Chapter 5 #2
Miss Bryce’s lips parted as she listened. Her complete and utter attention on him was almost enough to take a man’s breath away. “What led you to this laboratory? Ohio isn’t exactly the most sought-after location for most people.”
“Ohio State runs a renowned program that has a reputation for producing solid research. Plus, my friend Alexander Lofton summers here on the island, so I had a place to stay aside from student housing. I don’t prefer the lifestyle of an English lord, but I do draw the line at living like a university student again. ”
Miss Bryce chuckled. It was a lovely, light, genuine sound that lodged in Miles’s mind and heart.
He didn’t usually find it easy to entertain people.
He tended to be serious and didn’t think of witty comments until much later.
But it was different with Miss Bryce, more natural to tease and laugh.
If he could find a way to keep her giggling, he might be the happiest man alive.
“What are you looking for when you’re at the laboratory? Signs of disease?” With her eyes still shining from enjoyment, her question showed a sincere interest in his work that Miles hadn’t encountered in…well, ever.
He leaned farther forward, resting his elbows on his knees, which put his face much nearer to Miss Bryce’s.
So near it was distracting. “The problem is that one wouldn’t see signs of disease in an insect.
They don’t develop the disease, only carry it.
So we must watch their behaviors and track where they go, then compare that with outbreaks of illnesses.
It’s not a quick process, but it could be profound. ”
Miss Bryce considered his explanation while resting her fingers on her chin. “How do you spend your time at the laboratory, then? Do you watch insects all day?”
Grinning while talking with Miss Bryce was becoming a habit. “I do a bit more than watch them, but I suppose that sums it up for the most part.”
Miles expected a coquettish giggle or a practiced shift to a more interesting topic, as happened with most conversations at society events.
Very few people had the kind of interest in entomology that Miles did.
But instead, Miss Bryce tilted her head to one side. “What more is there? I’m curious now.”
With his mind scrambling for a simple way to explain what he did at the laboratory, Miles swallowed hard.
She was actually interested in his work.
“Well, I do a great deal of observation. But there are specific things I’m looking for.
I record and track the population of different insects along with how they relate to the rest of the environment.
If no birds or fish are eating them, that could indicate a problem with those insects.
If there are fewer than expected, there could be a change in their breeding habitat.
It’s all interconnected, and I’m looking for anything that might impact them and for their impact on other parts of the environment. ”
Miles stopped to take a breath, aware his passion for the subject had made him gush a tirade of information most people would be bored to tears by. But Miss Bryce continued to listen in rapt attention. How long could he talk about insects before she lost that spark of curiosity?
Before he could find out, Mrs. Bryce swept up to them in a bright green frock that was flattering but looked a bit garish next to her daughter’s understated yet elegant cream gown. “Ah, Sylvia. How nice to see you entertaining the marquess so well. I trust she’s not talking your ear off, my lord?”
Miles tried to hide a cringe at the use of his title. No matter how hard he worked to shed it since coming to America, it followed him around like a persistent housefly. “She’s the perfect partner for a good conversation, Mrs. Bryce. I’m quite enjoying myself.”
A glance at Miss Bryce revealed he might have misunderstood the last few minutes, however.
Her expression had shuttered. The glow of interest he suspected he’d seen was gone from her eyes, and her lips turned downward.
Was it due to her mother’s presence, or had she finally lost interest in his work?
Mrs. Bryce stood over them with what she might have meant to be a smile, but it appeared more as a preening smirk. “Wonderful to hear. Ah, I see our hostess over there. I must tell her what a lovely dinner she put together. I’ll leave you to your delightful conversation.”
She marched past their chairs and toward Mrs. Templeton, who was watching the group playing charades.
Miles turned back to Miss Bryce to find her rising from her seat with her gaze darting around the room.
The companionable moment they’d shared seemed to be over.
He jumped up, searching for a way to keep her from leaving.
“You don’t have to go. I didn’t have the opportunity to ask anything about your interests. ”
Her startled glance made Miles wonder if anyone at these social events had ever asked her what she enjoyed.
Or perhaps she was concerned he would realize she was the lady archer.
He contemplated telling her he already knew.
But there must be a good reason she went to such lengths to hide her activities at the resort.
Miles was confident that keeping her secret would go further in gaining her trust than making her ask him to keep it.