Page 65 of The Secret Librarian
‘Avery, I owe you an apology for last night,’ William said, as he took the seat beside her.
‘You have nothing to apologise for, it was a lovely dinner,’ she said. ‘I was the one to leave early, so it’s me who should be apologising.’
‘I fear I had a little too much to drink and the result was a loose tongue,’ he said. ‘I’d like very much if we could start over.’
‘As friends?’
He nodded. ‘If that’s what you’d like, then certainly, as friends.’
Avery considered him, and for the first time she forced herself to push James completely from her mind, which was no easy task. But if James was who Camille said he was, if everything she’d said was true, then she needed to stop thinking about him altogether. William was handsome, charming, and most importantly interested in her, and she needed to give him a chance without constantly comparing him to James.
‘I’d very much like that,’ she said. ‘I don’t think I was entirely present when we had dinner, I had a lot on my mind, but if we can start as friends, then I’d like that very much.’ She craned her neckto look for Camille, but her friend seemed to have disappeared. ‘And I’m sorry you were drawn into that business with the PVDE. For some reason, they’ve always been suspicious of my friend, but I’m hoping she’s cleared all that up now.’
‘Well, let’s pour a glass and relax,’ William said, extending his arm and putting it around her. ‘We could start by you telling me all about yourself, and I’ll reluctantly tell you about me, and we can put last night behind us.’
She moved a little closer, inhaling the woodsy scent of his cologne and happily taking the half-glass of champagne offered to her. And just as she was starting to enjoy herself, laughing at William recounting tales of his childhood, Camille appeared. She still hadn’t shared precisely what she was intending on doing once she found James, and Avery found herself wondering just what Camille might be capable of. The thought of violence terrified her, but what scared her even more was what might happen to Camille.
‘I hope you two don’t mind me re-joining you,’ she said.
‘Not at all,’ William said, leaning forward to retrieve the empty glass on the table. ‘Champagne?’
‘Yes, please. I’ll only have the one glass though. I fear it’s been a series of late nights, and I’m almost ready to turn in.’
William took out his watch from his pocket. ‘It’s not even seven. Surely you’ll stay and join us for dinner?’
Avery didn’t even remember what she and William had been talking about, but she saw the way Camille’s face changed, as if she’d seen something she didn’t like. Avery followed her gaze and realised that Camille was staring at William’s watch.
‘That’s a beautiful watch,’ Camille said, studying it, her face hovering in a frown as Avery looked on. ‘I’ve never seen anything quite like it.’
William’s smile was easy, and Avery found herself looking at the watch too, until he slipped it back into his jacket, passing Camille her glass of champagne.
‘It was passed down to me from my grandfather,’ he said. ‘I was tempted to leave it at home when I received my orders to go abroad, but I figured it was better to have it with me than leave it behind.’
Camille took the glass, and Avery didn’t know why or how, but it was as if a cloud had settled over their table, stealing the laughter and most definitely stealing the light mood that had existed only moments before.
‘Camille, are you alright?’ Avery asked.
A look crossed Camille’s face that Avery couldn’t place, but William quickly filled the silence.
‘Camille, Avery and I were just talking about our childhoods. It seems we both had fathers who liked to keep us out of mischief.’
Camille downed half of her champagne in a few hurried sips, and Avery wondered again why she now appeared so agitated. It was almost as if she’d seen someone or something and was in a rush to get to them, and just then she unexpectedly excused herself without an explanation.
‘Is she usually in such a hurry?’ William asked, looking perplexed. ‘Was it something I said?’
Avery stared after her until she couldn’t see her anymore, before turning back to William. Her heart was hammering in her chest, as she assumed that Camille had darted off for one reason and one reason only.
She had to have seen James.
‘Not at all, but ...’ She sighed. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing. I can only guess that she saw someone she recognised.’
‘Well, how about we forget all about your friend and see if we can get a table in the restaurant,’ William suggested.
Avery must have looked as uncertain as she felt, because he suddenly covered her hand with his.
‘Just so we can talk some more away from all this noise and cigarette smoke, and enjoy our champagne,’ he said. ‘What do you say? I promise I’ll behave.’
Avery took a deep breath, torn between wanting to go with him and not being entirely certain she even wanted to have dinner with him. But the way he was looking at her, the way his eyes traced over her face ... She needed to push James from her mind and enjoy the company of the man before her. Camille had made it clear she didn’t want her help beyond drawing James out, and Avery’s preference was to remain distracted so she didn’t have to think about what might happen to him.
