“Which is where Evelyn earned my undying gratitude by giving me the number of the Mortimer red dragon. I mumbled something about going through Abimelech, and she informed me tartly that Rufus was his own dragon, not his grandfather’s pawn.” I frowned as I considered. “He was at the moot, apparently, but I don’t recall seeing him.”
“Oh no, Helen was definitely there,” Ollie said.
“Not Helen. It’s a grandson.”
“Yeah, Helen of Troy.”
I stared at him, unable to prevent a smile from dawning. It was impossible to be with Ollie for long and not smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, yet somehow I’m at peace with that. Anyway, before I came to find you, I made another call.”
He sat up straight in his chair. “To Helen?”
“To Rufus Mortimer. I offered to take the bible to him, but when he heard about the library, he said he’d come here, tomorrow. He’s bringing his boyfriend with him. A human.” I still hadn’t wrapped my mind around that, but I guessed if you were a Mortimer and also a rare red dragon, normal rules didn’t apply.
Ollie gaped at me, as stunned as I’d been. He eventually managed to close his mouth, only to say, “Well, bugger me sideways.”
“Think I already have,” I mused, and was treated to a full-wattage Ollie laugh.
Chapter Thirty-five
OLLIE
Mia was staying at Lacey’s yet again—study group, she’d claimed. Which was possible as her lessons had started, but I remembered the number of timesI’dused that excuse, and it hadn’t been homework I’d ended up studying. Regardless of what she was actually up to, her absence meant I was counting the hours alone, waiting for Rufus Mortimer while Archer was busy in the forge.
I didn’t know how he could stay so calm. I wanted to know what valuable secrets the bible contained.
Archer finally came in just before lunch to shower and change. After we’d eaten, he worked on bills and invoices in the dining room while I paced the hall. Cheated of being able to go into the dining room and visit my friends the candlesticks, because I didn’t want to disturb Archer, I was left stroking my cuff to calm myself.
The sound of a motorbike had me peering through the hall window. Sure enough, it was Helen of Troy and his human partner, who wasn’t the tall and equally beautiful figure I’d imagined. He was a normal person who was talking away as Rufus swung off the bike, dark jeans stretched tight over the best thighs I’d seen after Archer’s.
“They’re here,” I called towards the dining room.
They seemed to take forever getting to the door, though I couldn’t tell whether that was because I was impatient or because they were searching for a drawbridge. The big iron doorbell finally clanged, and I yanked the door open.Nowwe’d get some answers.
“Hey, thanks for coming, it’s great to meet you,” I said to Rufus, who was standing protectively between me and his human. “I’ve never met a red dragon before.”
As soon as the words were out, I froze, horror washing through me until I trembled. “Shit.Does your—”
“If I didn’t know Rufus was a dragon before, I would now. Mark Stevens,” his human companion said, pushing his glasses up his nose as he stepped out from behind Rufus. “Good to meet you.”
“Oh. Um, Ollie Shaw.”
“Please excuse the butler. He’s new.” Archer’s drawl rescued me, and he slid his arm around my waist and pressed a swift kiss to the side of my head to let me know he wasn’t really criticising me. I was too gobsmacked that Archerhad made a joke in front of strangers to be offended.
“How do you do? I’m Archer Talbot, and I’m very grateful to you for coming. Do come in. Cup of tea?”
“Please,” said Mark, just as Rufus Mortimer shook his head, rich brown hair swinging.
“Oh, well, we’d better look at the bible first,” Mark said, though he sounded disappointed. “You said it’s a sixteenth century German edition with hand-drawn decorations. Are yousureit’s sixteenth century?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.” Archer led the way towards the library. “Why?”
“It’s supposed to be valuable. I was wondering if it might be an undiscovered Gutenberg Bible. Unlikely, I know, but that would be an incredible find.”
“It would?” Archer asked. “And that would make it valuable?”
“Invaluable to theologians and historians, and it would be worth tens of millions, though I have no idea how many.”
“Really?” I was almost skipping with excitement. And Chris had tried to walk off with it.
