When she returned, he was leaning over her sketches. What was he up to? “Here you go.” She handed him the cup and scooched her way to her table, hoping he would take the hint and move away from her work.
He barely stepped to the side. “You surprise me, Miss Lakeman.”
“Why is that?”
“You are indeed good at the details.”
His compliment took her back. “Thank you.”
“My father heard from Mr. Gilbert that our expert will be here next week.”
“Oh?” She hadn’t heard that but wouldn’t put any weight behind Albert’s words. Not until she checked with Mr. Gilbert herself.
He sipped his coffee. “I wanted to take another look at the fossils before returning on Thursday to do my drawings.”
She went to the crate where they kept them locked up and opened it up.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”
Her head snapped back to him.
His cup lay on its side. The contents spreading over several of her sketches.
She rushed to the table, but it was too late. The coffee had spread over the three most important sketches. The ones she’d worked on for the judge. Hours of work were gone.
With a glance at Albert, she couldn’t even register any words.
The smug smile he sent her as he shrugged lit a fire in her belly.
“You did that on purpose!” Her yell would certainly draw the attention of the men, but she didn’t care. She stepped closer to her adversary and narrowed her eyes. “You horrible, conniving man. Leave. Leave now. Before Mr. Walker catches sight of you here.”
The smile didn’t diminish. It grew. “I’ve heard enough rumors in town to know that you must have put Mr. Walker up to his demands. Now who’s the conniving one?”
A shiver ran up her spine. The evil look in his eyes made her stomach quiver.
“Is everything okay, Anna?” Joshua was at her side in a few quick steps, followed by the others.
“Mr. Oppenheim was just leaving.” She glared at the man.
“It was a simple accident. I came here to see the fossils.” Albert dipped his head.
She stomped over to the crate. “Forget it.” She closed and locked it. “Not after that little stunt.”
“Fine.” He smacked his lips. “I’ll see you on Thursday.”
As she watched him walk to his horse, the anger burned inside her throat. If only she knew how to spit properly. As unladylike as that was, she’d love to spit in his face.
What a horrid thought.
“Are you all right?” Joshua touched her elbow.
“No. I’m not all right.” She pointed to the table. “Look.”
Joshua stole another glance at the woman he loved. Albert Oppenheim had ruined several of her sketches on purpose.
But after her initial outburst, where she’d called the man a slimy cheater and shattered the coffee cup on the ground, she’d been silent.
Too silent.
