Page 59 of A Lady’s Guide to Subterfuge and Science

“My apologies,” Oliver responded, not sounding sorry at all. Releasing her, he nodded at the bell jar she held in her other arm. “What did you find?”

Kalila peered down at the rounded glass, heart beating in a wild staccato. “Oh. A butterfly.”

Oliver bent to examine the insect. “Unremarkable little thing.”

Lifting it, Kalila realized that he was right. The brown wings didn’t catch the light, nor did they boast any intricate patterns. “Someone has to take it home, I suppose. I’d feel sorry for it otherwise.”

He was silent for a moment, the shadow of a frown on his face. If she didn’t know any better, he was studying her mouth. He bent forward so slightly that another person might not have noticed, but Kalila did. Catching himself, he straightened.

Surely he had not wanted to kiss her. The thought alone was ridiculous, though the tense energy in her veins insisted otherwise.

“Is that what you were hoping to find, then?” he asked, an amused twinkle in his eye. “The most pathetic butterfly in London?”

“Yes,” she returned. “It will serve as a good reminder of my time here.”

“Will it? A nondescript little butterfly to remind you of your thoroughly uneventful visit to town?”

“You are correct,” she said, attempting to squeeze past him. The air was beginning to grow a touch too hot, which meant it was high time to make her escape. “My time here has been nothing but uneventful.”

Oliver pressed against the shelves to let her pass. “Even though we danced?”

“I’m afraid so,” Kalila said, making a beeline for the register. She nodded at the shopkeeper, who appeared to be half asleep with boredom. “Just this.”

“I’ll pay,” Oliver said from behind her, placing his microscope on the countertop. “This as well, please.”

“I’m perfectly capable of paying for my own butterfly, Mr. Booth,” Kalila said.

Oliver winked at her. “Consider it a thank you for finding my microscope. You saved me a whole day’s search. Surely that is worth one unremarkable butterfly.”

Kalila bit down on the inside of her cheek to stop a smile from taking over her face. It wouldn’t do to encourage him. “Very well. But I would have refused if the butterfly had been even the slightest bit remarkable.”

“I’m sure you would have,” he said, handing a banknote to the shopkeeper and accepting the change. He led Kalila to the exit, holding the door open for her.

Caroline stood on the pavement. “There you are. Hello again, Mr. Booth.”

“Hello, Miss Southcott,” Oliver said. He bent again to look at Kalila’s butterfly. “You might find this disappointing, Miss Darwish, but I believe your butterfly’s wings are slightly reflective.”

Kalila lifted the bell jar, noticing that her brown butterfly’s wings now shone with a muted lavender hue. “I’ll survive it, Mr. Booth. Thank you.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Might I walk you to your next destination?”

Kalila refused just as Caroline accepted.

“We’re otherwise engaged,” Kalila told her. “Remember?”

“Right, I forgot,” Caroline said. “Dameer is going to meet us here. We don’t need to inconvenience you, Mr. Booth.”

For a dreadful moment, it appeared as though Oliver was considering waiting with them. But it seemed that Kalila’s bad luck was over, because he simply offered them a polite smile and a bow.

“Then I shall take my leave. Good day, Miss Southcott.”

“Good day,” Caroline murmured, eyes darting between Oliver and Kalila.

“And good day to you, Miss Darwish,” he added cheerfully. “I’m rather glad that the butterfly ended up being slightly remarkable, after all.”

Baffled, Kalila said, “Are you?”

“Indeed. It’s sure to remind you of the ball now—arguably your most exciting night in London yet.”