Page 20 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

But now, here was this new man edging into her life, and for the first time, she was keeping something important from her twin. It was disquieting, and she could not help but feel somewhat guilty. But she knew her brother; however much enlightenment their mother had instilled in her sons, the normally friendly and easygoing Theo was very protective of his sisters. Kyria had finally refused to go to any party if Theo would be there, glowering at her suitors and asking them pointed questions. Thisbe suspected that Theo might be even more suspicious about any man’s intentions toward his twin sister. He would doubtless want to meet Desmond, and the last thing she wanted was for Theo to interrogate the poor man.

Theo glanced over and saw her. Looking not at all displeased to be interrupted at his task, he tossed down his pencil and stood up. “Hallo, Thiz. How was the lecture?”

“Wonderful.” She walked over to him.

“What did he talk about?”

“The properties of carbon.”

“Mmm-hmm. Wonderful, indeed.” He made a wry face.

“I have other, less than happy news. Grandmother is coming to visit.”

“Soon?” he asked warily. “Perhaps I’ll already be gone.”

“You aren’t that lucky. She sounded as if she intended to come soon.”

Theo groaned. “Now I’ll have to escort her to the opera. Plays. Everything.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Ha! If I don’t, she’ll go on and on at me about my duties as the heir.”

“That’s your punishment for her liking you best,” Thisbe retorted.

“Because I’m the heir. I wish you could be the heir. You were four minutes older than I.”

“Me? No, thank you. That is one area where I am glad they don’t allow women to participate. I would be terrible at it, anyway.”

“What do you think I’ll be?” He frowned, seemingly thinking about his fate. “Reed would be excellent at it. He should be the one who inherits.”

“I suspect he will be the one who does all the work,” Thisbe teased, which brought a sheepish chuckle from her twin. She glanced toward his desk. “What were you doing? Don’t tell me you’re writing a letter.”

“God, no.” Theo’s dislike of letter writing was well-known. “I was making notes on what I should take on the expedition. We’ve set a date.”

“Is that why you went to meet that man at the Cavendish Museum today?”

He nodded, excitement in his eyes. “Yes. He’s found a fellow to lead it. He’s had a devil of a time finding someone who knew anything about the Amazon. We’re to leave in another month.”

“So soon?” Thisbe felt a little clutch at her heart. “You’re leaving in winter?”

“Well, you know, it’s the opposite down there.”

“Yes, of course. I wasn’t thinking. Oh, Theo!” Impulsively, she threw her arms around him. “I will miss you.”

“Aw, Thiz—” He hugged her, patting her back. “It’ll be all right. I’m not going away forever.”

“I know.” She stepped back and gave him a smile, albeit a rather watery one.

“I’ve gone on jaunts before. That one last year to Egypt.”

Thisbe nodded. “I know. And the time you went down the Danube. Your tour of the Continent.”

“There, you see? It’ll be like that.”

“This one is so very far away. And it seems so—so mysterious and strange. The jungle.”

“Yes.” His eyes shone, as they did whenever he talked about an adventure. “I can’t wait to see it. They say there are parrots of all colors. Monkeys. And vines as big around as my arm.”