“No, but the expedition was planned in just a few months, wasn’t it?” She smiled indulgently. “I’m sure you were thrilled when you learned of it.”
Alexander gave her a brief smile. “Of course.” He wracked his brain for an elegant way to ask his next question, but he came up blank. “I suppose you only let her into Mr. Blake’s office once. She wasn’t as forgetful as I was.” He forced an awkward laugh. How on Earth did Saffron find charming information out of people so easy?
“Just the once. I remember because she cancelled their next appointment the very next day. It was memorable, you see, because she actually requested a meeting with the College Committee instead. It isn’t often that the wife of a faculty member wants to meet with the Committee.”
Alexander swallowed his excitement. This was what Saffron had told him in a rush the day before, that Mrs. Henry could have been out to sabotage her husband’s chances of creating his own department. “And did she mention what the meeting was to be about?”
“Well, yes. They won’t let me just put anyone down on their schedule,” the receptionist said. “It was about the funding for the expedition.”
* * *
Saffron found that six o’clock came upon her surprisingly quickly. She smoothed her navy-blue skirt, reapplied Elizabeth’s lucky lipstick, and collected her papers, then went up to Dr. Berking’s office. Pierce admitted her to the large office and said that Dr. Berking had not yet finished his last appointment but would return presently.
Heart pounding, Saffron sat in the chair before the desk at first, then, nerves getting to her again, walked around the room. The light had faded from the windows, and the street below was filled with a steady stream of students. Their energetic chatter seemed miles away from where she looked down on them from the window.
After five minutes passed, curiosity got the better of her, and Saffron wandered to Berking’s desk to casually try the drawers. They were still locked except for the top one that contained his checkbook. The drawer slid open easily this time. He must have retrieved the paper that had been jammed, the one with the formula on it. She picked up the checkbook and flipped through it again, noting that he’d written another check to R. Glass since the one he’d written when she had broken into the office. It was for a large sum; together both checks totaled five hundred pounds, which was rather a lot for a bet.
At a sound from the outer office, she shoved the book back into the drawer and closed it, clearing the edge of the desk just as the door swung open and Dr. Berking’s belly came through the entrance. She gripped her hands together tightly, hoping Berking didn’t notice her rapid breathing.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said loudly. “Have you prepared your proposal? Let’s get right to business.”
To Saffron’s great surprise, Dr. Berking went straight to his desk and began reading her proposal. He asked a few questions, without a hint of flirtation or menace, and she answered them best she could. By the time the clock struck quarter ’til seven, he closed her file and set down his pen.
“Well, Miss Everleigh, this has vastly improved. I’m inclined to approve this project. However,” he said, standing, “we have a few points we must clarify.”
Leaving her in suspense, he lumbered across the room to the door. Saffron, not looking at him, heard an ominous click as the door locked. Her palms began to sweat. “Sir, I don’t …” she stammered as he came back toward the desk.
“No need to be jumpy, just business.” His expression was rather devoid of feeling, which was more alarming to Saffron than his unpleasant grin. He stopped beside his desk and remained standing. “This business of Dr. Henry and his wife, it’s been very disturbing to the university and all those involved. Dreadful, dreadful.” He shook his head and reached into his pocket, withdrawing a pipe. “I am aware that you’ve been poking around, asking questions and making inquiries. Quite natural, I say. Dr. Maxwell is your mentor, your friend for years now.” Dr. Berking filled the pipe, looking thoughtfully at it as he patted the tobacco into the bowl. “Unfortunate, of course.”
Saffron was rather at a loss. She just looked at him as he lumbered back around opposite her and sat heavily in his chair again. He lit the pipe and took a long puff. The smoke escaped his lips in a hiss as he continued. “I also know that you’ve been in this office.” From his pocket he pulled out two hairpins.
Saffron stared at them, then looked to Berking. He had a hard glint in his eye. They were just hairpins, she reasoned. There was no proof they were hers. “Sir, I didn’t—”