How does she do it? Drake had slipped just inside Room 40 while he waited for Hall, so that he could watch her while she worked. He’d done it before, whenever he could. And smiled to realize she didn’t even notice.

She always sat at her desk just like she did now, so intent upon the papers before her that the rest of the world might as well not exist. Pencil flying, columns of numbers queuing up and marching down the page in parallel lines. It took her seconds to render code into plain script. Seconds. No doubt she worked through his letters just as fast, or faster—heaven knew his code wasn’t as sophisticated as the ones she rattled off the names for so easily. 7500, 13040, 18470, 89734.

Her mind amazed him. The way she processed the world, turned it all into theorems and equations and endless strings of numbers. Dot was right—she had to be the most intelligent person he’d ever met. She outdid him by far. Held her own here among England’s brightest. Would no doubt achieve great success outside the OB someday too.

He couldn’t quite imagine what life would be like if ever she agreed to marry him. He had no idea how many years it might take to even convince her to do that. There would be headaches in the meantime, and heartaches, and countless lonely nights when his arms ached for her.

But it didn’t matter how long it took. He’d never be able to look at another girl like he looked at her.

“Elton. Thank you for waiting.”

He started and turned with a smile for Hall, not really minding getting caught staring at Margot. “Not a hardship, sir.”

The admiral smiled and motioned him to follow. “You’ve made great strides with her, I’ve noticed.”

“Have I?” Sometimes he wasn’t sure. She’d still never once mentioned his letters. She never leaned closer to him when she didn’t have to. She’d certainly never said she loved him—he wasn’t sure she ever would, even though it may be true. Words weren’t her language.

Perhaps someday she would say it, somehow, in numbers.

Hall chuckled. “She’s given up arguing when people refer to you as her young man. I would count that as a victory, were I you.”

Drake’s lips twitched up. “And so I shall.”

The admiral led the way into his office and motioned him to close the door behind him. “She just provided a decrypt that will interest you. They have finally finished loading the wolfram onto the Erri Barro. She is finally scheduled to leave port.”

Drake’s pulse kicked up as he took a chair. “And we’re ready to intercept?”

“We are. Whenever she enters open waters, we’ll set upon her.”