AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gives a derisive laugh. “Oh, darling. Our health care system is good but not that good. I pay for private care out of pocket. It’s a substantial amount, but as with you, my father is my only family. I refuse to put him in a government-run place.”
I don’t blame her. I would only want the best for my dad too.
“I’m sorry,” I say for what feels like the hundredth time. “I didn’t mean to bring up such a sensitive subject.”
“You didn’t know.”
At the door, we hesitate again. The truth is I like her. She’s elegant and interesting and clearly very intelligent. The kind of woman I would like to be friends with.
So I feel compelled to say, “About the ball…”
A frown touches Sophie’s lips. “What of it?”
“I know what you must think of me. I mean, you found me and your boss in a, um, compromising position. But you should know, I was grateful for the interruption. I drank a lot of champagne that night. Seemed like a good idea at the time to let a lord kiss me at a royal ball, but I’m glad it didn’t happen.”
Skepticism flits across her face. “Are you?”
“Yes,” I say truthfully. “I got caught up in the moment. But I’m not interested in Ben that way. Besides, I already have my hands full with my own love triangle.”
“Is that right?” I think I see a twinkle of humor in her eyes.
“Yes.” I groan. “But that’s a story for another time. I’m going to be late for class.”
“Right then.” She holds the door open for me.
“Please let me know if Ben discovers any more secret Tulley papers that might be useful, because I could really use another breakthrough. Although at this point, I’m going to need a miracle to solve this mystery.”
My breakthrough comes later that day and from the unlikeliest source.
On my walk back to campus after lunch, I get a call from a London number I don’t recognize. To my amazement, it’s Mr. Baxley.
“I found your number in the student registration,” he says, answering my obvious question. “I wanted to inform you I have some pertinent information regarding your research.”
I suck in a gust of frigid air. “Really?”
“I took it upon myself to conduct some further study, during which I managed to locate a living descendent of Josephine Farnham.”
Excitement courses through me. “Here? In London? That’s incredible.”
“She’s called Ruby Farnham. She indicated she has some documents you might find useful, and she’s willing to speak with you. If you’d like to come by the library, I can give you her contact information.”
Holy shit. This is fantastic. If anyone can put the final pieces together and hopefully tell me what became of Josephine, it’ll be her living relatives.
“Mr. Baxley, you’re truly a credit to your profession,” I blurt out, my voice ringing with gratitude. “Thank you. You’ve saved my life.”
“Yes, well.” He clears his throat to mask his characteristic discomfort. “Don’t leave me waiting all evening.”
As we’re hanging up, I get a text from Nate, which drags me right back down to earth. He’s back from Dublin and wants to meet up.
Immediately, a pang of guilt twists my gut. I think about what I was doing last night and with whom, and that tight, uncomfortable sensation intensifies.
My generation is constantly being told to embrace sexual empowerment. Love the way you want to love. Fuck who you want to fuck. Get married or have casual sex. Be polyamorous or monogamous or ethically nonmonogamous. I constantly hear these terms being thrown around, and Iwantto be that unfettered person, the one who doesn’t feel guilty about dating multiple people.
But I don’t think I am.
36
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, I’M ABLE TO SET AN APPOINTMENT WITHJosephine’s grandniece Ruby, who lives in a village about an hour north of London. I don’t know why I’m more nervous about this meeting than any of my previous research outings, but I’ve been messing with my hair in the mirror for twenty minutes, and all I’ve managed to do is leave clumps of red on the bathroom floor. Finally I say to hell with it and wrap it up in a bun.
