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possible.
    “Of course. I’d be happy to introduce you.” She forced a smile and realized this could be her chance to get what she wanted.
    “That would be lovely. I was invited to your home once when I was back in France. Oh my, it was decades ago. You may not have been born yet. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. I am quite curious to see your father’s collection of military machinery.” He continued to flip through papers in a long and deep drawer as he spoke.
    “Well, he hasn’t brought much of that with him, but he did bring a new autocart from Paris.”
    “Excellent.” He pulled a stack of papers from the heap and turned to her. “Here you are then.” He sat back down and started reading through her reports and exams. Marguerite had to fight the urge to fidget as the dean flipped page after page, nodding his head and humming a bit. She knew she’d done well in all her classes. Her professors had remarked on her hard work and dedication, as well as her previous knowledge of most subjects. Still, she couldn’t tell what the man in front of her was thinking.
    He paused on a particular page. He squinted at the paper, his eyes repeating the same pattern as he read it a second time. And then a third. He looked over the top of the paper at her and then back at the page again. “Uh, huh. Interesting.”
    Drat! He’s read about my crash. Marguerite tried to keep her face from falling, but it was not easy. “Yes?” She finally ventured to speak.
    “It says here you scored perfect marks in every ballistics exam, including the practical and marksmanship?”
    Relief flooded her heart. “Yes! I have quite good aim.”
    “I’m guessing your father gave you a head start?” He smiled knowingly over the paper.
    “Yes, yes he did,” she lied. The dean didn’t have to know that all of her target practice as a girl was done without her father’s knowledge.
    “It’s a pity you failed your practical flight examination. You will have to retake that before you will be allowed to fly anything for His Majesty. And yet, I was just speaking with Admiral Auboyneau and he was asking if I knew of someone with your particular skills. Granted, I’m sure he did not have a lady in mind when he asked, but I could possibly mention your name and see what he thinks. I believe the position he needed to fill was on the new ship they commissioned for this pirate raid all you ladies are so keen to go on.”
    Marguerite let a genuine smile spread across her face this time. “Oh, would you? That would mean so much to me.”
    “Just between us, you passed your final examinations with top marks.” He smiled at her conspiratorially.
    “Excellent!” She clapped her hands.
    “Don’t let word get out that I told you any of this. The last thing I need is a line of pupils at my door asking for their results and special favors. I am curious about something, though, Lady Vadnay.”
    “What is that?” Marguerite’s mood was much lighter, making her happy to indulge the dean a bit.
    “How is it that a lady of your standing wants to work on a battleship? You could have your pick of suitors on either continent, and if you retake the flight exam, you could have a private ship to fly at your leisure. I’m not quite sure I understand your aim here.”
    “It’s quite simple, really. I want more than what is handed to me. I want to see the world, earn my keep, and use the brain in my head. A lady can’t very well do that from a chaise lounge in a palace on either continent.”
    The dean nodded and tapped his desk with his fingertips. She could tell he wanted to say something else but was hesitant.
    “Thank you for looking into—” she began.
    “Are you aware that he truly loves you, and only you, m’lady?” he interrupted her.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Captain Laviolette. He also has his pick of eligible ladies of fine birth—of all births, actually—but his heart belongs to you. I’ve known Jacques for many years. He has not