She smiled with as much politeness as she could muster despite the discouraging thought. Before she could think of a way to switch his attention to another topic, he spoke.
“Eliza, you don’t know London or the people like I do,” he continued, much like a dog with a bone. “It truly would be best if you told me who it was. If he’s not worthy of your attention, we can find another who is.”
“How kind of you. But you see, I intend to follow my heart in this matter and see where it leads.”
His stormy blue eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened, emphasizing the hint of cleft in his chin. Dare she hope he might be jealous?
“That’s a terrible idea,” he said, dashing her hopes. “Who knows where that would lead or whether your heart is true?” He shook his head. “You’ll have a better chance for a happy future if you set aside your emotions and consider a partner for logical reasons. That will ensure you’re suitable for one another.”
“Logical reasons?” Anger speared through her, and she knew it colored her tone. Yet she wanted to make it clear that she disagreed. Strongly.
“Of course.” He shifted as if uncomfortable.
“Are you saying you’ve never led with your heart? That you’ve never followed your instincts?”
“Those aren’t the same thing.”
“According to who?” She waved a hand in dismissal. “Nonetheless, I’m certain you’ve experienced a time when something inside you insisted you do one thing when logic told you to do something else.”
Philip paused as if to seriously consider her words. For a moment, she was certain her statement struck true.
“An interesting notion.” His expression suggested he was determined to make his point. “Still, let us consider your interests first. You like to ride, I know.”
“Yes.” Though tempted to remind him that their ride together had ended with a heated kiss that had been anything but logical, she held her tongue.
“What else?”
“Reading, of course.” She watched as another guest passed by as he viewed the artifacts.
“Hmm. That’s not particularly helpful.”
She stiffened at his remark. “How do you mean?”
“Not many gentlemen like to read anything other than a news sheet. Nor do they like ladies who do.”
She knew that, of course, but didn’t appreciate the reminder. “But you do.”
His noncommittal expression had her gasping in surprise.
“You don’t like to read?” The idea had never crossed her mind. Clearly, he wasn’t as perfect as she’d thought.
“It’s not that I don’t like to read. I do so daily.”
The casualness of his response suggested he was avoiding the meaning of her question. “What was the last book you read?”
He frowned. “I couldn’t say. It was a long time ago.”
Dismay flooded her to realize he didn’t appreciate the hobby she loved the most. She’d been so certain they were compatible in every way.
“What?” He studied her expression.
“I can’t believe that you don’t enjoy reading books.” While she supposed it didn’t matter as it was improbable for a man and a woman to like all the same things, she was disappointed.
“You say that as if it’s a sin. I beg to differ. Does your brother read novels?”
She’d never seen him look twice at a book. She lifted one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “We might be brother and sister, but in some ways, we don’t know each other at all.” She liked to think that was changing since her return to London yet only time would tell.
“Why does it bother you that I don’t read books?” Philip asked with a puzzled expression.
