Page 66 of The Secret Librarian
‘Of course, that would be lovely.’
William held out his arm and she took it, letting him lead her through the bar and out into the lobby of the restaurant. She stood back while he spoke to someone about a table, but when he returned, he was frowning.
‘They have a table for us, but not for another half hour,’ he said. ‘Would you mind terribly if we went upstairs to my room while we wait? I’m out of cigarettes and I thought we could have a drink and ...’
He clearly noted her taken-aback expression, because he laughed and held up his hands.
‘Or not,’ he said. ‘I can see that I’ve made you uncomfortable, but I can assure you that I didn’t mean anything by it.’
She tilted her chin and looked up at him, telling herself that she wasn’t the same girl who’d left New York. She was a strong, independent woman, and if she wanted to go with him, she had nothing to be fearful of.
‘I’ll come with you, but just for one drink. And just to make it clear, I’m not the kind of girl who goes to hotel rooms with men, so don’t take this the wrong way,’ she said, firmly. ‘Please don’t get any ideas.’
His smile was immediate.
‘I’ll be a perfect gentleman, I promise.’
Avery’s heart started to race as he led her across the lobby, although she had to stifle a giggle as she imagined her mother’s reaction if she knew what her daughter was doing. The poor woman would be making the sign of the cross on her chest and sending a prayer skywards.
Avery was nervous as they walked down the hallway to William’s hotel room, but she was relieved that he’d done nothing more than offer her his arm. Part of her was worried that someone might see them and think less of her, but she had to keep reminding herself that it was an innocent drink, nothing more.
He unlocked his door and stood back for her to walk in ahead of him, and she did, surprised that his room smelt like his cologne, and that it was as neat as a pin. ‘I’m impressed,’ she said. ‘It’s so tidy I’d almost suspect it was a woman’s room.’
William just laughed and took off his jacket, placing it over a chair and then loosening his tie and undoing his top button. She watched as he also unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves two turns, while she stood in the middle of the room, uncertain why he was taking off his tie when they were going down for dinner soon.
‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘Feel free to make yourself at home.’
Avery suddenly wished the IDC had put her up somewhere as luxurious as William’s hotel room. It was making her apartment in Lisbon seem very much inferior. She crossed the room and sat down on the bed when William gestured for her to do so.
‘I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable, asking you up here.’
He sat down beside her, close, but not close enough that their legs touched, and she found herself turning to face him.
‘It’s not that, it’s just I recently found out that a friend of mine isn’t who he says he is,’ Avery said, studying William’s face to gauge his reaction. ‘I’ve been trying to enjoy myself tonight, but it’s hard to push from my mind.’
‘He lied to you for personal reasons, or are you talking something bigger?’
She felt as if her lungs were constricted, almost as if her body didn’t want her to tell William, but she fought against it. ‘Can I trust you?’
His smile was sweet and he gently placed his hand on hers. ‘Of course you can trust me, Avery.’
She took a big breath. ‘I’m told that he’s a traitor, a double agent in fact, working with the Nazis.’
William appeared to stiffen. ‘Can you share with me who this friend is?’
‘James,’ she whispered. ‘The traitor is your fellow British countryman James, and I’ve found it incredibly hard to believe, but I know now that it’s true. It’s just taken me a long time to accept it.’
He looked surprised. ‘Well, that’s certainly news to me,’ William said. ‘I’ll have to alert the authorities in the morning if your intelligence is correct. But you can leave it with me, Avery, it’s not something you should have to be worrying about.’
‘The person who told me is someone of the utmost character, and she has no reason not to tell the truth about it.’
He nodded. ‘I understand, and I’ll make sure the situation is dealt with just as soon as I can.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ‘Would you excuse me just a moment, though?’
She rose and went to the adjoining bathroom, checking her reflection and dabbing some perfume on to her wrists and behind her ears, and putting on a little more lipstick. She was nervous, butnot so nervous that she didn’t want to impress him, and she’d just needed a moment to get thoughts of James out of her head.
When she walked back out into the room, William was leaning back on the bed, but he rose when he saw her and took a few steps forward.
