“...women who don’t understand personal boundaries always offend me,” Elias said finally. “Dim-witted people offend me even further.”
“Oh dear,” Dora said mildly. “That must be very difficult indeed.”
Already, the fair-haired man had begun to turn away from her—but he glanced back at that. “Pardon?” he asked. “What must be difficult, exactly?”
Dora smiled at him politely. “Being offended at yourself so very often,” she said. “That seems a sad way to live, my lord.”
Albert guffawed. “Oh,” he said. “She’s got you there, hasn’t she?”
Both of the Lord Sorcier’s eyebrows rose at Dora this time. For a moment, she wondered whether she had angered the man so much that he might turn her into a frog. But as the moment passed, he merely shook his head in irritation and turned to Albert.
“This first book is in some sort of confounding French,” Elias said to his friend. “You’ll have to read it for me.”
Albert stepped forward to glance at the book. “Medieval French, it seems,” he said. “It’s not all that different, Elias. Your French is just abominable.”
“Yes, well,” Elias muttered. “We weren’t all raised in a household with highbrow French tutors, Albert. My French expertise remains limited to asking after a warm meal or a whorehouse. I suppose my profanities are still quite sharp as well.”
Albert gave Elias another reproving look, but it was clear that the Lord Sorcier had no intention of censoring himself in front of Dora. Similarly, it was probably becoming clear that Dora was not prone to having vapours over the conversation. “Is this why you really brought me today?” Albert asked. “I have offered more than once to teach you better French, Elias. One might realistically expect the Lord Sorcier to know the language of alchemy and sorcery.”
Elias waved his hand dismissively. “I haven’t the time to learn,” he said. “Besides which, I have you.”
Albert shook his head but said no more on the subject. He glanced towards Dora. “I’ve just realised,” he said. “I quite forgot our introductions, on top of everything else. I am Mr Albert Lowe. This is Lord Elias Wilder. He’s charmed to meet you, I assure you.”
Dora smiled at Albert. “I am Theodora Ettings,” she said. “But you may call me Dora if you like, Mr Lowe. If we are being politely dishonest with one another, then you may assure the Lord Sorcier that I am charmed to meet him too. But in all truth, I am charmed to make your acquaintance.”
“You see, Albert?” Elias said. “That is exactly the problem. Now you have charmed the young lady, and you shall not be rid of her. You even gave her your jacket. Once her mama finds out, you’ll be before an altar before the week is through.”
“That is quite impossible,” Dora told Elias offhandedly. “My mama is dead. My father as well.” She said it only because she expected it might take him aback, and she was pleased to see that it did. “My aunt might perhaps pursue the poor gentleman, but only on my cousin’s behalf.” Dora smiled back towards Albert. “My cousin is quite pretty. But I shall only introduce her to you if it pleases you.”
Albert blinked at that. Perhaps, Dora thought, she was not supposed to be quite so direct about attempting to find her cousin a suitor? But he seemed very kind, and he was a mister, at the very least.
“I shall... take it into consideration,” Albert said finally, with a humorous glint in his eyes. “My mother, Lady Carroway, will be hosting a birthday ball for my older brother. I would be pleased to have her send you and your cousin an invitation. I have insisted that Elias attend, you see, and I cannot think of any other woman who might converse with him at length without fleeing the premises.”
“I am not coming,” Elias interjected crossly—but Albert ignored him.
Aha, Dora thought, dimly pleased by this development. Albert must have been one of Lady Carroway’s quite suitable sons. This meant that the countess would approve of him, which only made the whole idea even better.
“I believe that my cousin will be coming to Lady Carroway’s ball already,” Dora said. “But if I am to be frank, you may need to ensure I have an invitation as well. Our hostess has been quite determined to forget me.” Albert raised his eyebrows at that, and Dora frowned. “Perhaps I should not have said that aloud,” she admitted. “You will be kind enough not to repeat it, Mr Lowe? I would hate to cause a scandal, for the sake of my cousin.”
Albert pressed his silver hand to his chest. “I do so swear it,” he said solemnly. “And I shall insist that Mother send you your very own invitation, Dora.”
“I am not coming, Albert,” Elias repeated emphatically. “You shall be stuck entertaining the two ladies on your own, I warn you.”
When Albert ignored him again, he let out a sharp breath and snapped his fingers in the air. The books on the counter floated up next to him.
“You may put the books on the Treasury’s account,” Elias informed the shopkeeper, who had been politely trying to ignore their conversation so far. “As they are necessary to my duties.”
The shopkeeper nodded with only the slightest wince. The Prince Regent was not particularly well-known for paying his bills on-time.
Elias turned for the shop’s exit, and the floating books trailed along behind him as he left. Rain parted neatly around him and his books, as though it had run into the surface of a perfectly invisible parasol.
Albert shot Dora a rueful glance. “I expect that is meant to be my cue to leave,” he said. “I suppose I must go translate another magical book, for the sake of king and country.” He frowned at the jacket around her shoulders. “You may keep that until the ball,
