A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6011

At first she had listened with a tester’s caution, yet sentence by sentence that caution melted.

Her eyes fixed on the radiant patterns, widening with surprise and then shining with unabashed delight.

The breadth of Mr. Chance’s knowledge—and the angle of his insights—towered far above anything she had dared hope for.

Concepts that had knotted her mind for months loosened at a single pointer from him, and theories she had never heard before clicked neatly into place.

Neither of them noticed when the morning sun climbed high; their conversation had carried them from the pearl-gray dawn well past third hour.

Servants slipped in and out, refreshing the tea.

On the table the glowing diagrams shifted, faded, and reformed as new ideas rose.

Rania leaned forward, completely absorbed, a soft flush coloring her cheeks with every fresh discovery.

Across from her he spoke with confident ease, eyes bright, every gesture precise.

Admiration, born earlier from looks alone, now grew richer, stronger.

The emotion simmering inside her became a tangled blend of respect, appreciation, and a shy, quickening fondness she barely recognized.

How long had it been since she met someone her own age who could speak to her like this — someone whose words did not force her to lower her standards?

In the manor the touted young talents either fawned, prattled emptily, or cultivated power while ignoring books.

And this Mr. Chance was — not incidentally — very pleasant to look at.

Her heartbeat picked up.

She caught herself noticing the slight part of his lips as he explained a point, the clean lines of his long fingers, the way his lashes dipped when he paused to listen.

"Ms. Rania?" Jared’s gentle call cut through the haze.

The sound snapped her back to herself.

"Ah—yes! Please continue, Mr. Chance. I’m listening."

Heat rushed into her cheeks. She ducked her head, raised the teacup, and sipped to disguise the smile that threatened to escape.

Across the table he watched her quietly.

Something unreadable flickered behind his composed eyes, gone before she could name it.

He seemed wholly at ease, as though the discussion were unfolding even better than he had expected.

He judged that Ms. Rania was bright, yet in some respects unexpectedly naive.

He already had her full attention; she could deny that no longer, though she shoved the realization into a quiet corner of her mind.

To Jared, it was the perfect opening.

He had to mind the distance.

Hold the attraction, yet never look rushed or slick.

Stay the earnest scholar, devoted to his studies, and let admiration for a bright woman surface only now and then—no further.

"It's getting late…"

Jared lifted his gaze to the paling sky and spoke with gentle care.

"These scripture secrets won’t yield in a single sitting."

"If Ms. Rania wishes, I can remain in the manor for several days, ready whenever you would like to explore them. I hope I’m not imposing?"

"Not at all! Not at all!" Ms. Rania blurted.

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