Page 24 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“You paused.”

“I was breathing.”

“You do that suspiciously often before saying something about me.”

Nathaniel folded his arms. “Very well. You handled the ferry negotiation better than most men I have led west.”

“Most?”

“All.”

“That was nearly satisfactory.”

“Nearly?”

“You qualified the original statement.”

“I corrected it.”

“After prompting.”

“You are exhausting.”

Eleanor smiled. “And yet you keep coming back.”

Nathaniel looked at her for one beat too long. “So, I do.”

The humor thinned.

Eleanor suddenly became very interested in the river.

Nathaniel rescued them both by saying, “Although I may simply enjoy losing arguments.”

“You do not lose arguments.”

“I have lost several to you.”

“No. You have eventually become reasonable.”

“That is a remarkably convenient definition.”

“It saves time.”

He laughed.

Eleanor liked the sound enough that she immediately regretted causing it.

Nathaniel noticed. “You are smiling.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“Do you intend to spend the entire journey reporting my face to me?”

“If it continues doing unexpected things.”

“Then I shall wear a veil.”