Carrick nodded, a tiny smile curving one side of his mouth. "Yes. You're quick."
His face grew serious again. "I insist on education for all my slaves. Quite apart from being valuable in and of itself, it keeps them out of mischief and idleness." He set down the pen once more. "I'm going to teach you to read, Hermes. It's beneficial for you, and it gives me something to do as well. I want you to study for an hour every day while I'm asleep. I expect you to put your best efforts into this. I won't punish you for honest mistakes, or if you have difficulty at first - but if I feel you're not trying then there will be consequences."
His pale eyes fixed on Hermes' own. "I lived in England long enough to gain an appreciate for certain of their educational traditions. 'Six of the best' with a cane being the most interesting."