“That is indeed unfortunate. It’s a large ring then and not easy to dismantle.” Elizabeth worried her lip, frowning at the table as if the articles on it held the answers she sought.
“I…don’t think it’s as simple as I’d like it to be.”
“On that, we agree,” Elizabeth remarked. “I’m sorry. That’s…frustrating.”
Collin shrugged. “Indeed it is, but it’s certainly expected at this point. Honestly, it has been one bad lead after another, with the only information I have been able to glean off a scrap of paper that cost me my handsome face.”
Elizabeth regarded him. “Purple is not your color.”
“Why, thank you?” Collin replied. “My confidence soars.”
“If you expect me to lie to your face to appease you, you’re sorely mistaken, Lord Penderdale.”
“Oh, believe me, I don’t expect anything of the sort. I’m continually humbled in your presence.”
“Well, I’ve been the same, so I have no pity,” she returned.
“Truly? Since when did I have that effect on you? Do share. It might make my wounded pride feel better,” he said with a charming grin.
She sighed. “When you told me of your sister.”
“Joan? Ah, turned your expectations of me on their ear, did I? Good, you needed a sound adjustment on that end.”
“Why, thank you,” she replied archly. “It made me…reconsider my preconceived notions.”
“I admire your willingness to do that.”
“Well, your words didn’t give me much choice in the matter, not if I wanted to be honest with myself.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“One of these days I’m truly going to give you a compliment, and you aren’t going to know what to do with it since you’re so accustomed to finding your own,” she teased, her smile radiant.
Collin noted the way her dark eyes captured the light, her full lips parting across her beautiful teeth, all framed by her lovely face. Her smile was radiant, captivating him.
“I’ll try to keep my composure if such an event ever occurs,” he replied, his gaze roaming over her features.
She bit her lip once more, glancing down. “Don’t.”
He frowned. “Don’t what?”
“Look at me like that.”
“Like this?” He tipped her chin up with his finger, hoping her father who was reading a book on the other side of the room wasn’t paying close attention.
She blinked as she glanced up, meeting his eyes.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Why?” he asked, not ceasing, but caressing every inch of her face with his eyes.
Her lips parted, and she took in a shaky breath. “Because…I don’t know how to navigate it.”
He blinked. “Navigate it?”
She pulled back slightly, gave a quick glance over his shoulder in the direction of her father, and then turned back to Collin. “I… There’s so much to feel all at once that I can’t quite figure it all out, and at the same time, I don’t want to. I just want more…but it’s still so…strange.”
Collin gave a dry chuckle.
