She straightened. “I had a—There is a matter I wished to discuss with you.” There. Back to practicality. “The lessons you gave me?—”
Gideon blinked, and then, with a shake of his head, sharpened his attention.
“Would you be willing to offer them to others?” Beatrice asked with no further preamble. “Not to just anyone, of course. Only a select few ladies.”
A small pause.
“Not that I expect any of them to be half so capable as I am,” she added, a touch too quickly. “But—well—I cannot be everywhere at once. And so it seems only sensible that there should be… more than one of me.”
She stopped.
That had not come out quite as intended.
Beside her, Gideon did not laugh outright, but she felt the amusement in him. That familiar, quiet, contained warmth.
But then he shifted. His knee brushed hers, lightly enough that she could pretend it was accidental.
Then his leg settled there more firmly.
“More than one of you,” he repeated.
“In a manner of speaking,” she managed.
“I see.”
Did he?
She drew in a breath and forced herself to continue more evenly, outlining what she and Lark had discussed. The select nature of the group. The discretion required.
As she spoke, the plan seemed to take firmer shape. Details settled into place.
All the while, Gideon’s leg remained against hers.
Firm. Warm.
Beatrice shifted—only a little—intending, perhaps, to put a perfectly proper inch of space between them. Her knee slid against his.
Gideon’s gaze did not leave her face.
She swallowed and continued, though her voice had gone just a touch less certain.
“Lark is going to ask if Lady Theodosia would be willing to assist us,” she added. “She knows far more people than we do—and whom to trust among them.”
Gideon said nothing, but was watching her. Closely.
She looked away at once.
“My grand-mère used to say, Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.” Beatrice’s fingers brushed the amethyst brooch at her bodice. “It is better to prevent a hurt than to repair one.”
He nodded at that, and she went on, encouraged..
“This is prevention. And if it succeeds…” She lifted her chin. “Well, you do seem determined to protect me. This way, you might protect dozens of ladies as well.”
Gideon still had not spoken.
But then?—
“Dozens of other ladies are not my responsibility.” His tone was not unkind. Merely certain. “Nor are they yours.”
