“It is, but hopefully not in a bad way. I have been thinking about us, and our inquiries, and our different methods. You do not want a formal partnership, but we can form an alliance that is not formal. There will be times when you will want a man to speak with someone, for example.”

“Such as another man?”

“There will be some who will never take your questions seriously, and there will be others who won’t even hear them. You know I am right about this.”

“You would do that for me? As my employee?”

“I do not take employment. My thinking is we would share any inquiry that requires us both. We would consult on strategy and tactics, and divide up what to do. That will be more efficient, and also be twice as fast.”

“It sounds a lot like a partnership, no matter what you call it.”

“I am sure there will be inquiries in which I will not be useful, so you would conduct those on your own.”

She could not think of any kind of inquiry in which he would not be at least somewhat useful. The idea of a partnership had not set well with her when he proposed it, but now . . . She was sure it did not hold appeal only because it would ensure she would see him with continued frequency, although that played a role in her reconsideration.

“It sounds complicated,” she said. “Perhaps in the days ahead we should talk about whether we should forge a more formal alliance. If you promise not to become the officer commanding the troops, I might agree to that.”

He turned very serious. His embracing arm tightened. “If I had my way, I would be proposing the most formal alliance possible, Minerva, even knowing that with your new situation you have no use for it. I have accepted you will never agree to that, however, and understand why.”

He looked at her warmly. Wistfully. Her own emotions turned poignant. “I have thought about it,” she said quietly. “You are not the only one who has been distracted.”

“If I tell you that I treasure you, that I love you to the point of not only distraction but madness, would it make a difference? Because I do, darling. I will swear to anything you want, if it will encourage you to continue thinking about it.”

His declaration caused tears to well up in her. She had made a terrible mistake once when facing this choice, but she was no girl now, and this man was no enigma. This would not be a practical marriage, or one she needed for security. It would be a love match, with a man she already trusted with her body and her heart.

And yet—that old shadow had not completely faded. She could not deny she would lose much if she did this. She gazed deeply into his eyes, while her mind weighed it all.