I swung the door open to see a tall figure holding a few stacks of books and a satchel.
My sweet Viktor, how terrible your timing is.
“I thought it was best to deliver directly, as they are loans, but then I couldn’t decide which ones, so I brought them all. Bound and loose-leaf.” Viktor peered shyly over the rim of his thin glasses. “I’m sorry—I should have telephoned you, but I regrettably did not grab your calling card.”
“No! No, it’s perfectly fine. Please come in,” I said quickly, glancing behind him for any more unexpected visitors. Thankfully, none.
“It is bigger on the inside,” he commented, balancing the books in his arms and looking up at the circular window above the staircase.
“It is not mine,” I said, locking the door behind him. “I’m just occupying a friend’s spare.”
“You are friends with people who havesparehomes? Like extra carriage wheels lying around?” he teased.
“I know, it all sounds quite frivolous when I say it like that.” I scratched at the irritated skin of my palms. “Let me take some of those off your hands. Come.” I slid some of the books into my arms, beckoning him toward the living room.
The living room walls were lined with bookshelves, and a rolling ladder rested in the corner so that I could reach the top shelves.
“On the tea table, if you would,” I instructed, sitting down with the books as I inspected the spines for their titles and volume numbers.
“I assume that the books don’t belong to your friend either?”
“No, this is my collection. Most of it passed down from my father,” I said, not taking my eyes off the papers until he sat next to me on the love seat.
He reached into his satchel, pulling out three unbound papers a few inches thick.
I gleamed when he handed them to me. Carefully, I readthrough the titles. All of which were writings in current botany journals detailing new flora, guides, and other chemistry involving natural toxins. The only gift that could come close to this would be three dozen oranges.
“Will these be fine?” he asked, looking over to see which one I was flipping through.
“These areperfect.” My excitement radiated, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezing him in a tight hug. “Thank you, Viktor.”
His hands hesitated, reaching out and hovering above my waist, before he allowed them to wrap around me and return the gesture.
The front door lock clicked, the door flinging open.
“So I have a few options, but I couldn’t find many colors that you wouldn’t gag upon seeing—” The fluttery redhead let herself in with the spare key, glancing over at us from the foyer and peering into the living room. “Oh—am I interrupting?” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me.
“No— No, Phoebe.” I blushed and let go of Viktor, smoothing my skirt before rising from my seat. “This is Viktor! The one I met at the botanical gardens?—”
“Yes, of course! I wouldn’t assume that it was any other Viktor.” Phoebe laughed and reached out her hand. “Phoebe Aston, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He stood to meet her, and he made Phoebe look even shorter when he stood above her, taking her hand and shaking it. “Pleasure is all mine—if you ever are looking for locations for events, I have a few connections among the museum curators if you’re interested!”
“Of course I am! Here—take my calling card.” She shuffled around in her clutch before handing over a blush-pink card with her name and number.
He nodded and took the card, slipping it into his jacket pocket before lightly patting it. “I will ring you with anything I find.”
Phoebe peered past him to look at me, raising her brow. “You must be desperately low on clothing options if you worewhitefor once.”
“I can leave you two be—it seems like a very important matter.” Viktor rubbed the back of his head.
“No! Stay!” I smiled. “The more the merrier! I’ve had such a long few days. It’s nice to have company,” I said, though I wouldn’t admit that it was because I was afraid. I needed witnesses. My Creature only bothered me when I was alone, rarely showing up with others present. He could be here already, waiting for them to leave.
“I burned the coffee.I hope you like it black,” I slurred, wobbling over to Viktor as I set the cup on the table.
Clothing was scattered across the chairs, the couch backings, and in a disheveled pile on the floor as a result of all three of us deciding to drink and critique Phoebe’s curation.
“You made it exactly how I like it! I prefer it more burned actually!” Viktor’s accent thickened when he was drunk. He guided the cup’s rim to his mouth, drinking the coffee with ease. He smacked his lips mockingly. “Delicious! Don’t worry, it adds more flavor.”
