“A happy confused or an I’d-really-hoped-to-never-see-you-again sort of confused?”
“Most decidedly happy. Forgive my manners.” She swept across the rug and grabbed his hands. “It is very good to see you.”
“You as well.” He pressed a light kiss to the crown of her head, inhaling the fresh scent of outdoors lingering on her hair.
She pulled away, one arm gesturing toward the sofa. “Please sit. You must be exhausted after such a ride.”
“It was a good day for it. The sun is out, unlike our last venture back from Cambridge.” He smiled at the memory—a smile that grew as he noted a pinkening on her cheeks. Did she remember it fondly, then? He waited for her to settle on a chair, then took the side of the sofa closest to her.
“But what are you doing here?” She angled her head, studying his face. “Is everything all right? I hope there is nothing wrong with your dear uncle.”
“Nothing of the sort. I came to apologize in person for not having telegraphed you as I had promised and to give you something.” He handed over a banknote from inside his coat pocket.
Eva frowned at the paper for a beat, perplexity wrinkling her brow until understanding dawned in her eyes. “This is the exact amount I was short on for the property taxes!”
“I know. I only regret I couldn’t have gotten it to you on Friday. But no matter. Tomorrow you shall go to the revenue office and square away your tax debt.”
She clutched the paper to her chest like a cherished babe. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“I think I have an inkling.”
“No, you do not.” She shook her head. “My travel bag is packed even now for a position I did not really want, one that I was going to take tomorrow.” She waved the banknote in the air with a little squeal. “For now, you have rescued me, Bram Webb!”
“That is a bit dramatic.” He laughed. “But I am glad you will not have to leave your home.”
“And neither will my staff. I look forward to telling them.” She flounced against the cushion with a satisfied sigh. “So,” shemurmured, “the relics must have sold. I am grateful to you for arranging the purchase.”
“They have not sold yet. I ran into an issue at the college.” Oy. What an understatement. “I have since moved your antiquities to the Fitzwilliam Museum. The curator was quite interested.”
“My, you have been busy. But how did you have time for all that?” She straightened, suspicion gleaming silver in her pale blue eyes. “What happened at your board meeting?”
“Yes, well...” He shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. He’d relived that trauma in his head more times than he cared to admit and wasn’t particularly keen on revisiting it again. The jut of Eva’s jaw, however, would be difficult to soften with anything other than the truth. “Suffice it to say that the meeting did not go as hoped. I am afraid there will be a different crew returning here next semester. Your dig shall now be led by Professor Grimwinkle.”
“Grimwinkle? I should think he would be concerned about getting his garments dirty. Why can you not finish the job?”
And here it was. The moment he’d have to admit he was an unemployed vagabond. He inhaled deeply. “My uncle and I are no longer employed by Trinity College.”
“What!” She gripped the arms of the chair, wrinkling the banknote. “Oh, Bram.”
Pity he could take, was expected, even, but the empathy in the quiver of her lips nearly undid him. “Come, now. It is not like I am dying. I simply have time to figure out what next I shall do.”
“What of the curator position in Royston? You must let Mr. Toffit know you are available right away.”
Hah! Would that he’d known when he penned that rejection note that he’d be without a job now. Lacing his fingers together, he cracked his knuckles. “Shortly after Mr. Toffit sent me the offer, I wrote to decline it, so I do not feel like I can go crawling back.”
“Of course you can. Besides”—she wagged her finger—“that smacks of pride, sir.”
“Hubris has nothing to do with it. That is simply how business operates.”
“Humph. Maybe.” Languidly, she lifted her arm and nibbled on the nail of her index finger.
He pulled it away.
And when their eyes met, they shared a smile that felt intimately more passionate than it should have.
“Well then, Mr. Webb, since you are now a man of leisure—leastwise for the time being—I have a perfectly wonderful idea.” She rose, a merry twinkle sparking in her gaze.
Which was wholly infectious. If she told him her notion was to go to the moon and back, he’d sweep her off her feet here and now and give it a go.
