Caroline sighed but didn’t slow her pacing. “I care about the school, but I’m not a teacher. I care about Ida, but I can’t move to Ohio, if she’d even take me.”

“You have to do something.”

“Why?” she demanded. “I have worked around the clock for eighteen months, and I’m tired. Maybe I want to take a week and do nothing more stressful than order from a restaurant menu. Or visit friends. Or the Smithsonian,” she couldn’t resist adding.

“Not the Smithsonian again.”

His tone rubbed her the wrong way. “Yes, the Smithsonian! Must you always work? Must I?”

The nurse behind the desk sent them both a warning glance. “Shhh.”

Caroline turned away, hurt by Nathaniel’s refusal to answer. There would always be something to keep him chained to work. While she admired his dedication, a small, selfish part wondered if she could live with it, because she didn’t think he’d ever change.

She took the seat beside him. “I hope you won’t go to Milwaukee.”

“I know,” he said quietly.

She held her breath, waiting for him to continue, but silence stretched between them. The ticking of the clock on the wall behind her was the only sound, and she supposed that was her answer. He would leave.

What should a good and loyal woman do? The logical part of her mind said a woman should do everything possible to support her man. Dr. Tisdale had even suggested how important it was for Nathaniel to get back up on the horse that threw him. He had failed in an epic manner before the entire nation. While no one knew his name, plenty of newspapers had lambasted the Secret Service for their failure to protect the president.

Being a detective was something Nathaniel excelled at. Ever since the challenge of tracking the Kestrel Gang rose before him, his spark of life was back. He needed the sense of accomplishment he could find in this work, and she ought to be the sort of woman who would support whatever he needed.

Should she help him pack his bags for Milwaukee? Or should she draw a line in the sand and order him to stay? She didn’t want to, because she was afraid of his answer.

As if confirming her suspicions, he stood. “Look, I’ve lingered too long already. I need to get back to the Holland house and help with the investigation. I just wanted to be certain you were all right.”

Did she look all right? Her heart was breaking, but she lifted her chin and affected a nonchalant air. “By all means, go. I’ll be fine. I always am.”

He nodded, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and left. As she watched his tall, dark form walk away, she wished he hadn’t believed her so readily.