Collin rose to the bait. “Indeed. Yet you’ve mastered them.”
Her chin lifted a little, showing defiance. “Yes, among several others.”
“Oh? Quite an accomplished woman.” He lifted his chin vaguely, mimicking her expression, curious to see how she’d reply.
“And still far to go. I’ll take my leave back to the library.” She curtsied prettily, her tone light but her expression steely, as if daring him to question her right to the library’s contents.
“A pleasure, Miss Essex.” Collin bowed.
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed, as if questioning his honesty with the statement, and in a flutter of skirts, she left the office.
“Pardon the interruption, Lord Penderdale,” Professor Essex said as he opened the top bookgiven him by his daughter and quickly scanned the notes within.
“I must say, I’m shocked she has such freedom within the university,” Collin stated, still contemplating their short conversation.
“Oh, it’s not that she’s given freedom, Lord Penderdale. It’s that she’s talented at blending in and not ruffling feathers, so to speak. Has been since the first few weeks she came to the university with me.”
Collin had a difficult time believing that she blended in anywhere, not with that hair, and not with that glint in her eyes.
“It would have been the conventional route to hire a governess, but…” The professor’s pause brought Collin’s attention back to his bowed gray head as he closed the book on his desk. “I couldn’t. She’s all I have left, so, here we are.” He nodded with a sage expression. “We must, at times, go against the traditional pathways to make new ones. After all…” He gave a small grin. “Isn’t that what all the ancient philosophers did? Challenged what was known to gain something new? Knowledge? Truth? Understanding? I like to think I do a little of that on my own, in my own way.”
Collin nodded, deep in thought. “I would never have thought you one to question convention. However, people surprise me more than I ever expected them to, so I suppose it’s not shocking at all.”
“Ah, spoken like a philosophy student. Perhaps some of what I taught you took root in that mind of yours.”
“Or maybe I’ve just grown wise in my old age,” Collin returned with a half-hearted smile.
“I believe my postulation is far more plausible,” the professor answered with a light tone. “But either one is irrelevant, since the end result is the same—growth. Is it not?”
“As usual, you’re correct.”
“I do love hearing that,” Professor Essex replied. “Well, how long will you be in Cambridge?”
Collin shrugged. “I’m not certain. I’ll be residing in His Grace’s town house.”
“I see. Well, stop by whenever you wish. It’s a delight to see old friends.” The professor held out his hand, and Collin shook it, then took his leave.
The hall was dimly lit, and as he made his way toward the exit door, he paused as a tall feminine form rounded the corner, her shoulders curved inward, head down and eyes on the floor.
It took Collin half a moment to realize this was the same woman who had quickly humbled him with her intelligence and candor. In her current state, she was anything but confident and challenging. Only a few seconds had passed as Collin made this connection, confusion on his face just as she glanced up to meet his regard.
“Oh.” She halted, then as if feeling the need toexplain herself, she added, “There was a parchment I needed to include that somehow was left behind.”
“By all means.” He bowed and stepped aside for her.
“Thank you.” Her back stiffened as if she was no longer trying to blend into the wallpaper as she continued down the hall.
He should have gone on his way.
He should have kept his mouth shut.
But something burned in him that was stronger than good sense.
Curiosity.
So, with a quick turn on his heel, he posed the question that he regretted the moment it slipped from his lips.
“Why?”
