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I laughed.
Priya looked back at the screen. “The presentation will be ready.”
“I know it will.”
* * *
Alexander came to the laboratory at eleven, as he had begun to do, and did not come inside.
He stood at the threshold with his hands in his coat pockets and waited for me to notice him, which I did immediately. I had stopped pretending I didn’t notice him the moment he appeared. When I reached the door, he did not say good morning. He looked at me for a moment longer than required.
“Come with me for ten minutes,” he said.
“I have a meeting at eleven-thirty.”
“You have a meeting at eleven-forty. It moved.”
“Did it move, or did you move it?”
“Those are not mutually exclusive.”
I went with him. The conservatory was empty and full of light. We walked through it slowly without discussing anything at all. At the turning by the reflecting pool, he took my hand. I understood the entire purpose of the ten minutes and that he had built them into the morning the way other men might have sent flowers. We stopped near the eastern windows. He looked at the orchids. Then at the doors. Then at me.
He reached into the pocket of his coat and handed me a cream envelope embossed with the Blackwood Hall crest.
“What have you done?”
“I’ve cleared your calendar for the remainder of the afternoon.”
I blinked. “You cleared my calendar?”
“I did.”
I opened the envelope. Inside were two reservations at the Blackwood Hall Spa. One in my name. One in Charlotte’s.
“Why?”
“I thought the two of you deserved to celebrate properly.”
I smiled. “This is extraordinarily thoughtful.”
“I’m glad.”
I slipped the reservations back into the envelope. “Just this once.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll make every effort not to do this again.”
“You will make every effort?” I said with an eyebrow raised.
“I’ve learned not to promise things I may be unable to keep.”
I laughed. “You found a very elegant way not to answer my question.”
“I did.”
I reached up, straightened his tie and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure.”
