tremulous smile. Thank you for what you did this afternoon, sir. Indeed, I do not know what to say. I am not accustomed to being rescued." It is obvious that you do not require rescue very often, Miss Greyson. I don't believe that I have ever met anyone quite like you." Her eyes were luminous and disconcertingly perceptive behind the lenses of her spectacles. He sensed that he was being assessed and weighed in the balance. He wondered if he would pass whatever test she was giving him. The feeling is mutual, sir." Is it, indeed?" Yes." She sounded oddly breathless now. I am quite certain that I have never met anyone like you, either, Mister Stokes. My admiration for you is quite unlimited." Admiration," he repeated neutrally. And my gratitude also knows no bounds," she assured him hastily. Gratitude. How nice." She clasped her hands together very tightly. I promise you that I will never forget what you did for me today. Indeed, I shall make it a point to remember you in my evening prayers." How very thrilling for me," he muttered. Her brows snapped together. Mister Stokes, I do not comprehend. If I have said anything to annoy you" What the devil makes you think that I'm annoyed?" I suppose it is the way you are glaring at me. Oh dear, this is not going at all well, is it? Perhaps I should not try to explain myself further. I have not had much experience with this sort of conversation." Neither have I." She raised her eyes to the ceiling in silent exasperation. Then, in a quick, wholly unexpected movement, she went up on her toes, braced her hands on his shoulders and brushed her mouth lightly against his. Edison froze, afraid that if he moved he would shatter the spell. It was Emma who broke the embrace. She gasped and blushed furiously as she stepped back.
Forgive me, sir, I did not mean to embarrass you with my boldness. I apologize. I have obviously disconcerted you." I'll get over it." That is the way the heroines in the horrid novels always thank the dashing heroes," she said rather gruffly. Is it? I can see I shall have to broaden my literary tastes." Mister Stokes, please, you really must leave now. If anyone were to come upon us" Yes, of course. The virtue problem." She glared at him. You would not find it amusing if your own living depended on your reputation." Quite right. It was a thoughtless jest." He followed her gaze to the door. He had no right to put her post as Lady Mayfield's paid compan ion in jeopardy. If he got her dismissed without a reference, he would be no better than Chilton Crane in her mind. You may ease your mind. I am on my way." She touched his sleeve as he stepped around her. What brought you to this floor at that particular moment?" He shrugged. I noticed Crane making his way up the stairs. I was aware that your chamber was up here. I feared that he might have recalled where and when he had last seen you and had decided to ." He let the sentence trail off unfinished. I see. Very observant of you, sir." He did not respond. There was no point telling her of the icy rage that had stormed through him when he had caught sight of Chilton on the rear stairs. Emma took her hand off his sleeve and rubbed her temples. Heavens, what a day this has been." Edison smiled slightly. I just heard a very similar complaint from Crane." Did you? Hardly surprising. After that blow to his skull, he is no doubt also feeling somewhat dazed and out of sorts." Alarm shot through him. Are you feeling ill, Miss Greyson?" Not any longer, thank heavens. But I was rather unwell earlier. That is the reason I was up here resting in my room and thus heard Crane attack Polly."
Something you ate, perhaps?" Emma wrinkled her nose. Something I drank. Lady Ames insisted we all try her special herbal tea and then she forced us to play some silly guessing games." Edison felt as if he had just shot to the surface of a deep lake and could suddenly see the shore. Lady Ames fed you a special tea?" he repeated very carefully.
Forgive me, sir, I did not mean to embarrass you with my boldness. I apologize. I have obviously disconcerted you." I'll get over it." That is the way the heroines in the horrid novels always thank the dashing heroes," she said rather gruffly. Is it? I can see I shall have to broaden my literary tastes." Mister Stokes, please, you really must leave now. If anyone were to come upon us" Yes, of course. The virtue problem." She glared at him. You would not find it amusing if your own living depended on your reputation." Quite right. It was a thoughtless jest." He followed her gaze to the door. He had no right to put her post as Lady Mayfield's paid compan ion in jeopardy. If he got her dismissed without a reference, he would be no better than Chilton Crane in her mind. You may ease your mind. I am on my way." She touched his sleeve as he stepped around her. What brought you to this floor at that particular moment?" He shrugged. I noticed Crane making his way up the stairs. I was aware that your chamber was up here. I feared that he might have recalled where and when he had last seen you and had decided to ." He let the sentence trail off unfinished. I see. Very observant of you, sir." He did not respond. There was no point telling her of the icy rage that had stormed through him when he had caught sight of Chilton on the rear stairs. Emma took her hand off his sleeve and rubbed her temples. Heavens, what a day this has been." Edison smiled slightly. I just heard a very similar complaint from Crane." Did you? Hardly surprising. After that blow to his skull, he is no doubt also feeling somewhat dazed and out of sorts." Alarm shot through him. Are you feeling ill, Miss Greyson?" Not any longer, thank heavens. But I was rather unwell earlier. That is the reason I was up here resting in my room and thus heard Crane attack Polly."
Something you ate, perhaps?" Emma wrinkled her nose. Something I drank. Lady Ames insisted we all try her special herbal tea and then she forced us to play some silly guessing games." Edison felt as if he had just shot to the surface of a deep lake and could suddenly see the shore. Lady Ames fed you a special tea?" he repeated very carefully.
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