“Women, if you haven’t realized, can be practical and romantic at the same time. We’re quite capable of more than one emotion because we’re complicated creatures.”
“I’m certainly not going to argue that you’re complicated.”
A storm began brewing in her eyes. “I’m not sure you meant that in a positive light.”
Arthur’s collar began feeling somewhat snug. “I wasn’t trying to be insulting. You must realize it would have been difficult for me to know you possess a romantic nature because that’s not what you project to the world. You’re independent, self-assured, and you possess an education that rivals most gentlemen I know, compliments of Mr. Vincent Wagner. Vincent and I have spoken often over the years, and he’s gone to great lengths to brag about the accomplishments you achieved while he was your tutor.”
“Vincent was an unreasonable man who expected me to complete what amounted to a college education in mining before I was twenty years old. And before you tell me how impressive that is, know that he was an unrelenting taskmaster because he idolized my grandfather and wanted to impress him through my accomplishments. I once tried to get Grandfather to hire a different tutor for me, but he wouldn’t hear of that, believing Vincent was the best to teach me since he had a lofty degree from Harvard. In all honesty, I felt Vincent was rather disdainful about being my tutor, but Grandfather apparently paid him such a handsome salary that Vincent was reluctant to discontinue instructing me.”
Wondering how in the world he could salvage a conversation that was going downhill at a rapid rate, Arthur summoned up a smile. “Vincent told me you excelled at your studies, which makesme wonder if there’s a part of you—not the romantic part, of course—that could possibly long to become involved, at least to a certain extent, with Mason Mines. We could work together and build something extraordinary.”
He was not encouraged when she settled a scowl on him.
“Simply because I admitted I’m a romantic does not mean it would be odd if I professed an interest in Mason Mines.”
His collar tightened another notch. “I don’t believe that’s what I said.”
“It was implied.”
“Does that mean you have an interest in Mason Mines?”
She released a snort. “Of course not. I was merely stating that it wouldn’t be odd if I did, which, again, I don’t. I’m perfectly content to run my inquiry agency, something I have no desire to abandon simply because of an inheritance I’m apparently going to have to claim.”
He took a casual step away from her. “But you do realize that you’re going to have to make some decisions about Mason Mines since you’re the majority owner of the company, don’t you?”
Another snort was her first response to that. “Disclosing my romantic nature has not had my intelligence diminishing, Arthur. Of course I know decisions need to be made, just as I know that any decisions I need to make should most assuredly be discussed with you beforehand.” She caught his eye. “I’m hopeful you’ll want to continue on with Mason Mines, although to be clear, that position will not involve any sort of marriage agreement between us.”
“I’ve relegated the marriage idea to the furthest recesses of my mind, where it’ll stay forever.”
“Wonderful, because I am not any run of the mill romantic, mind you. I’m an incurable romantic.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“It means I want the fairy tale, complete with my own Prince Charming. I also want flowers and sonnets recited to me every now and again, but most importantly, I want the happily ever after.”
“You don’t really seem like the sonnet-enjoying type. If memory serves me correctly, you enjoy dime novels.”
“True, and sonnets aren’t my favorite, so perhaps I should have said I want a romance novel read to me.” Her expression turned wistful. “I believe it would be beyond romantic to have a gentleman read to me from one of my favorite novels,Pride and Prejudice.”
“This just keeps getting more and more surprising.”
“I also want to find a gentleman who knows his way around a good kiss.”
He found himself speechless again because he certainly hadn’t expected to ever hear Eunice say that, although there was something refreshing about a woman who spoke her mind.
“I know my way around a kiss,” he heard slip past his lips before he could stop himself.
She waved that straight aside. “I’m sure you do, but since you don’t seem to view me in a romantic light, telling me you know your way around a kiss is not going to be enough to convince me to consider marrying you, which is why it’s good that you’ve decided to relegate that idea to the remote recesses of your mind.”
His lips curved into a smile as he realized he was enjoying himself even though he was in the midst of one of the most unusual conversations he’d ever held with a lady. “What if I offered to readPride and Prejudiceto you? Although I have to admit that my preferred Jane Austen novel isEmma.”
Eunice blinked. “You’ve read Jane Austen?”
“Her entire collection.”
“Why?”
Even though he should have been expecting the question, it still caught him off guard. “Will you be surprised to hear that I read every Jane Austen book because I was trying to impress a lady in my misguided youth?”
