Page 63 of Forget Me Not

He felt her take a trembling breath.

“Did she forgive you for your graceless attempt at the allemande?” Digby’s voice echoed down to them from the balcony.

Julia stepped abruptly back, forcing his arms to drop away.

“That man doesn’t realize how easily a king can be dethroned,” Lucas muttered.

“Perhaps that should be the topic of my next course of study.”

He offered her a smile and held his hand out to her. “I do have a text in the book room about Charles I.”

She slipped her hand into his. “It’s worth a look.”

Here was progress. He could almost forgive Digby’s interruption. Almost.

They walked back to the house, hands clasped. Julia looked less burdened, though she still didn’t appear happy. Somehow, he would unravel the mystery of her happiness. He wanted her to be truly, fully joyful in their home and in their marriage. But how?

Pooka yipped excitedly. Lucas paused and bent down to pet the poor thing.

“You can’t go inside, you troublemaker. Mrs. Parks would have my neck.” He twitched his head in the direction of the doghouse. “Go on with you.”

Pooka trotted toward his little house but paused and looked back.

“Go on.”

The stablehand stepped out in that moment. He seemed to piece the situation together quickly and whistled for Pooka, who ran over with enthusiasm.

Lucas and Julia continued on, entering the house and moving to the staircase.

“In addition to Charles I, what topics are you interested in?” he asked as they ascended.

“I would enjoy another book on mathematics. And Stanley often spoke of geography beyond Europe, which my governess never permitted me to study. He also mentioned the physical sciences, which sounded intriguing. And I have read a great deal of classic literature but know there are a great many more I could add to my list. I am intrigued by history as well.”

Hers was an extensive list of interests. “You enjoy academic pursuits even more than I realized.”

“Does that bother you?” Her words emerged hesitantly, adding a bit of worry to her otherwise casual question.

With her hand still in his, he led her into the book room. Words, he had discovered, were not enough to set her many worries at ease. She needed to see, to experience proof of his reassurances. At the bookshelves, he pressed a quick, light kiss to her hand before releasing it and pulling the rolling ladder to the section he meant to select from. He climbed two rungs, high enough to search for and find a book he felt certain she would find to her liking.

He climbed down once more and returned to where she stood. “This is a favorite of mine.” He held the book up so she could see it. “Gordon’sGeography Anatomiz’d. It explores geography throughout the globe, including a part of the world where, in the summer, the sun never sets.”

Her eyes pulled wide, just as he’d suspected they would. “Truly?”

He nodded. “And that is only one interesting bit of information in here.”

She took the book from him, gaze fully on it. “This includes places outside of Europe?”

“Your short-sighted governess might have found your wide academic interest scandalous, but I think it’s brilliant.”

Her cheeks colored again. “I won’t tell anyone if you’d rather I didn’t.”

“Julia, sweetheart.” He took her hand once more. “Any gentleman of sense would be proud to be married to a clever and intelligent lady. I consider myself a gentleman of sense.”

“Well, I don’t know about that...” She smiled, light and genuine. Very real merriment in her expression. He worried less when her eyes danced a bit and her countenance grew airy. More than a mere easing of concerns, her cheery companionship tugged fiercely at his heart. He could easily imagine the two of them having grand adventures together when her countenance sparkled as it did then.

Lucas quite suddenly remembered another book in his collection that he knew on the instant would be a perfect addition to her self-directed studies. He turned to the shelves to retrieve it. “Oh, Julia. I cannot believe I didn’t think of this one straight off.” He pulled it off the shelf. “I know you particularly enjoy mathematics. And you mentioned you were intrigued by the physical sciences. This one, by Sir Isaac Newton, combines the two topics.”

She accepted the book from him, reading the title aloud. “The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.”

---