She didn’t smile this time, but a dimple formed to the right of her mouth. “Me?”

“You,” he said.

As they spoke, Shadow emerged from her hiding place, step by cautious step. Encouraged by Miss Trewlove’s stillness, she slowly crossed the carpet to inspect the edge of her skirts.

“If it’s a case study you’re after,” Miss Trewlove said, “I must surely be the least interesting subject of all our graduates. Unlike the other girls, I chose to remain.”

“You had no desire to strike out on your own as a governess or secretary?”

“None at all.”

“Teaching is your prevailing passion?”

“It is, though I wouldn’t describe it in such lofty terms. I—” She broke off, her attention caught by the sight of the little tabby bestowing a delicate sniff to her hem. Her face lit with pleasure. “Why, hello, little one. I was beginning to doubt your existence.” She looked at Miles. “Does she have a name?”

Miles required a full three seconds to recollect it. The look Miss Trewlove had given the cat had knocked him off his axis. It was so frank. So authentic. The whole of her countenance was transformed by it. A strange sort of alchemy, but in that moment, she changed from an untouchable goddess into an infinitely more desirable human girl.

He swallowed hard. “I’ve, uh, been calling her Shadow.”

“How appropriate.” Miss Trewlove stretched her gloved hand down as if to administer a pet.

Shadow’s eyes widened to the size of twin saucers. The sofa being too far away, she darted for cover under the only shelter available—the billowing expanse of Miss Trewlove’s skirts.

A rosy blush seeped into Miss Trewlove’s cheeks as the cat disappeared beneath her hem. “Goodness,” she said. “This is rather alarming.”

“She means no offense,” Miles said. “She’s attempting to hide, that’s all. She’s still quite wild. You’ll have to shake your—”

Before he could finish advising her, Miss Trewlove discreetly reached under her skirts to remove the cat herself. She jerked back her fingers with a cry of pain.

Miles was up from behind his desk in a flash. He strode around it. “If you would permit me—”

“Heavens!” Miss Trewlove leapt from her chair before he could reach her. She staggered backward. Shadow’s small form was visible beneath the swell of her skirts, thrashing wildly. “I think she’s caught!”

He closed the distance between them. “Caught it in what?”

Miss Trewlove’s face flamed. “In my crinoline.” She took another stumbling step back, losing her balance.

Miles extended a hand to steady her, but he was a split second too late. Miss Trewlove’s left leg inexplicably gave way. He caught her an instant before she dropped to the floor, breaking her fall with his body as the two of them landed with a thud on the office carpet.