Page 39 of The Secret Librarian
He passed her three letters, and she quickly turned them over for the return address. One from Washington, one from home and ... She let out a big breath. One from Jack. She’d been starting to panic when she hadn’t heard from him in so long, always worried that something terrible might have happened to him, but a lettermeant he was alive. Or at least that he had been whenever he’d sent it, which she knew could have been some time ago.
She let herself in and ran up the stairs, temporarily forgetting all about the book she had been in the middle of photographing, and tore open the envelope as quickly as she could.
Avery was on cloud nine. She’d reread the letter from Jack as she got ready, before placing it on her bedside table, alongside a letter from home, and now she was doing one final check in the mirror before going downstairs to meet James. She glanced at the clock again, seeing she had five more minutes before he was due to arrive and dabbing a little perfume on the spot just behind her ear, as well as on her wrist. Satisfied that she now smelt and looked good, she did a little turn to check her dress, before collecting her coat and purse and slipping her heels into her shoes. James was much taller than her, and she loved that no matter what shoes she’d chosen, he’d still be tall enough for her to drop her head to his shoulder if she was so inclined.
She ran down the stairs and opened her door just in time to see James walking towards her, still a few lamp posts away. Avery locked the door and waited, watching the way his rather pensive expression turned to a smile when he saw her standing there.
‘On my walk here, I was convinced you wouldn’t be waiting,’ he said.
‘Well, a girl can’t say no to dinner at a swanky hotel, can she?’ Avery replied. ‘Not to mention your letter was very sweet.’
‘You look beautiful, as always,’ he said, proffering his arm.
Avery happily slipped her hand through the crook he made, feeling altogether breathless and exhilarated.
The walk to the hotel was pleasant, the temperature outside still warm as they wandered slowly enough for her to be comfortable in her heels. She’d expected to be nervous, but instead she was just happy to be in James’s company, laughing at his jokes and listening to him talk about home and the things he missed about Britain.
‘How about you, Avery? What are you missing?’ he asked.
‘Honestly? I haven’t been away from home long enough to miss anyone, not really. I just ...’ She stopped.
‘You just what? You can’t leave me hanging wondering what it is.’
‘I know this sounds silly, but I’ve always wanted to travel. It’s not exactly a popular dream for a young unmarried woman, but I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.’
‘It doesn’t sound silly at all, and in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with wanting to see the world. How do we know what we want if we haven’t seen anywhere but home?’
She was relieved from having to say any more when James slowed and gestured to the building they were approaching. ‘We’re here,’ he said.
The Tivoli Avenida Liberdade was similar from the outside to the only other hotel she’d visited in Lisbon, only this one was across the square and with steps leading up to the entrance. She walked slightly ahead of James as he guided her past the doorman, who quickly swept the glass door back for her to walk through, into the lobby and through to the dining room. Stiff-looking white tablecloths adorned each table, and she was surprised at how many people were already there for dinner.
‘Come this way, Mr Anderson,’ said a well-dressed man, presumably the restaurant manager, and they were whisked away to a corner table. ‘Your champagne will be with you shortly.’
‘Champagne?’ she asked, raising a brow. ‘Are you trying to impress me?’
‘It’s been a successful day, that’s all,’ he said, sitting back in his chair and flashing her a contented smile. ‘It’s also been a very long time since I had dinner with a beautiful woman.’
Avery knew she was blushing but she no longer cared. She imagined that someone as elegant as Camille heard such words all the time, and Avery very much doubted she’d twist herself in knots about her face flushing. She vowed to be more like her new friend and sat confidently, her shoulders squared as she smiled at her date.
‘So, tell me what you’re enjoying most about Lisbon,’ James asked as their waiter brought a bottle to their table and poured champagne.
‘The weather, the intrigue, the work, the people ...’ Avery grinned at the surprised look on James’s face.
‘Perhaps I should have asked what you’renotenjoying,’ he said, before raising his glass and touching it gently to hers when she did the same. ‘The list might have been shorter.’
‘Considerably shorter,’ she said with a laugh.
They both took a sip, and Avery couldn’t help but wiggle her nose when the bubbles tickled, which only made James smile all the more.
‘Tell me one thing you don’t like,’ he said, once they’d set their glasses down again.
‘I don’t like the letter I received from my boss turning down a request I made, when I know perfectly well how to do business here,’ she said. ‘But then that’s not really something not to like about Lisbon, per se.’
‘It’s very easy for someone in Washington or London to tell us how to do our jobs, but we’re feet on the ground here. Without being rude, I simply don’t think they understand the currency in a place like Lisbon.’
Avery took another little sip of champagne and found it slightly less bubbly the second time.
‘You requested items to trade, I suspect?’
