace. She would let herself be seen—not just as someone willing to bend, but someone with shape and voice. Swallowing her words didn’t make her polite; it only made her feel humiliated, while the other side misread her silence.
Jeffrey had been watching her closely. He wasn’t sure if he’d come across as controlling. That wasn’t what he meant. He just wanted to help. To ease her into a world that could be cold and sharp if one wasn’t prepared. He studied her expression, half-afraid he’d overstepped.
But then she turned to him with a small, knowing smile, and leaned into him. She didn’t say a word, but he felt the warmth of her trust settle between them like sunlight.
He admired her.
"You could never be rude, Jo..." he added gently, needing her to know. "It’s not in your bones."
"My employees wouldn’t say that," she said with a crooked grin.
Jeffrey kissed her temple with a quiet laugh. "You’re just honest with them. Clear about what you want."
"And they call me rude. And a bitch," she said, laughing at the absurdity of it.
He blinked, then shrugged. "Everyone hates their boss. It’s practically a law of nature." A beat passed before he added with a teasing grin, "Also, they’re probably jealous."
She chuckled, but didn’t argue. Honestly, she wasn’t a bad boss at all. But there would always be people who resented a woman in charge, especially one who didn’t soften her authority with apology. She was learning to accept that too.
"I know," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder. "I’m glad you’re by my side, Jeffrey. I really am."
And she meant every word.
They sat like that for a while, in the hush of the morning, two hearts aligned beneath the early sun. Then, they made their way back to the mansion for breakfast, with a quiet sense of something new and steady between them.
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