“What’s a proof?”
“It’s a typeset edition of a book for proofreading and correction before publication. Although this wasn’t intended as an actual proof, it served as one because a few minor changes were made to the book edition a year later.” Addie traced her gloved finger over the words A Study in Scarlet on the front page of the magazine. “A copy of this sold a few years ago for over one hundred and fifty-six thousand.”
“Say what?” Kalea stole the journal from Addie. “Wow, no wonder Nolan wanted me to stop by here on my way to meet him.”
“What do you mean he wanted you to stop by here?” Addie fixed her gaze on her cousin. “Didn’t you say you came to visit me and then just stopped in here after you saw the flyer?”
“I meant”—Kalea’s cheeks burned with a fiery glow—“he’ll be so glad I stopped at the auction after I saw the flyer.” She added, dropping her voice, “before I went to meet up with you and then him next week.”
Addie was taken aback. Had Kalea simply misspoken now or were her earlier words about visiting her only an effort to save face when Addie spotted her in the library? It made Addie wonder if her cousin even knew she lived in Greyborne Harbor in the first place or whether her arrival here on the same day as the auction preview was—as she let on—purely a coincidence.
Addie eyed her cousin warily, rose to her feet and walked toward the desk. Her mind replayed what Kalea said now versus when they greeted each other. Maybe she’d better keep Kalea close, just so she could keep an eye on her. Something about this whole visit wasn’t sitting right with Addie because obviously there was more going on with Kalea’s newfound interest than she first let on. Addie glanced down at the rare magazine in her hand and then back at her cousin, in time to witness her finishing off a text message and tossing her phone into her handbag.
Chapter 4
The hairs on Addie’s arms prickled. She squirmed on her chair with the uneasiness of being watched and glanced toward the doorway expecting to see Charlotte monitoring them. When she didn’t, her eyes darted over to her cousin sitting cross-legged on the floor, scribbling furiously on a pad of paper, surrounded by books from the barrister’s case. Her wedge sandals and suede jacket, discarded hours ago, lay in a heap at her side. The contents of her oversized handbag—granola-bar wrappers, tissues, and cell phone—were haphazardly scattered everywhere.
Addie puffed out a deep breath. This wasn’t the first time today she’d had the feeling of being watched. She’d tried to put the sense that the walls were closing in on them down to the fact that they were hungry and tired. Still, she knew that if it hadn’t been for the moments she and Kalea had shared of pure childlike silliness—an automatic reversion to their antics when they were little girls—to relieve the tension . . . well, she doubted she would be able to leave here not being a firm believer in Serena’s tall tale.
She yawned, stretched out her stiff shoulders, and checked the time on her cell phone. It was almost three and there had been no word from Charlotte since she’d left this morning to check on whatever that other pressing issue was. “How many are left to go through?” Addie asked, tapping her pen on the inventory list she worked on at the desk.
“Last book.” Kalea kicked at a granola-bar wrapper. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Do you want to get a bite to eat when we’re done here?”
Addie’s stomach picked that exact moment to agree.
“It sounds like you need it.” A soft laugh escaped Kalea’s throat. “I hear the restaurant at the Grey Gull Inn where I’m staying has great food. We could go there.”
“Perfect. It’ll give us time to catch up, too.”
Kalea nodded in agreement and returned her attention to the book in her lap.
Addie sat back, watching her cousin. In spite of her initial misgivings about Kalea and her motives, Kalea had proven to be an adept assistant today, catching on quickly. However, it did make Addie wonder if she had more experience at appraisals than she’d let on. Kalea’s innate ability was uncanny for a beginner. She even proved a fast learner in cross-referencing book titles and the book’s condition on the various appraisal websites, such as the Library of Congress, The British Library, and the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, although working as a paralegal she would have a good understanding of research methods. Addie studied her young protégé—something about the situation didn’t sit right. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but a long chat over dinner might just provide her with some helpful insights into the cousin she hadn’t seen for ten years.
The doors swung open and a short, bald man stared at her through his marble-sized eyes.
“I’m sorry, this room isn’t available for preview yet.” Addie smiled apologetically and met his unblinking, beady-eyed gaze. His fists tightened into balls at his sides as he walked toward her. She reached for a letter opener on the desk. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Kalea rising to her feet and grabbing one of her wedged sandals to brandish like a weapon.
The man noticed Kalea’s reaction and stopped; a harsh laugh erupted from his chest. “Relax, Queen Charlotte ordered me in here.” His eyes fixed on Kalea, a leering smile tugging at the corners of his thin, upper lip. He sniffed and held out a child-sized hand to Addie. “I’m Robert Peters, Charlotte’s assistant and slave.”
“I see.” Addie ignored his outstretched hand and slid back into her chair, toying with the letter opener still in her hand.
“As the queen doth command, I am merely her servant to do her bidding.” He swept his hand across his midsection and bowed low from the waist before slumping into a leather armchair beside the desk. His gaze refocused on Kalea, who stood unmoving from her position beside the barrister’s case.
Addie swallowed the acidic taste in the back of her throat. From the challenging look in Kalea’s eyes, though, Addie guessed she was no stranger to lewd attention. If this weasel of a man picked up on even one thing as he held her in his sights, it better be that Kalea would fend off any of his unwelcome advances. Violently.
Addie stroked her neck, studying his bulbous-nosed profile. When he jumped to his feet and clapped his hands, her body jerked, betraying her feigned nonchalant attitude.
“Where are we at with this room?” He glanced at the stack of books Addie had arranged on the table for the live auction and then at the stack in front of the bookcase that she had arranged for lot sales. Each was marked in the same manner that Charlotte had catalogued the previous ones. “It looks like you’ve made quick work here—perhaps too quickly for her majesty’s liking, though.”
Addie shoved the letter opener aside and moved around the desk toward him. “It has been over five hours and there was only the one bookcase to appraise. I think that two experienced”—she glanced at Kalea—“appraisers can accomplish a lot in that time.”
“We’ll see if she’s in agreement with you. Nevertheless, you’re done here now.” He waved his hand. “Go. I’m here to relieve you.” Robert looked at Kalea. “You may stay if you like, though.” His top lip curled up in a half smile. “I always do like a bit of company when I work.”