“With potential like that, how could I refuse? Very well, I accept your terms and will not break confidence.”
“Thank you,” Collin said, then paused, not sure how best to explain. He wanted her to know that of all the things that did irritate him about her, her intelligence and determination to better her mind were not among them. In fact, he deeply respected that about her.
He proceeded cautiously. “As you know, I am the eighth Earl of Penderdale. I was responsible for my sister’s education and her come-out into society and eventually had to approve her match.”
“Yes, I would deduce those things,” Elizabeth replied cautiously. “You’ve mentioned your sister, and I know you have a duke for a brother-in-law.”
He nodded. “What you don’t know is that my work…is of a sensitive nature.” He left it at that.
“You are involved with the War Office, aren’t you?” she asked.
He frowned. “Am I that obvious? I clearly need to polish up my skills.”
“Deductive reasoning. I do love Aristotle’s methods.”
He sighed. “While I appreciate your intelligence, I will admit it’s sometimes annoyingly humbling.”
She beamed. “I believe that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
He frowned. “You clearly need to get out more often if that is the case. But I digress.”
She waved for him to continue.
“My sister is a student of graphology.”
She halted in her steps and turned to him. “What?”
He watched her, enjoying the expression that flickered across her face and echoed in her eyes. “You’re a very smart person. You heard me, and you can make your deductions from there.” Collin watched as her brows knit, and he could only assume she was piecing together all the implications. Graphology was the study of handwriting and has been used to determine forgeries, specifically during wartime. Collin’s sister, Joan, worked for the War Office as well. It wasn’t common for a woman to be involved in such matters, but Joan was exceptionally talented, and Collin had made certain her identity was protected. Even her betrotheddidn’t know until after the match was approved and Collin was certain it wouldn’t be an issue between them.
Elizabeth frowned, casting her eyes down, and then regarded him once more. “Perhaps I have…misjudged you.”
“Sweeter words have never been spoken.” He sighed. “Would you say them again? I swear it’s like honey in my ears.”
“No, but I am shifting my opinion of you. Your sister… You allowed your sister to help at the—”
“Shh. That’s enough. You get the gist of it. She’s a very valuable asset, prolifically talented and more stubborn than you. If you ever meet, the world will shudder in fear, of that I’m certain,” Collin said in a serious tone, but he grinned at the thought. Yes, Joan and Elizabeth wouldn’t run out of words quickly. Rather, he and Rowles would suffer the endlessness of that conversation.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said after a moment. “For trusting me with that information. It… Well, frankly it surprises me greatly.”
“I enjoy keeping you on your toes, and heaven knows how many times you’ve returned the favor. I feel it’s on far more equal footing now.” He grinned at her, watching as she reacted to his words with a faint blush.
How he loved watching the color spread over her fair skin, knowing he was the one who had causedit. He had been correct in his earlier thought; this was a far-too-tempting situation.
But he had no regrets.
At least not today.
Fifteen
The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
—Voltaire,Seven Discourses in Verse on Man
Elizabeth was still musing on the dichotomy that was the Earl of Penderdale. He had scolded her for her presence at the college, questioned her motives, and for all intents and purposes, insulted her intelligence. Nonetheless, she wondered if maybe she’d misunderstood half of those actions.
Who let their sister study graphology and put it to use for king and country? Apparently Lord Penderdale, and she was still shocked. As a student of philosophy and human nature, Elizabeth prided herself on sorting out people quickly, and she was rarely surprised by them.
Not today. Today, she was properly humbled in her assessment since many of the assumptions she’d made regarding the earl were clearly mistaken. If he disapproved of intelligence in women, he’d never have let his sister do what she did. And though Elizabeth would have sworn he considered himself her superior, since he was a man, he’d shockedher further by stating that they were on more equal footing.
