“Do you remember my answer?” she asked, studying his face.
Collin nodded, then quoted her. “‘One, because I enjoy learning, and this is the ideal place for it. Two, because I wish to be with my father, and three, because I can.’” He shook his head. “It was the way you answered me that made you unforgettable. You spoke to me like I was a five-year-old schoolboy.”
“Clearly I made as much of an impression on you as you did on me,” she replied dryly. “I was a little irritated with you.”
“A little?” he asked, aghast. “Your expression would have cheerfully set me on fire.”
She blushed, chuckled, and then nodded. “Very well, I would have done just that.”
“Honestly, it’s important.” He smiled archly. “But I digress. Pray continue.”
She shrugged. “You answered me and said—”
Collin interrupted her. “‘All noble reasons, minus the third.’”
“In what way?” Elizabeth asked, repeating her own question from what seemed like forever ago.
He gave her that same patronizing expression that she remembered so clearly and continued with the memory. “‘Come now, Miss Essex. You’re clearly an intelligent woman. Your third reason is purely selfish. You care not for how your presence impacts others, or if it makes them uncomfortable. It’s for your own enrichment, and let’s be further honest… That enrichment is noble, but at the same time…’”—he paused, truly not wishing to finish the words he remembered so clearly—“a dead end.” He winced.
Elizabeth sighed. “You…were right.”
Collin met her eye. “While I adore hearing those words from your lips, as a man of honor, I can’t accept them, as much as I’d like to. Because they weren’t true or accurate. It was spoken with a fast judgment that wasn’t fair to you or your integrity. For that, I sincerely apologize, Miss Essex.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I was being selfish. And was further selfish with the class that I taught, not telling my father and brazenly going against convention. I love to teach. I want to give my knowledge and study to those who haven’t had the same opportunity as I have, but I need to do it in a way that doesn’t compromise that same education or undermine those I love.”
Collin grasped her hand, carefully, tenderly, stroking the top of her fingers with his. “I…” He paused, not sure how to turn the words of his heartinto the words of his lips. “We’ll find a way,” he answered simply.
She gave a slightly confused expression.
“We’ll find a way. Because you have far too much to offer, and you are, from what I hear, an excellent teacher, so—” He shrugged. “We’ll find a way to make it work, so that you do what you love without feeling like you’re betraying the people you love with a bit of scandal.” He patted her hand. “I will say, though, as much as going against the social convention can be uncomfortable and frowned upon, your kind is my favorite.”
“Is that a compliment?” she asked, glancing down, though she smiled.
“It is. It speaks of your courage, determination, and loyalty. Your willingness to risk exposure and ridicule to educate women in deeper subjects than were considered necessary speaks of your tenacity, and that is a rare character trait. And I, for one, appreciate that about you.”
She met his gaze. “Thank you… I’m glad since I won’t be changing that.”
“Don’t change a thing.” He patted her hand, then clasped his fingers around hers, squeezing. “Not one thing.” He studied her fingers, then regarded her once more. “Elizabeth.” He gave his head a slight shake and smiled, not sure how to continue but knowing it was necessary. Like air, like water, she was necessary for his soul. And he wasn’t goingto wait any longer. He didn’t need to. His heart had made up its mind when he first met her.
“I love you,” he whispered softly, watching as wonder spilled over her face in a warm expression. “I love your wit, your candor. I love the way you are relentless in the pursuit of understanding and ideas. I love that you…” He laughed. “I love that you did hours of research on tea smuggling, not only because you knew it was helpful but because you also can’t resist that endless curiosity that you always have circling in your mind.” He squeezed her fingers gently.
“I love that you are fiercely loyal and unapologetic about who you are and what you think. I love that you are fearless, sometimes to your own detriment.” He gave a wry twist of his lips, his expression endearing. “But practical as well. I love that you care enough for the small things, the small creatures, that you’ll use honey sparingly out of respect for the bees.” He met her gaze, all bravado, everything except his heart stripped away. “I love you because you are the most amazing, unique, and strong woman I’ve ever known. Your beauty keeps me awake at night, and your heart humbles me each day. Will you do me the immense honor of becoming my wife?”
Collin couldn’t breathe. He’d said everything that was on his heart, and all he could do was wait.
Elizabeth’s expression was glorious, her eyes wide with wonder and delight and, if he could nameone emotion, love. But she hadn’t said a word. She glanced down at their folded hands, then back up, nodding once, then nodding with enthusiasm as she pulled away her hands and covered her mouth as if holding back laughter and tears at the same time.
“Yes?” Collin asked, just making sure. He wanted the word, the promise, the vow.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“For my part, I approve,” Professor Essex said from his corner. The sound of a page turning punctuated his statement.
Collin glanced up to the older man, and from across the room, the professor gave a wide smile, then returned to his reading.
“Well, I must say I was not expecting that tonight.” Elizabeth took a deep breath, smiling, laughing between words.
“I like to keep you guessing. It’s part of that legendary charm,” Collin replied, lacing his hand through hers tighter, as if fusing them together.
