His choice surprised her, but to help, she thought back to the story. She felt heat fill her cheeks as she shook her head. The heroine of that adventure had not only been raped but sexually shared.
“You do not think it would engender many conversations?”
She raised her brows and kept her voice low. “Oh, it would, but not the ones you wish to have. Do you not remember Cunégonde?”
His puzzlement cleared as his eyes widened. “I admit to having forgotten. Such events are not completely uncommon among the studies of men, but I see your point. I greatly appreciate your insight on my idea. I’ve been very careful with the plays I choose for that very reason. I hope you don’t think that I have led your classmates astray.”
Despite his kisses, she could tell he was genuinely concerned about her opinion of him. “Don’t worry. I know you to be a dedicated instructor.”
“You do?”
She clasped her hands tighter. In her anxiousness to reassure him, she’d revealed more than she wished. “I was in the balcony today searching out another book when I heard you guiding the first-year students in their analysis.”
His facial expression lightened as his lips formed a full smile. “You listened?”
How could he change from unsure to proud in a matter of moments? Did her opinion matter so much? “I did. But I’m sure you are aware of how helpful you are to students. It is what you do at Oxford, is it not?”
At her statement, his smile disappeared. “It is a completely different learning environment there. I appreciate your advice, and I hope you would accommodate me a bit longer, as I have another question for you.”
While she and Mrs. Kingman often spoke as equals when it came to literature, she’d never been asked for advice by a lord. Surprised, she nodded. “If I can be of help, it would please me to do so.”
His gaze drifted to her lips for a moment before he gathered himself and sat back in his chair.
Once again, she felt her cheeks flush. He shouldn’t look at her like that, but it made her feel different, more confident, which made no sense at all.
“I understand that all first-year students here are required to learn about estate management.”
“That’s true. The duchess believes a woman should know as much about the property that sustains her as a man.”
“I’m learning many of the duchess’s beliefs are…different. According to the other instructors, this course is based on lectures, not conversations, correct?”
“Correct.” She found his new animation as he discussed a rather dull topic very interesting.
“Did you learn how to best hire a steward?”
Not expecting that, she tapped her two fingers against her chin. “I don’t believe that was covered, but Lord Hopton would most likely know the answer to that.”
All the excitement seemed to leave Tam as he sighed in disappointment. “Unfortunately, the man doesn’t see any reason to enlighten me.”
She bit down on her smile. Lord Hopton was a braggart about what he knew. If he refused to answer Tam, that meant the man didn’t know. She reached out to comfort him, but quickly pulled her hand back onto her lap and clasped it with her other. “My lord, do not take umbrage to Lord Hopton’s refusal to share his knowledge. If he has not given you an answer, it’s because he doesn’t know.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. My guess is that he inherited his steward, as many do.”
Lord Tamworth rose at that, then walked to the window at the front and stood.
Sophie took the opportunity to look over her shoulder, only to find Mrs. Kingman engrossed in her book. Returning her gaze to Tam, she studied him. He was definitely conflicted; his restlessness made that obvious. Though she couldn’t see his hands, she was quite sure the small noises she heard were the cracking of his knuckles. In this state, he reminded her of Dr. Frankenstein just before he made his fateful decision to create life. Unfortunately, she hadn’t finished that book either, so she had yet to discover if that all ended well or not.
Surely whatever Tam mulled over couldn’t be nearly so life changing. She waited patiently for him to decide whatever it was he needed to decide. It wasn’t more than two minutes before he returned and sat again. Since he didn’t say anything at once, she remained silent.
Finally, he spoke. “I wish to take you into my confidence about something only my solicitor knows.”
Though she was honored, his request puzzled her. “Why me?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “To be truthful, I don’t know. But Ifeel that I can trust you and that you would not purposely mislead me.”
“I would be honored to be taken into your confidence, my lord, and I would never betray such a trust, but do you not have a friend who you know much more who would be better suited?”
