”I am,” she said hastily, “but Sven was telling me, you know, during our lesson today. I used to be scared of him, but he’s really interesting if you can get him to. talk.”
Clever little minx. Why does she keep changing the subject?
”Hmm, yes, I rather imagine Francis Marion was much the same.”
Again, Margo drew an utter blank.
Kit unfolded his napkin with a little snap- “Just what period of American history did you say you were reading? It was the Revolution, wasn’t it?’
Margo’s whole face colored. “Well, yes, I did. I was. I am. I mean-”
”Spill it, Margo. You’re not studying. Are you?”
”I study until I’m sick of studying! I learned more in one week in London than I’ve learned the whole time I’ve been stuck in that library!”
”Margo-”.
”No! Don’t say it! All I hear from you is ‘Margo, study this, Margo, do that, Margo, pay attention, Margo, that was barely adequate’!”
He thought she might well burst into tears. “I’m only worried about you, Margo,” he said quietly. “You have years of studying ahead of you before you can hope to-”
”Years?” Her lips quivered. “But I don’t have–” She halted. Her chin came up defiantly. “I don’t need years. I’m learning a lot and what I don’t know, I can fake.”
Kit rocked back. Fake it? “You can’t be serious.
Her eyes flashed. “Why not? I got along just fine in London, except for not knowing that pistol, and I’ve fixed that problem. Just ask Ann if I haven’t. I can shoot anything she hands me. Even that laser-guided blowgun she made me learn to use! Sven said my job is to avoid being seen, anyway, and I’m good at sneaking around in the dark!”