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“So, what were you doing before you started working for my uncle?” I asked.
He shrugged. “This and that.” He lifted a tin of cocoa powder out of one of the cabinets and returned to the stove to stir the milk.
“Well, where’d you go to school, then?” I squinted at him. He looked too old to be a university student. I’d pegged him as late twenties, probably about my age, but maybe I’d misjudged. It was hard to tell with that day-old scruff on his chin and his hair constantly flopping down and obscuring his face. “If you’re working with my uncle, you must have graduated from some world-class university.”
He glanced over his shoulder at me, lips twitching into a lopsided grin. “Not exactly. I didn’t graduate because I didn’t go.”
“And my uncle hired you?” I leaned forward and stared at him. This whole secretary thing was getting stranger by the minute.
“Of course.” He shrugged. “You don’t need to go to uni to learn history. All you need are books. I can read.” He lifted two mugs off their hooks and placed them on the counter next to the stove.
“You taught yourself enough history that my uncle hired you to be his secretary.” I shook my head. A much more likely scenario came to mind. Perhaps he’d heard about my uncle’s upcoming exhibit and decided to weasel his way into Lydbury and attempt to make off with some of the family treasures. “I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” boomed a voice from the kitchen door.
I jumped up and ran over to give Uncle Oscar a hug. “Uncle!” I stood on my tiptoes to throw my arms around his neck. He smelled like cedar and library books.
“I thought I heard talking in here.” Uncle Oscar slung his arm across my shoulders as he led me back to the table. “Didn’t expect you to be up at this hour, though.”
“I couldn’t sleep. Then I ran into Liam upstairs.” I glanced at Liam out of the corner of my eye. “Aunt Vivian didn’t tell me that you’d hired a secretary.”
“Ah! Well, I’m sure it just slipped her mind,” he said. “Liam’s been a great help.”
I nodded, forcing my face into a smile to hide my frustration and disappointment.
He gave my shoulder a squeeze before releasing me. “And how’s the job?” His bushy eyebrows climbed toward his hairline as he waited for my response.
“Fine.” Not that it mattered since I’d already turned in my resignation. The job I’d been secretly hoping for was helping him with his museum project. Instead, he’d already hired a potential thief with no credentials. “Actually, I’ve been doing some research on Edric and wanted to talk to you about the legend of the Faerie Queen.”
“Of course. But, perhaps we can talk in the morning.” He glanced across the table at Liam. “Unfortunately, I came to steal Liam. I need his help with something.”
Liam had been watching while he finished stirring the cocoa and then poured the mixture into the waiting mugs. He tilted his head like he wanted to ask me something, but I ignored him.
“I can help,” I offered, turning my back on Liam to focus on my uncle.
“No, no. It’s late. Get some rest. I’m sure you’re exhausted from your travels.” He kissed the top of my head. “Liam? Shall we?”
Liam nodded. “Of course, sir. I’ll be right there.”
Uncle Oscar turned to me. “Sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.” He squeezed my hand before walking toward the door.
Liam handed me one of the mugs, now steaming and full of chocolaty goodness. “If you want—”
“It’s fine,” I said, interrupting him. I didn’t need pity from this interloper. Besides, now that I knew he had no credentials, I was even more convinced he had to go. “I’ll talk with my uncle in the morning.” I brought the mug to my lips.
“All right.” He slid his hands around his own mug. “Guess I’ll see you around, then.”
“Thanks for the cocoa.” I watched his back as he disappeared into the hallway and only felt a little bad that I’d be taking his place in a few days. He may have been able to charm my aunt and uncle, but I wasn’t about to let his scruffy good looks and sexy accent fool me.
He’d mentioned she was bright. He hadn’t said she was also beautiful. I bent over the files and tried to focus on my work, but I couldn’t stop thinking of Evelyn in her pajamas, scowling at me with her straight dark hair pulled up into a messy bun, trying to figure out how I could be smart and not have gone to university. I laughed.
“What’s that, Liam?” The professor’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I remembered I wasn’t alone.
“Nothing, sir.” I bit the inside of my cheek and turned my back to the old man so he wouldn’t catch me smiling. I had to snap out of it. I had work to do, and the last thing I needed was the added distraction of the professor’s lethally tempting niece. Besides, I was fairly certain he wouldn’t be terribly keen on me flirting with her.
“Liam, bring me the file on Sir William, will you?”
I reached for a file among the several scattered across the table and brought it over to the professor’s desk.
