“We walk around the square at night,” he said, “and in the garden.”
“As we did at Finsbury before here.”
“You’ve visited Lady Guinevere.I’ve brought you books from Nickleby.We receive every newspaper produced in London.”
“And still I feel caged.”She collapsed backward, sprawling out across the books.
He stood and held out a hand.“I think it’s time for an adventure.”
“Another jaunt around the garden?”
He shook his head.“I came to tell you I was heading out for a few hours, but now I think you should go out with me.”
She sat upright.“Go where?”
“The Guild Library.”
Diana jumped to her feet, no hand necessary.She clasped his anyway, squeezing tight.“Guild?”
“The Alchemist Guild.”
“They have a library?Where is it?This mysterious library?I must know.Are you teasing me?Surely I would know if such a thing existed.”
Shaking free of her hand, he gently pushed her toward the door.“Go find your mantle and I’ll show you.”
“At least tell me where it is?”she cried out as she was halfway up the stairs.
“When we’re in the carriage!”
She was breathless by the time she reached the entry hall, and Temple was laughing.He’d barely helped her into her mantle before she was bolting out the door.The carriage was already waiting, the horseflesh as impatient as her to be off.She jumped into the conveyance and slid into the shadows.
He joined her, close on her heels, and once he sat, the carriage took off.
“Tell me now,” she said, looping her arm through his and setting her chin on his shoulder.
My, but he looked pleased with himself.That smug smile.Even his cravat seemed set at a confident angle.He leaned so close his lips brushed her ear, made her shiver, and then he whispered, “The British Museum.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“But how?I think I’d have known if an entire second library were located there.We all would.”
“It’s underground.”
“No!”
He nodded.“I knew you’d like it.I’m meeting a friend there.Sir Nicholas Bowen.He’s bringing me a book for you.A wedding present.From me, not from him.Don’t go falling for him, Diana.He’s a charming devil, and people say he’s handsome.But he has a wife.Remember that.”
“And I have a husband.”She kissed his cheek.“But if the gift is from you, why is he procuring it for you?”
“Because I’m not allowed inside anymore.”
“Temple!What do you mean?”She could not have heard that right.He was the Royal Alchemist!They could not deny him access to the knowledge of his trade!“You must be teasing me.”
He sat in silence, and she would have prodded him further, but they had arrived.
“We could have walked,” she said.
