Page 69 of Rakes & Reticules
Truly, this girl had no understanding of her appeal.
She now moved on to another glass case, this one displaying ancient coins. “Exquisite.”
“I would say so.” He studied her with an avid interest that surprised him. Perhaps it was the lively intelligence in her eyes or the warmth of her smile. Her lips had a slightly upward tilt that made her appear to be smiling even when her expression was simply at rest.
She moved to yet another of his displays, this one comprised of early mathematical manuscripts. Suddenly, she place a hand over her bosom. “Oh, my heart!”
“What is it, Amelia?”
“You have a papyrus. Is itTheMesopotamia Papyrus? The oldest known writing on the principals of mathematics?”
He was stunned, not only because she recognized it, but because she understood its importance to the field of mathematics and was excited by it. “You certainly know your relics. Mine is but a small piece of the text. The British Museum is hoping to acquire it in order to exhibit it with pieces in their possession.”
“I am sure those old fossils at the Royal Society are salivating for it, too. I hope you won’t give it over to those horrid–” She sighed and shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve done it again.”
“Not at all, I fully understand your frustration. But not even I have enough influence over the Fellows to make them change their rules.”
She returned her gaze to the papyrus, completely enraptured.
Would she be in such a swoon if he kissed her?
He moved to stand beside her as she continued to stare at this object of fascination. It was fragile and would easily shred if handled with less than expert hands. Most of these treasures were extremely fragile. For this reason, he had to keep them sealed in glass and, of course, always under lock and key. “The papyrus beside it holds the earliest known text making mention of Pythagoras.”
She straightened immediately and turned to gape at him. “Your collection is magnificent. I feel as though I am walking in a dream.”
He loved the shimmer in her eyes.
Crystal and starlight.
Her smile was genuinely sweet.
He could not imagine a single one of this other guests appreciating these artifacts as she did. Not one of them would have any understanding of their importance. These scraps of papyrus represented the foundation of mathematics.
If he spoke of these treasures to any of thetonbeauties visiting here this weekend their eyes would glaze over. They came here to dance and catch a husband, notably himself.
He was about to compliment Amelia on her discerning taste when they were distracted by a young lady giggling in the doorway. “Why there you are, Your Grace. We have all been searching the grounds for you. Lady Amelia, it is most unfair of you to abduct our host.”
“Ah, Lady Dorothea.” Callum immediately strode to the little goose, not to be polite but to keep her out of this room he considered a historian’s sanctuary. “We were just finishing our tour. Lady Amelia and I shall join you and the other guests in a moment.”
She now regarded Amelia with a waspish eye.
Callum was all too familiar with little schemers like thistondiamond.
Dorothea was one of those young ladies with classically beautiful features, deep blue eyes and lovely golden curls. Indeed, there was no denying the girl was stunning. But she knew it, which in his view detracted from her appeal.
She was now fluttering her eyelashes at him and giving him a practiced smile that showed off her dimples. This girl must have sat in front of a mirror for hours, figuring out just how to show herself off to greatest advantage.
Amelia was paying no attention to thetondiamond, instead staring with longing at an almost thousand year old treatise on the existence of zero as a mathematical function. “Lady Amelia,” he said, trying hard to hold back his laughter, “we shall continue our tour another time. My guests require attention, and you must understand why I cannot leave this room open for just anyone to wander in.”
“Yes, of course. How thrilled your ancestors must have felt as they came upon these wondrous pieces and acquired them.” She turned to Dorothea and pointed to an ancient text. “This one is a particular marvel of a treatise. It is one of the first writings found on the proof for the existence of zero. Can you imagine?”
Dorothea stared at her with a blank expression. “Amelia, you must be joking. Are you purposely trying to put us all to sleep?”
Amelia sighed and turned back to Callum. “You wouldn’t happen to have an early papyrus on the proof for infinity, would you?”
“In fact, I would.”
Her eyes lit up again.
