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Edward grinned. “Then why are you so educated?”
“I bed your pardon?”
“You are educated. I can tell.” Edward continued to smile.
The boyish grin threatened to make Laura’s knees go weak again. “My father educated me. He passed away when I was twelve.”
“And so your mother went to work?” Edward crossed his arms over his chest.
“Indeed.”
“And what was his station in life?”
Laura’s head was spinning. Why was he asking her so many questions? Despite feeling weak in the knees, there was something heartening about his presence. Edward made her feel safe and perilously on edge at the same time.
“He was a schoolteacher. For poor children.”
“I see. And you’d like to be a teacher?”
Laura was impossibly gobsmacked. Yes, he was seeing right through her. How did he have the power to do that?
“How could you know such a thing?”
“I’m a good judge of character. And I’m impressed with your character.”
“Dropping a teacup and falling into a stranger’s arms is a good indication of my character.”
Edward seemed at a loss for words. He searched her eyes again, knit his brow. Edward was deep in concentration, but Laura could not tell what he was thinking. After what felt like an endless silence, Edward spoke again. “I should return to the game.”
“I hope that it does not last much longer. For your own sake.”
Edward’s eyes widened. Was he surprised that she shared the sentiment that she cared? Laura had stepped so far outside of herself that she no longer knew what she was saying. The world was spinning, and she was holding on.
“I’ll take my leave,” Edward said, walking towards her. As he did so, his arm brushed against her skirt. Was that intentional? Laura found herself frozen. She should return to her room at once, but her legs wouldn’t carry her. Had that encounter been a dream? It certainly felt like one.
Finally willing herself to move, Laura made her way up the winding staircase to the top floor where her little room stood waiting for her in the darkness. What a long and marvellous day it had been. Everything was unexpected and new. After so many long, laborious days, something had happened that ignited Laura in a new way.
She quickly lit the taper on her desk, and the room was aglow. Laura sat down on her bed, at a loss for what to do next. Considering that she had been anticipating reading her book all day, Laura picked it up and opened it to chapter five. She sighed to herself, finally feeling relaxed, but thoughts of Edward would not leave her mind. The way that he smiled. The glitter in his eyes.
Realizing that she would never be able to concentrate on her book, she placed it on the desk and began to undress, putting on her sleeping gown. Once that was on, there was a knock on the door, and Laura practically jumped out of her skin. She clutched herself. Whoever could it be at this hour?
Tiptoeing to the door with her bare feet, Laura slowly opened it and peered through the crack. On the other side was Diana. Laura heaved a sigh of relief. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to speak to you.” Diana pushed her way into Laura’s room. She, as well, was wearing her sleeping costume.
“What for?”
“There’s already talk about your encounter with Edward Pembroke.” Diana seated herself on Laura’s bed.
Laura walked over and seated herself beside Diana. She still clutched herself. “I’m not surprised. I even spoke with him again.”
“You spoke with him again?”
“Yes, it was merely by accident. I was walking down the hall to make my way to my room, and there he was. I was frozen in shock.”
Diana playfully rubbed her hands together. “Oh, this is marvellous.”
“No, it’s not! Percival already knows that Edward and I encountered each other once. What if he hears of the second time?”
