Page 57 of One Bed for the Bluestocking
Chapter27
It felt strange, being back in his office after six weeks spent in ships’ cabins and sleeping rough in a shieling.Nathaniel opened the windows, hoping to air out the musty smell that had accumulated in his absence, but it only helped so much.He suspected his notion of what constituted “fresh air” had been permanently altered by his time on Lewis.
He had just settled in at his desk to begin organizing his notes when someone rapped on his doorframe.Nat looked up and found Andrew Thompson standing in the doorway.
“Andrew.”Nat rose.“Good morning.”
Andrew inclined his head.“Good morning.How was your trip?”
“Excellent.Productive.”Nat gestured to his open notebook.“We found the eagles.We were able to observe a nesting pair at close range.”
Andrew’s eyebrows rose appreciatively.“Did any chicks hatch while you were there?”
“Three.We were present when two of them emerged from their shells.”
Andrew grinned broadly.“That’sbrilliant.I can’t wait to read your full report.”
“Thanks.I should have a paper ready in a month or two.Thank you for covering my lectures while I was gone.I hope Colin, Arthur, and Roderick didn’t give you too much trouble.”
Andrew waved a hand.“It was no trouble.”He cracked a grin.“At least, Colin and Arthur weren’t.”
Nat groaned.“Roderick can be a handful.I owe you a drink.Several, I’m sure.”
“You don’t owe me anything, but I’d like to go for a drink.”
“Name the day.”
Andrew inclined his head.An awkward silence ensued.Nat couldn’t help but notice a stiffness to Andrew’s posture.After waiting another beat, Nathaniel asked, “Is there anything that’s… troubling you?”
A pained expression swept across Andrew’s face.“I’ll just come out and say it.It’s about the Natural History Chair.”
A roaring filled Nathaniel’s ears.He knew what Andrew was about to say—that he had been appointed to the post in Nathaniel’s absence.Which meant there was no job, no promotion, no way he could support Kate…
Kate.His heart was suddenly racing.What was he going to do now?He’d compromised her!He’d done worse than compromising her, he’d been making love to her for the last three weeks without taking the slightest precautionary measures.She could be carrying his child, and here he was with no job, no prospects, no plan!
This was precisely why his parents had wanted him to study medicine.Here he was, twenty-seven years old, without any hope of steady employment.
He was a failure.A complete and utter failure, and?—
“Nathaniel?Nathaniel, are you all right?”
Nat shook himself.Andrew was still standing in his doorway.Even though the world was crashing down around him, he was determined to be gracious.“Congratulations,” he said, his voice hoarse.He cleared his throat.“You’ll be a great asset to the university.”
Andrew laughed.“Ididn’t get it!Neither of us is going to get it.”
Nat frowned.“They’ve brought in an outside candidate, then?”
Andrew dropped his voice low.“There is no position.Professor Kerr isn’t resigning after all.Apparently, he does this every few years—makes sounds about stepping down and retiring to his little cottage in Dingwall.He’s not insincere.He really would like to do it.But from what I hear, his wife has expensive tastes, and she doesn’t fancy the thought of scraping by on a meager pension, or of a quiet country life in Dingwall.And she always badgers him into staying on.”
Nathaniel slumped back in his chair.“So, there is no job.”
“There is no job,” Andrew agreed.“I thought I ought to let you know.I wouldn’t want you to find out when twenty people were looking on.I’m sure you’ve had your hopes up.”He laughed darkly.“I had my hopes up, too.”His eyes were sympathetic.“I know exactly how you feel.”
That likely wasn’t true.Nat doubted that Andrew was facing the prospect of telling the woman he loved, the woman who had risked everything by giving herself to him, that he had absolutely no prospects of being able to support her.But he appreciated the sentiment, nonetheless.“Thank you.It was good of you to take the time to tell me.”
Andrew nodded, already halfway out the door.“I’ll see you around, then.”
Nat raised a hand.“See you around.”
