recall the details of how to decipher it. If you don’t have any books here covering that particular method, we’ll need to visit the library there.”
He continued to stare at her. “You’re really familiar with ciphers?”
“Of course. There are dozens of books on ciphers in the library at Melton Castle, and I’ve read all of them. It was an enjoyable way for me to pass the time while your stepsisters were otherwise occupied.”
Derek gave his head a quick shake. “And where was the governess while you were studying ciphers and my stepsisters were otherwise occupied ?”
“Oh, she was in the library with me, but she preferred reading the romances she’d brought with her. She said there was really nothing else she could teach me anyway and thus she was quite content to let me study on my own.”
“And you chose to study ciphers?”
“Why do you act so surprised? They’re fascinating, just like working a puzzle.” She let her gaze sweep across the various papers on the desk. “Several of these would be simple enough to decipher, but not the one that has you stymied. Fortunately, I remember which book covered that particular method. Are you free to travel to Melton Castle with me?”
Derek smiled tightly. “There’s no need for you to trouble yourself. Just tell me what the title of the book is.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t remember the name. I only remember what the book looks like.”
“Then describe it to me.”
Abigail had no intention of being left behind. “I studied the method. It’s complicated, but I would have the advantage of being familiar with it. I could help you with the deciphering.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, no doubt trying to illustrate that his patience was growing thin.
“Do you think I can’t be trusted then?” Abigail asked. A slight quiver sounded in her voice.
His eyes popped open and widened. “I didn’t intend to imply that. Don’t get upset.”
“If you trust me, and considering how much help I could be, why won’t you take me with you?”
He lifted his right hand and rubbed it across his chin, hard. “I’ll consider it,” he said, then blew his breath out in a long sigh. “But first I need to finish and deliver the rest of these ciphers. None of these are particularly complicated.”
“I’d like to help with those.”
Abigail could almost read Derek’s thoughts in his eyes as he gazed at her. If he allowed her to help and she proved incompetent, he’d have a good reason for leaving her in London while he went back to the castle. She waited patiently for him to make up his mind.
“Very well,” he said at last. “I’ll start you on one of the shorter ones. And of course I’ll have to check your work.”
She fought to keep from smiling and instead gave a quick nod. “Of course.”
He sorted the papers on top of his desk into stacks, then flipped through them until he found a short missive. “This one is relatively uncomplicated. Give it a try and if you can handle it, I’ll consider letting you work on others.”
Abigail pulled a chair up to the side of the desk and picked up the paper Derek had selected for her. A quick glance told her all she needed to know. She’d have no trouble with this one.
Derek pushed the brace of candles closer to Abigail and they both started work. Abigail found the chore easy enough and was soon decoding her fourth cipher. Every time she finished one, Derek would give her another, and each additional one was a bit longer and a little more sophisticated. On a couple of occasions, she came close to feeling insulted by Derek’s comments of amazement regarding her abilities, but she hid her irritation. Obviously he didn’t quite understand just how many hours she’d spent in his father’s library while he was away at school.
When each of them finished with their last cipher at the same time, they simultaneously rolled their shoulders, stretched and then laughed.
He continued to stare at her. “You’re really familiar with ciphers?”
“Of course. There are dozens of books on ciphers in the library at Melton Castle, and I’ve read all of them. It was an enjoyable way for me to pass the time while your stepsisters were otherwise occupied.”
Derek gave his head a quick shake. “And where was the governess while you were studying ciphers and my stepsisters were otherwise occupied ?”
“Oh, she was in the library with me, but she preferred reading the romances she’d brought with her. She said there was really nothing else she could teach me anyway and thus she was quite content to let me study on my own.”
“And you chose to study ciphers?”
“Why do you act so surprised? They’re fascinating, just like working a puzzle.” She let her gaze sweep across the various papers on the desk. “Several of these would be simple enough to decipher, but not the one that has you stymied. Fortunately, I remember which book covered that particular method. Are you free to travel to Melton Castle with me?”
Derek smiled tightly. “There’s no need for you to trouble yourself. Just tell me what the title of the book is.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t remember the name. I only remember what the book looks like.”
“Then describe it to me.”
Abigail had no intention of being left behind. “I studied the method. It’s complicated, but I would have the advantage of being familiar with it. I could help you with the deciphering.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, no doubt trying to illustrate that his patience was growing thin.
“Do you think I can’t be trusted then?” Abigail asked. A slight quiver sounded in her voice.
His eyes popped open and widened. “I didn’t intend to imply that. Don’t get upset.”
“If you trust me, and considering how much help I could be, why won’t you take me with you?”
He lifted his right hand and rubbed it across his chin, hard. “I’ll consider it,” he said, then blew his breath out in a long sigh. “But first I need to finish and deliver the rest of these ciphers. None of these are particularly complicated.”
“I’d like to help with those.”
Abigail could almost read Derek’s thoughts in his eyes as he gazed at her. If he allowed her to help and she proved incompetent, he’d have a good reason for leaving her in London while he went back to the castle. She waited patiently for him to make up his mind.
“Very well,” he said at last. “I’ll start you on one of the shorter ones. And of course I’ll have to check your work.”
She fought to keep from smiling and instead gave a quick nod. “Of course.”
He sorted the papers on top of his desk into stacks, then flipped through them until he found a short missive. “This one is relatively uncomplicated. Give it a try and if you can handle it, I’ll consider letting you work on others.”
Abigail pulled a chair up to the side of the desk and picked up the paper Derek had selected for her. A quick glance told her all she needed to know. She’d have no trouble with this one.
Derek pushed the brace of candles closer to Abigail and they both started work. Abigail found the chore easy enough and was soon decoding her fourth cipher. Every time she finished one, Derek would give her another, and each additional one was a bit longer and a little more sophisticated. On a couple of occasions, she came close to feeling insulted by Derek’s comments of amazement regarding her abilities, but she hid her irritation. Obviously he didn’t quite understand just how many hours she’d spent in his father’s library while he was away at school.
When each of them finished with their last cipher at the same time, they simultaneously rolled their shoulders, stretched and then laughed.
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