Page 40 of The Secret Librarian

Chapter Twenty

Avery

‘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 neck to 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.

‘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?’