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"It’s good to be back," I had whispered,on a new adventure, just the two of us

But today was different I felt out of step and out of sorts

"There you are" Matthew appeared atkiss "I hed "We’ve been apart for an hour and a half"

"Exactly Far too long" His attention wandered over the table, taking in the untouched pot of tea, al pad, and the unopened copy of the latest American Historical Review that we’d rescued from my overstuffed depart?"

"They’ve taken very good care of rand brick building, Matthew had explained that Marcus was one of the founding members of the private club and that the facility was built on land he’d once owned

"Can I get you soether A small crease appeared in the smooth skin between my husband’s keen eyes

"Thank you, Chip, but I believe we’re ready to go"

It was not athe at es on Dr Whit out my chair

"Absolutely," Chip said "No problem Always a pleasure to welcome a member of Dr Whitmore’s family"

For once I beat Matthew outside

"Where’s the car?" I said, searching the parking lot

"It’s parked in the shade" Matthew lifted theto the lab, not driving Members are free to leave their cars here, and it’s very close to the lab" He looked sye for both of us, but the oddness will pass"

I took a deep breath and nodded Matthew carriedit by the short handle on top

"It will be better once I’m in the library," I said, as et to work?"

Matthew held out his free hand I took it, and his expression softened "Lead the way," he said

We crossed Whitney Avenue by the garden filled with dinosaur statuary, cut behind the Peabody, and approached the tall tohere Chris’s labs were located My steps slowed Matthew looked up, and up some more

"No Please not there It’s worse than the Beinecke" His eyes were glued to the unappealing outlines of Kline Biology Tower, or KBT as it was known on campus He’d likened the Beinecke, with its white iant ice-cube tray "It rereat beauty either, as I recall," I said, cutting hiy that would stay with o"

It was Matthew’s turn to be reluctant now He gru, refused to put his blue-and-white Yale lanyard with its uard asked hi as we looked for the door to Chris’s lab

"It’s going to be fine, Matthew Chris’s students will be thrilled to meet you," I assured him

Mattheas an internationally renowned scholar and a member of the Oxford University faculty There were few institutions that impressed Yale, but that was one of them

"The last time I was around students hen Hamish and I were fellows at All Souls" Matthew looked away in an effort to hide his nervousness "I’m better suited to a research lab"

I pulled on his arht Jack all sorts of things Annie, too," I re how he’d been with the two children who had lived with us in Elizabethan London

"That was different They were" Matthew trailed off, a shadow flitting through his eyes

"Family?"

I waited for his response He nodded reluctantly

"Students want the sas Annie and Jack did: your attention, your honesty, and your faith in the to be brilliant at this I promise"

"I’ll settle for adequate," Matthew muttered He scanned the hallway "There’s Christopher’s lab

We should go If I’m late, he’s threatened to repossess my ID"

Chris pushed the door open, clearly frazzled Matthew caught it and propped it open with his foot

"Another minute, Clairmont, and I would have started without you Hey, Diana," Chris said, kissing me on the cheek "I didn’t expect to see you here Why aren’t you at the Beinecke?"

"Special delivery" I , and Matthew handed it over "The page froht" Chris didn’t sound the least bit interested He and Mattheere clearly focused on other questions

"You two proht Ashave Miriam your invitation and will spare you her response She will be here when--and if--she chooses" Matthew held up his ID card Even the employment office couldn’t take a bad picture of him He looked like a o" Chris took a white lab coat off the nearby rack and shrugged it over his shoulders He held another out to Matthew

Matthew looked at it dubiously "I’ one of those"

"Suit yourself No coat, no contact with the equipment Up to you" Chris turned and marched off

A wo a lab coat with the name CONNELLY embroidered on it and "Beaker" written above it in red marker

"Thanks, Beaker" Chris looked them over "Good Nobody refused"

"What are those?" I asked

"Nondisclosure forn the "We’re honored to have you here, Professor Clairmont I’m Joy Connelly, Chris’s second-in-co in until Chris finds either Mother Teresa or Mussolini Would you please swipe in so that we have a record of when you arrived?