“You are too kind.”
He was pleased that Simone hadn’t chided him yet so he continued. “The battles that you have fought, the ones that you have faced alone, make you truly remarkable.”
Simone considered his words for a moment before asking, “Why are you so kind to me?”
“You are rather easy to be nice to.”
A smile formed on her lips. “We both know that isn’t true,” she said.
“I listen to you, but I also listen to what you aren’t saying,” Caleb responded. “And what you aren’t saying speaks volumes.”
Her expression grew thoughtful. “What am I not saying?”
Caleb held her gaze as he replied, “You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to be accepted by yourself.”
Her eyes widened, just a touch, and it was barely discernible. But he knew his words had hit their mark.
Simone slipped her hand out of his. “You are terrible at reading people.”
“Am I?” Caleb asked. “I don’t trust words. I trust my instincts. People can tell you anything, but my instincts can tell me everything.”
“And my instinct is telling me that you are vexing,” she said with amusement in her voice. “Regardless, you did not come to discuss my problems. We still have two French spies to contend with.”
Caleb nodded. “You are right,” he said. “I spoke to LordPendley and I was able to secure two more invitations to the ball.”
“Do you think that is wise?”
“What choice do we have?” Caleb asked. “We have to at least play along until we discover what their true purpose is for attending the ball.”
Simone grew solemn. “Have they made contact with you?”
“No, they haven’t.”
“I wonder why that is,” Simone questioned. “After all, the ball is only four days away. If securing an invitation was so important to them, why haven’t they sought us out?”
Caleb shrugged. “We have been rather occupied with your father.”
Simone glanced back at the empty door and lowered her voice. “My father lied to me. He told me that my grandmother’s estate was inherited by a distant cousin.”
“That is disconcerting.”
“Perhaps it is time that I speak with my father’s solicitor, Mr. Frickle,” Simone said. “He might be able to shed some light on this.”
Caleb gave her a pointed look. “What if this Mr. Frickle is loyal only to him?” he asked. “He might very well be the person that your father was speaking to last night.”
“I thought about that. I have only spoken to Mr. Frickle on a rare occasion so I am not sure if I could have distinguished his voice, even if I wanted to,” Simone admitted. “Which is why there is only one solution. We need to break into Mr. Frickle’s office.”
“I do enjoy a good break-in, but what purpose will it serve?” Caleb questioned.
“We can look for the contract for my grandmother’s estate,” Simone replied.
“And if we find it?”
Simone arched an eyebrow. “We take it, of course. I donot want my grandmother’s estate sold if there is even a chance that we can save it.”
Caleb tipped his head. “Very well,” he said. “Shall we break into Mr. Frickle’s office tonight after everyone goes home for the evening?”
“That is a splendid idea,” Simone replied.
