Page 35 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

A pleasant warmth washed over her. He was too flirtatious by half. She should upbraid him for his audacity, but she was enjoying their little dance. She felt like her younger sister for a moment, a diamond of the first water. While suitors had flocked to Sophia to compete for her attention in the ballroom, Evangeline had always frightened them away. The men seemed too afraid of what she might say. Sometimes her bluntness scared her, too.

His smile faded, leaving traces of softness on his face. “You said marriage is for most young women. Does that mean you are not interested in finding a husband of your own?”

“Now, Sir Jonathan, every antiquarian knows it is never wise to draw conclusions without adequate evidence.”

“Of course.” He grinned. “Perhaps some gentleman will be lucky enough to catch your eye someday?”

She toyed with a strand of her hair, her confidence blossoming. Their conversation certainly sounded as if it were on the brink of a courtship. “I’m not opposed to marriage or motherhood, but I have no intentions of settling for a typical union. To be frank, I didn’t exert much effort into husband hunting in London. My time was occupied with preparing to join my uncle in the field."

“You crave adventure,” Sir Jonathan said.

“Indeed, but I believe marriage itself can be a wonderful adventure when two people are well suited to one another.”

“I am coming around to your way of thinking, Miss Darlington.”

Giddiness fizzled inside her, rising like champagne bubbles to the surface. She couldn’t wait to tell her sister about this promising conversation. Who knew when they had set off for Athens Evangeline would cross paths with a man so perfectly suited for her?

“We spoke of my work earlier,” Sir Jonathan said. “I want to know more about yours. What inspired you to study ancient warfare?”

She angled her body toward him on the bench. “Have you ever heard of The Art of War by Sun Tzu? It was translated into French in the late seventeen hundreds.”

“I’m familiar with it. Do you read French?”

“I comprehend it better than I speak it, but when I discovered the book in my uncle’s library, I hadn’t been reading English for long when my sisters and I went to live with Uncle Charles.”

“Your brother-in-law told me. My sympathies on the loss of your parents, Miss Darlington.”

She inclined her head, accepting his condolences. “It was a long time ago, and I only have fond memories of Papa and Mama. My sisters and I have been well-loved and cared for all our lives.”

“That is lovely,” he murmured.

“It really is.” She sighed, wishing she could’ve had more time with her parents, even though her uncle and great-aunt were wonderful.

“I had trouble settling in at night at first,” she said. “New bed and all that. Uncle Charles read to me from The Art of War until I grew tired. He summarized it in English, of course.”

Sir Jonathan cocked his head. “And your uncle thought Chinese military tactics were appropriate bedtime reading for a young girl?”

Evangeline chuckled. “Well, not exactly, but I was very stubborn about it. He had promised that I could choose any book I wanted, if I stayed in bed after my great-aunt tucked me in. Uncle Charles doesn’t break his promises without a compelling reason.”

“It sounds like he was good to you.”

“Yes, my sisters and I were fortunate to have a guardian like Uncle Charles. I suppose I would be a different person altogether if it weren’t for him. I doubt Mama would have cultivated my interests in warfare.”

“That explains the origins of your interest, but what is it about the study of warfare that resonates with you?”

“I cannot say exactly.” She tapped the corner of her mouth, considering his question. “Maybe I want to make the world a better place. Conflict is born of action and reaction. Understanding past leaders’ motivations, strategies, tactics, and the consequences of those decisions improves one’s ability to predict outcomes of future battles. Or diffuse them before they begin.”

“How does this knowledge apply to modern warfare when ancient civilizations didn’t have access to the same weapons?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “The motives never change, even when the weapons do. One side wishes to assert power over the other and raid their resources, and the other side fights to keep their independence and protect wh⁠—”

A prickling sensation began at the back of her neck. “What…is…” She shifted on the bench, checking the house to see if they were being watched. Sir Jonathan turned, too.

“What is it?” he asked.

She half expected to see her sister or brother-in-law spying on them from the bedchamber window, but only a sliver of light peeked through the split where the curtain panels met.

“Is something wrong, Miss Darlington?”