But he’s not absorbed in the tragedy.
He’s creating one.
Which means by the end of the play, I’m wound tighter than a violin string, and Archie knows it. The smug tilt of his mouth when the lights come up tells me everything I need to know about his intentions.
We’re making our way through the foyer when Elizabeth stops to greet an older woman in pearls.
“Margaret, how lovely to see you. You must meet my godson.” Elizabeth places a hand on Archie’s arm. “This is Doctor Archibald Mansley.”
I nearly trip over my own feet.
Doctor.
Doctor Archibald Mansley.
I keep my face neutral through sheer force of will, nodding along as Margaret says something about what a pleasure it is, and Elizabeth mentions something about Oxford, and Archie says something modest and charming that I don’t process because my brain is still buffering on the worddoctor.
Elizabeth lingers to talk to Margaret, but I grab Archie’s arm and steer him out of Elizabeth’s earshot.
“You have a PhD? What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me?” I hiss.
He shrugs. “I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“Not relevant? Of course it’s relevant. What subject is your PhD in?”
“Which one?”
I open my mouth. Close it. Open it again.
“What do you mean,which one?”
“Well, I have two. And they are in different subjects.” He has the audacity to look amused. “They don’t give you two PhDs for the same thesis. I’m pretty sure there are rules against that.”
“You’re twenty-three.” I’m aware that my voice has gone slightly strangled. “How in the hell do you have two PhDs?”
“I skipped a few years of school. Started college early.”
“How early?”
He looks slightly abashed now. “Uh…I was fifteen when I started college. And I read fast.”
“You read fast,” I repeat flatly.
“Eidetic memory, remember? It speeds things up.”
I drag a hand down my face. “What subjects are your PhDs in?”
“Evolutionary psychology and applied mathematics.”
Of course. Of course they are. Because why would anything about Archie Mansley make sense?
Elizabeth rejoins us then, and I stop my interrogation. Because she might be able to forgive me for not knowing my boyfriend has an exceptional memory, but I’m fairly sure Archie having two PhDs would have come up in casual conversation in a genuine three-month relationship.
I follow along as we make our way outside, but my mind is whirling.
Evolutionary psychology and applied mathematics. Started college at fifteen. Two doctorates by twenty-three.
He’s a fucking genius. Of course he is.
