Page 64 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

After a few more bites of mutton, her energy began to return. She pushed the plate toward Jonathan when she reached her limit, and he polished off the rest.

Once their plates were taken away, he dug a few coins from a pouch and dropped them on the table. He stood as the serving girl returned with something clutched behind her back. She twirled side to side, gaze downcast, cheeks pink.

“Evangeline, may I introduce you to Katerina? When I mentioned you’re an artist, she asked if you might draw her.”

The girl’s blush deepened as she held out a sheet of paper and a pencil.

“I would be delighted,” Evangeline said as she accepted the paper and pencil. “Please ask her to sit by the window. The lighting is better.”

Jonathan directed Katerina to move to a bench where the last of the afternoon’s sun rays bathed her in a golden glow.

“I’ll retrieve Timothy while you work,” he said and kissed Evangeline’s cheek.

Her skin tingled from the contact as she followed his path across the tavern and out the door. He caught her eye through the window and smiled. Shyly, she lowered her gaze, unable to stop a smile from spreading across her face.

Katerina said something then giggled into her hand.

Evangeline chuckled and demonstrated how to pose.

The kiss was likely meant to support their ruse of being a married couple, but she liked it—very much.

Jonathan hadn’t returned by the time she finished the sketch. After Katerina’s mother gushed over the drawing and insisted Evangeline accept a bundle of dried figs as thanks, she set out to look for him. Halfway between the stables and tavern, he had stopped to tighten a loose strap.

She sighed, smiling.

A flash caught her eye. A scraggly man dashed from between two buildings, advancing on Jonathan with a knife. Evangeline screamed and ran in their direction.

Jonathan swung toward his attacker, lunging for the knife arm and slamming his knee into the man’s middle. His opponent dropped the knife, doubling over. In a move she never expected, Jonathan swept his legs out from under him. The man landed in the lane with a grunt.

Jonathan casually picked up the knife and tucked it into one of their saddlebags. She stood frozen, her pulse racing. His expression was grim as he led Timothy toward her.

“I expected you to wait at the tavern.” His firm voice sent a shiver through her.

“I-I finished the sketch. You were still gone. I didn’t know⁠—”

“I would never leave you, Evangeline.”

She frowned. “I never thought you would. Who was that man?”

“A thief.” He dusted off his trousers. “I shouldn’t have lowered my guard.”

“Are you sure he didn’t follow us from Athens? What if he is the man looking for Uncle Charles?”

“He’s a local,” he said. “I saw him standing on a balcony when we arrived. Besides, you said the man in the market was English.”

“But he could have been hired to kill you and use me to draw out Uncle Charles.”

His glower caused her to back up a step. “No one followed us,” he said.

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m observant.”

She raised her eyebrows. Not too observant. He had nearly been skewered moments ago.

“I heard him coming up behind before you screamed.”

“If you say so.” She tilted her head. “How did you learn to fight that way? It wasn’t from fencing at university.”