Alexander went to the cabinet behind his desk. He lifted the heavy typewriter from within and set it on the desk, then left the office without a word.
Saffron finished typing the notes much sooner than she expected, spurred on by Alexander’s voice in her head with each punch of a key. “You’re just an assistant. You shouldn’t get the chance.” It infuriated her that he would say something that could have come from the mouths of any of the cynical men she’d worked with. She’d thought he was different.
Alexander returned just as she stood up with her stack of notes.
“Thank you,” she said, not looking at him. “I’ll let you know what needs to be done to prepare for my study, if it’s approved.”
* * *
Saffron was still angry when she reached Dr. Henry’s office ten minutes later. Snyder was gone and Saffron was early, so she paced around the fine carpets in the small outer office. Better to be angry than afraid. She’d feel plenty of fear tomorrow when she walked into the room with Berking, and the anger would fuel her work more effectively now.
“Miss Everleigh, do come in!” Dr. Henry called from his office, his brusque voice making her jump.
Saffron stepped inside, making sure to leave the door opened. The hall outside the office was still bustling with students and staff, so if things went awry, someone would hear her calls for help. The thought made her insides squirm.
Dr. Henry stood at the glass shelf by the nearest window on which stood a scollection of liquor bottles. He poured a good amount of scotch into a glass that had the dregs of a prior drink. He lifted the glass to his lips and caught her looking. “Damned gossips will drive a man to drink, you know. Will you join me?”
“No, thank you.”
Either he didn’t hear her, or he didn’t care, as Dr. Henry brought her a small glass of chartreuse from a nearly empty bottle. The terrible thought that the drink could have been laced with poison crossed her mind, and she sat it on Dr. Henry’s desk, untouched.
Dr. Henry settled behind the large desk and said, “I brought that back from a conference in Marseilles. Waste of bloody time.” He took a long drink from his tumbler. “Good liquor, though.”
Saffron smiled slightly and put her notes on his desk. He didn’t look at the file, just continued looking at her, his eyes narrowed.
“Snyder says you assist old Maxwell. What’s he got you doing? Typing and shuffling around books? Or out in a field, pulling up plants?” He chuckled and took a drink.
Despite herself, she was gratified by his question. Usually people assumed she just typed things and stood around like an ornament. “I do a bit of everything. Dr. Maxwell usually gives me work in the greenhouse or research to do. I’ve been helping to gather his materials for the expedition.”
Dr. Henry nodded and finished his drink. He swaggered back to the bottles for another, his eyes still on her but perhaps a little unfocused. How many drinks had he had? Maybe enough to talk.
“There seems to be so much to do for the expedition. I can’t imagine how you’re coping with your responsibilities on top of caring for your poor wife. I was at the party when she was taken ill,” Saffron said sadly, her eyes innocently wide.
Dr. Henry made an impatient noise and looked off toward the window. “Yes, it’s been challenging. Can’t even go see her without …” He cleared his throat and took another gulp of his drink. “But that doesn’t matter. Expedition is on. I’ve got work to do.”
Saffron shifted in her chair, attempting to get a view of his face. “It’s got to be such a burden, trying to get everything straightened out before your departure. You know, arrangements for your wife, sorting out equipment and finances …”
Dr. Henry drained his glass and clunked it down on the shelf, causing the glass panels to tremble and Saffron to jump.
Hurriedly, she said, “I’m sorry, Dr. Henry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, no,” he said gruffly, looking about the room disconsolately. “She hasn’t woken up after that blasted drink. I don’t know what to do. Poor girl is right out of it, and I’m going off …” His throat bobbed as he swallowed.
Saffron was rather at a loss. Dr. Henry was surprisingly emotional at the mention of his wife. He didn’t seem to even hear her obvious reference to the embezzlement.
His hand shook as he refilled his glass, and his face was clouded.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Dr. Henry. I’m sure you’re doing what she would have wanted you to do,” Saffron said softly, aware that her words were absolute rubbish. She had no idea if Mrs. Henry wanted him to travel and explore.