Another knock on the door had Anna rising to check again, and I wondered if it was my mother again, but a deep voice from one of the footmen ensued. “There’s a young gent downstairs for you,” Anna said. “Says his name is Viscount Humbolt and he must see you posthaste.”
I blinked. What wasWilldoing here?
Anna pursed her lips. “He’s not alone.”
My heart shot like an arrow to my throat.Surely not Tarik?I shared a wild look with my friends as we collectively shoved to our feet and descended to the main floor like a herd of elephants. But when my eyes canvassed the group waiting in the front salon, the hope in me crashed.
He wasn’t there.
Will was accompanied by the twins and Harold. Once more, my worlds were coming together—my old friends and my new ones—though this collision did not fill me with dread. I was glad to see them.
“Roz!” Will exclaimed and blushed. “Er, Lady Rosalin, I mean. Deuce it.”
I forced a smile to my face. “Roz is fine.”
“Lady Rosalin,” Klaus crooned, giving me a once over. “Who knew all ofthatwas under the glasses and facial hair.”
Kristof made a smacking noise with his lips. “You’re looking fetching today.”
I let out a huff of laughter. I’d missed them, and it warmed me that they treated me the same. “Stop it, both of you.”
They pouted in unison and then set their sights to Zia, who promptly held up a palm. “No. I cannot be responsible for any bloodshed. My fiancé has excellent aim.”
Ela shook her head before the twin profligates could even swing her way. “Married.”
“What a husband doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Klaus said, waggling his blond brows.
“Yes, but he’d hurtyou,” she replied with a wink. “And besides,Iwould know.”
Good God, the twins were menaces. Herding the rest of us into the already-crowded salon, out of sight of the very curious staff who would undoubtedly report back to my parents, I signaled to Anna to close the door. “Everyone, find a seat.”
When that was done, I made quick introductions. “This is my cousin, Lord Ansel, the real one.” He grinned with aninsouciant wave. “These three are Lord Blake, Lady Ela, and Lady Zia.” Then I pointed to the university boys in turn. “These are my mates from Trinity, Viscount William Humbolt, Mr. Klaus and Mr. Kristof Blendel, and Mr. Harold Jennings.” I exhaled and smoothed my dress, perching delicately on a chair. “Now, what are you all doing here?”
They exchanged a fraught look as Will blanched. “It’s St. Clair. He’s in trouble.”
Chapter Nineteen
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.
—Isaac Newton
Dread instantly spiking in my veins, I stared at the boys from Trinity. Klaus pursed his lips, his handsome face wearing a fretful expression that wasn’t typical for him. Neither of the twins cared about anything that didn’t directly affect them, and they’d never had much fondness for Tarik. “He’s in danger of being rusticated,” Will continued. “If he doesn’t come back to university to face the official complaint levied against him.”
“Rusticated?” Ela asked.
“Suspended from the school,” Harold supplied helpfully. “Temporarily at least, until he can speak for himself to defend against the accusations.”
I blinked—I’d been holed up in my chambers for more than a fortnight. Tarik was supposed to have gone back to Cambridge to check in with the Master of the College. While my presence wasn’t mandatory, his was, especially since he was still on track to becoming a Fellow and had specific milestones he needed tomeet. “Wait, he hasn’t returned? He’s been here in London? And what accusations are you talking about?”
Will shook his head, his normally ruddy face pallid. “You know how the gossip mill is. After the ball, word got back to Trinity somehow, and of course, because the competition for a fellowship is so stiff, sometimes people will do anything to discredit others. You know that St. Clair was Second Wrangler, right?”
I nodded just as Zia interjected with, “I beg your pardon, what on earth is a Wrangler?”
Ansel scoffed aloud, and I wanted to roll my eyes. Consideringhedidn’t value his education, to the point that he’d gone off on a grand tour, his reaction shouldn’t have surprised me. “They are the top students who best the Mathematical Tripos examination at Trinity,” he explained. “Basically, the most boring, self-absorbed, zealous pedants you can imagine.”
“I like the real Lord Ansel,” Kristof crowed.
“Only people who aren’t academically gifted denigrate others for being so,” I said with a scowl at my cousin before turning to Zia. “The Wranglers are the crème de la crème of the university, and it’s extremely prestigious to be recognized as one. Most of them go on to be notable mathematicians and scientists. It’s the reason Tarik received his nomination to be a Fellow. He’s brilliant.”
