Page 34 of An Inventor and An Inconvenience (Gentleman Scholars #5)

J asper took the shop's narrow stairs two at a time, his father's latest letter burning a hole in his pocket. He found Faith by the window, and for a moment he forgot entirely what he'd come to tell her.

He paused in the doorway, struck by the sight of Faith in the morning light. She stood by the window, sunlight turning her dark hair to burnished copper, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the worn windowsill. The simple grace of her movements made his heart catch.

She turned at his approach, and the smile that lit her face was like sunrise breaking over Oxford's spires. He again forgot entirely why he'd come, lost in the way joy transformed her already lovely features.

"The mining company directors have approved the full implementation," he said when he could finally speak. "Not just the device itself, but the practical training program. They want to establish vocational centres at every major operation — though they're careful to call it 'domestic and industrial skills development' rather than education."

Faith's eyes lit up. "Really? All of them?"

"Lord Ashworth was very persuasive." Jasper moved closer, unable to resist the pull of her excitement. "Though I suspect it was your demonstration that truly convinced them. The way you showed how understanding mechanical principles could improve both safety and efficiency..."

"Our demonstration," she corrected softly. "We did it together."

"Yes." He took her hand, marvelling at how natural it felt now. "We seem to do a lot of things better together."

Faith's breath caught at his tone. "Jasper..."

"My father wrote to me," he said quickly, before he lost his nerve. He pulled out the letter with his free hand. "He's still coming to terms with the educational aspects, but he's agreed to support the venture. And..." He swallowed hard. "He's given his blessing for me to pursue my own path. Including any... personal attachments I might form along the way."

Faith stared at him. "Personal attachments?"

"He said, and I quote, 'If you insist on overturning traditional expectations, you might as well be thorough about it.'" Jasper couldn't help smiling at his father's grudging acceptance. "I think that's as close as he'll ever come to approving of us."

"Us?" Faith's voice was barely a whisper.

"I love you," Jasper said, his voice rough with emotion. "I think I have since you first started questioning my designs, showing me how they could be more than just mining tools. Even then, watching you challenge every assumption with that brilliant mind of yours, I was already falling.”

His hand tightened around hers. “You made me see that innovation isn't just about mechanical improvements—it's about improving lives, opening minds, making the world better in whatever way we can."

Faith's eyes shone with unshed tears as she met his gaze. The morning light caught the gold flecks in her dark eyes, and Jasper felt his breath catch once again at her beauty — not just her features, but the passionate intelligence that animated them.

"I love you too," she said. "Even when you were driving me mad with jealousy over Father's attention. Even when I thought you had chosen your family's expectations over what we could build together."

"Never." He drew her closer. "Some things are worth defying tradition for."

The sound of footsteps on the stairs made them step apart, but not before Jasper saw Mrs. Henderson's knowing smile as she bustled past with an armload of teaching materials.

"Miss Faith!" Lucy's voice called up the stairs. "The new books have arrived!"

Faith squeezed his hand once before releasing it. "Duty calls."

"Go," he said softly. "I'll see you tonight."

As he watched her hurry down to help with the delivery, Jasper thought about all the paths that had led them here. His drive to prove himself, her passion for education, their shared vision of what could be possible if they dared to challenge tradition.

Sometimes the best innovations came not from following established patterns, but from having the courage to forge entirely new ones. And sometimes the greatest discoveries weren't mechanical at all, but the connections that formed between two people who dared to dream of something better.

~~~~

Lucy's hands trembled as she held the book, but her voice grew stronger with each word. "The principles of mechanical advantage state that force applied at a distance from the fulcrum..."

She paused, looking up at the younger girl beside her—a new kitchen maid who had arrived at Professor Somerton's household last week.

"See? Just like with the laundry mangle. The longer the handle, the easier it is to turn."

Faith, observing from the doorway of the servant's hall, felt her heart swell with pride. How far Lucy had come from the days when she'd struggled to read labels on cleaning bottles. Now she was teaching others, translating complex concepts into practical examples they could understand.

"Miss Faith?" Lucy had noticed her presence. "I was just explaining to Mary about leverage, like you showed us. I thought it might help her with the new washing equipment."

"You're doing wonderfully," Faith said softly. "Though I particularly enjoy how you've been leaving those little notes around the house—mathematical reminders hidden in the daily work schedules."

Lucy blushed. "I didn't think you'd noticed those."

"'Remember to calculate the proper ratio of soap to water,'" Faith quoted, smiling. "'Force equals mass times acceleration—mind the heavy trays.' Very clever way to help the others practice their reading and scientific principles."

"Well," Lucy ducked her head modestly, "you always say knowledge should be part of everyday life, not just something we study in lessons."

Faith watched as Lucy turned back to her eager student, demonstrating a calculation with the same patience Faith had once shown her. From struggling student to confident teacher—this was exactly what they'd hoped their school could achieve.