Page 75 of A Lady’s Guide to Subterfuge and Science

He laughed. “I’m a bad shot. I can’t fold napkins to save my life. And I very much doubt I could climb a tree, let alone fall out of one.”

For a beat, she only giggled. Then, a grave seriousness came over her. “Thank you.”

“Whatever for?”

“Not disappointing me,” she murmured. “And for being so kind.”

“I don’t think I was kind,” he said, pulling her against him. “In fact, I think I was very devilish indeed.”

Kalila shook her head against him before drifting off to sleep. Oliver held her, surprised at how awake he was. He glanced down at her, so defenseless now that she had let her guard drop, and marveled at how quickly things could change. The Oliver of a few weeks ago would have scoffed at the idea of falling in love. He would have felt a sharp twinge of sadness, but he would have rejected it nonetheless. And he’d have had a whole host of reasons for doing so, as well. Now, as he tucked a lock of dark hair behind Kalila’s ear, he became aware of two very important things. One, that his fears had all but dissipated without his noticing. And two, that he was in love.

And he had been all along.

Chapter Eighteen

When Kalila awoke, the sun was peeking over the horizon. She took stock of her surroundings, sluggishly processing the dark-green velvet drapes embroidered with gold thread, the soft coverlet that enveloped her, and the comforting weight of an arm around her waist.

Oliver’s arm.

She snapped her eyes shut. How could she have been so—so—brave? For the past nine years, she had constructed careful walls around herself while finding comfort in the steadfast nature of research. She’d relied on having procedures to guide her through most everything she pursued. Last night, however, had been filled with uncertainty.

Uncertainty and vulnerability and dizzying pleasure.

I thought that bravery had been lost to me, she thought. She had packed it away along with everything else. Anything to avoid being stifled.

But Oliver had seen past all that to the very heart of her last night. She’d given him more than she had offered anybody in a long time.

And no judgment had been passed. No shackles had been placed around her ankles. It had been wonderful, and yet—

You’re going to have to mend more than your pride when you return to Painswick.

Kalila let out a long exhale as the thought settled like a weight in her chest. She would have to tie up her loose ends soon.

Beginning, her mind reminded her, steering her toward safer, less terrifying thoughts, with finding your paper.

“What are you sighing for?” a graveled, sleepy voice murmured behind her. “It’s too early for sighing.”

“I was thinking about my paper,” she lied, the words coming out on another sigh. “I really ought to look for it again.”

Oliver’s thumb made soft strokes under her breast, sending shivers down her spine. Gathering her close and pressing a kiss to her neck, he said, “You sound like you need a distraction.”

She giggled despite herself. “I sound like someone who needs to find her paper.”

Another kiss, this time on her shoulder. “I seem to recall offering to help you rewrite it.”

“You did,” Kalila said, turning toward him. Good God, how does he manage to look perfect even in the morning? “But I really ought to search for it first. It’s—I put a lot of work into it.”

Oliver regarded her for a moment, a lazy smile on his face. “If you want to look for it, then we’ll look for it.”

“We?” Kalila wiggled out of his embrace and sat up. “You don’t—”

“Kalila,” he interrupted, pushing himself up and leaning toward her. “Let me help you.”

Come, Kalila. Be brave.

“Fine.”

“Good.”