Page 37 of The Language of Love

“Although we call it the Great Plague, the Black Death was actually far more catastrophic for Europe’s population.”

“Is that so? I thought they were one and the same.”

“No, three centuries separated them.”

“Indeed? You are a veritable treasure trove of interesting information… Annis.”

Annis flushed at the intimacy of hearing her name on his tongue. “Am I boring you? I tend to spout random, strange information. I expect you think I am rather foolish.”

“I do not think you are foolish. Nor are you boring. Not at all,” he added, giving her a look that sent distracting sensations to her female parts. “This discussion all began with a long-dead Greek emperor—why is that?”

“He was actually a king.”

Rather than get annoyed at being corrected by a mere female—as most men did—he grinned. “Very well. Why did you mention a long-dead Greek king?”

“I think you resemble him.”

He looked arrested. “Indeed?” His falcon-like eyes bored into her.

“Yes, when you were looking so fierce about Susanna dancing with Lord Rotherhithe.”

“Fierce, was I?”

“You look the same way now.”

“Fierce like King Alexander. Hmm.” He was smiling again, and it was a teasing, lovely expression on his naturally stern face.

“I’m sorry. My mother always said I was hen-witted the way I hop from subject to subject.”

“Hen-witted? No, I don’t think you are that. Besides, wouldn’t hopping be more in line with a rabbit? Shouldn’t it be bunny-witted?”

She gave a delighted laugh. “Excellent point, Mr. Parker.”

“You must call me Henry if I am to call you Annis.”

“But I thought that was his lordship’s Christian name. Didn’t Freddie introduce you as Colin?”

He looked momentarily nonplussed. “Ah, yes, that. Colin is my middle name, which I use because his lordship’s first name is also Henry. It can get quite confusing, so I agreed to go by my middle name.”

She studied his face, accustoming herself to the change of name. He didn’t look much like a Colin. “It doesn’t seem fair.”

“What doesn’t seem fair?” he asked as he deftly avoided a collision with a man who was spinning his partner so fast that she must be dizzy.

“That you should have to give up your name just because it is the same as his lordship. Names are important.”

“Ah.”

Annis did not think he sounded convinced, but that would not be unusual. In her experience, people were very careless about language and words.

“Henry.”

“Yes, Annis?”

“Your name is Germanic and means he who rules his household. I was just thinking it suits you better than Colin. I don’t think you look like a Colin at all.”

His body was shaking.

Annis gave him a stern look. “Are you laughing at me, Henry?”