Page 64
Arthur set his own quill carefully into the inkstand and found himself watching Eliza as she began what could only be described as a slow, thoughtful exploration of the room.
Unlike her first visit to the library, there was no hurried excitement about her movements. Instead, she wandered quietly around the perimeter of the study with both hands clasped behind her back, the sketchbook tucked beneath one arm, studying each shelf, cabinet and curiosity with the patient concentration of someone visiting a gallery rather than their spouse's study.
She touched nothing.
Only her eyes travelled from object to object, and he could make out the faint movement of her lips.
She was talking to herself. Not loudly enough for conversation, merely little murmurs that seemed to escape without permission.
Arthur was not entirely certain what possessed him to interrupt her quiet inspection, yet the question escaped him.
"See any titles of interest?" he asked.
To Laurence's considerable credit, he continued studying the correspondence before him with complete dedication, behaving as though the exchange beside him were of no consequence whatsoever.
Eliza stopped before one of the taller bookcases, tilting her head ever so slightly as her eyes travelled along the leather spines.
"Well..." she began thoughtfully. "You seem to have an awfully large collection of books on farming... crop rotation... mining..."
Her back remained towards him, though Arthur had little difficulty imagining the thoughtful crease now forming between her brows as she searched for the right way to phrase whatever curious question had entered her mind.
"Do you farm?" she asked hesitantly.
From somewhere opposite him, Arthur caught the smallest movement of Laurence's jaw.
The man was suppressing a smile.
"No," Arthur replied evenly. "But I admire knowledge, and knowledge provides one with power. Most of my family's wealth comes from landholdings. The least I can do is understand the industries that sustain them if I expect to protect them."
She nodded slowly, apparently finding that explanation entirely satisfactory, before continuing her unhurried circuit of the study. Pausing briefly beside the tall windows overlooking the sweeping driveway, she lingered there only long enough to admire the view before moving on towards the opposite wall, where campaign maps and military decorations hung side by side.
He heard her murmur almost reverently.
"These are very shiny."
Arthur glanced up just in time to see her studying the medals.
Her hand lifted instinctively towards one of the campaign maps, fingers hovering only inches from the parchment before she seemed to think better of it. She withdrew her hand immediately, clasping it neatly behind her back once more.
"Did you draw these?"
She indicated the maps with a slight tilt of her chin.
Arthur nodded.
"They are campaign routes."
She turned to look at him properly, then, surprise evident upon her face.
"You walked all of those?" Eliza asked.
Something gentler followed the surprise.
He found himself fighting the familiar temptation to nod. After all, they had agreed upon their peculiar game of questions and answers.
"I did," he answered quietly.
Her slow circuit of the study eventually brought her to its final destination, his desk.
