“So,” Miss Gibbons began, “was there anything different about this case as opposed to the others? Did you feel more confident or spend extra time preparing before the trial?”
“I cannot say I did anything spectacular. I did attempt toappearmore confident in myself. I smiled less and was more direct.”
Miss Gibbons nodded along with a straight face, as if approving of his tactics. “And, of course, you were able to use your education and knowledge of the law to make a case.”
“Of course. I did not go to school for four years only to twiddle my thumbs.”
“And how was school? Was it exciting?” She glanced over at him, her anticipation clear as her mouth lifted into a hopeful smile—like he held all the answers to dreams she was never able to have.
Noah reached over and patted his horse’s neck. “I was very blessed to be able to attend school, as I know many others do not get such an opportunity. But no. It was hardly what I would call exciting.” He looked over at her and her smile fell.
“What about it did you not enjoy?”
Noah shrugged. “I suppose I missed home.” He paused before continuing. “Does that make me sound like a pansy?”
Miss Gibbons’s mouth settled into a line, and her brow creased. “No. But I cannot admit to understanding what that would be like.”
“You would not miss home if you were away for long periods of time?”
Miss Gibbons’s gaze trailed across the horizon as her chin tilted up in thought. “I would love to have a home to miss. We move so frequently that I hardly grow attached to where we are. The only constant things in my life are my parents, and I must confess that I would be fine being away from them for a time. I would even say I long for it.”
“But you do not wish to marry,” Noah pointed out.
Miss Gibbons swiped a hair away from her face. “It is not the institution of marriage I am opposed to. If I were to find a man who put forth the effort to know me, to truly understand me and care for me as the person I am, I would not hesitate to marry him.” She sighed. “But as we have moved nearly every six months for the last three years, I hardly have had the chance to get to know any man beyond surface matters. And those I did get to know—let us just say things did not end well.”
“And then your parents uprooted you.”
She turned toward him. “Yes.” Her eyes quickly traced his face. “But enough of that. This is your day, and we ought to do something to celebrate your success.”
“Nonsense. We were talking about you.”
She waved him off. “No, I am being a spoilsport. I do not even know how we got on this matter.”
She had yet to really discuss with him the details of her parents’ constant uprooting of her life. Whenever the conversation strayed in that direction, she changed topics.
“That is the nature of a conversation isn’t it?” Noah asked. “It passes back and forth. Or it should, if done correctly. Besides, I enjoy talking with you.”
Her face jerked toward him. And then nothing in the world could have prepared him for her next question. “Do you enjoy sweets?” she asked suddenly.
He stared at her, his brow quirked, before he finally gave a shrug and laughed. “Don’t most people?”
Miss Gibbons’s lips formed a timid smile. “I would say most do, and if they deny it, I am convinced they are lying.”
Margaret had always said she did not enjoy sweets. She said they were not good for one’s figure. But Miss Gibbons had no such qualms, and her figure did not seem to suffer. In fact, perhaps it helped enhance it . . . his eyes traced down her form, but then he snatched his gaze up again before he was caught. How embarrassing and rude that would be.
“So, now that you know I enjoy sweets,” he said, distracting himself, “what do you plan to do with this information?”
They came to a bend in the road. “Hold it over you for my gain of course.”
A laugh burst out of him. “Excuse me?”
She shook her head, smiling. “Very well. Something else then. How about we head toward town and purchase some sweets in celebration of your success.”
“Well, normally I would turn down such an adventure, but I would hate to deprive you of a treat today.”
“Ha!” She spun her head toward him with a wide grin. “You only want to seem more disciplined than me. I am quite sure you will purchase more sweets than I will.”
“Is that a challenge, Miss Gibbons?”
