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would find the proximity to all the silverware too enticing.” She dangled a false lead for Jared and hoped he would give up and leave her in peace. She found his interest and constant presence unsettling. Marshall’s questions were far easier to ignore than the hum running over her skin whenever Jared stood near.
    “I promise to check your pockets before we leave,” he offered, a little too quickly for her liking.
    Allie suppressed the mental image of him giving her a pat down, his hands roving her body like the first day they met. She shook her head instead, forcing the memory from her mind.
    “A room full of hungry nobles? I may as well open a vein and jump into shark infested waters.”
    “You’ll be all right.” A smile crept over Jared’s face. “I’ll protect you.”
    Allie nearly choked on her apple. She most certainly did not need his help or protection. The guild trained their young to be self-reliant almost from birth. She flashed him a black look, before dropping her feet back to the floor. She grabbed Eloise’s arm and steered her friend from the library, the boys trailing behind.
    “Why doesn’t a matron trail you like they do the other girls?” she asked, seeing the empty stretch of corridor before them and only the boys behind.
    “I’m here on academic merit, not to further my position in society.”
    Allie frowned. “What does that mean?”
    Eloise flashed a quick smile. “Here for the books, not the boys. I’m in no danger from Chaucer or Plato. They followed me the first year then got bored because I only ever went to the library, the lab, or my room. After that they left me in peace.”
    They pushed through heavy panelled doors and Allie breathed a sigh to find the dining hall in the process of emptying out. Only a few tables were occupied with students equally late for the mid-day meal. A matron sat off to the side. Her gaze flicked over Allie and Eloise before returning to the more valuable property in the room.
    Allie had forgotten the English tradition of a hot lunch. She closed her eyes and inhaled. The smell was intoxicating and far more appealing than what she found in her grandfather’s desk.
    The group seated themselves at a small table. Jared pulled out a chair for Eloise while Allie simply flopped next to her friend. The moment the boys drew their chairs to the table serving staff appeared with plates of steaming food. Roast beef covered in gravy, crispy roast potatoes, and glistening new peas accompanied by a bowl of fresh warm bread topped by a small mountain of butter. Allie left the polite dinner chatter to Eloise while she got down to the serious business of eating.
    Allie was halfway through her meal when she finally asked a burning question. “The blonde at the central table, Madeline is it? Why does she look like she wishes I would choke on a bread roll?”
    “Because that’s Madeline.” Jared didn’t even look up from his plate.
    Zeb paused between shovelling in mouthfuls of green peas. “She’s the daughter of the Earl of Lennard, quite important around here,” he threw in with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the peerage.
    “Highest ranking girl at school and she likes to ensure everyone knows it,” Eloise contributed. “She and Jared are—” Eloise paused, Jared’s head shot up at the mention of his name. She dropped her voice to a scant whisper, “Contracted.”
    Allie’s eyebrows knitted as she connected the dots with the pieces of information.
    Ah, so not only am I polluting her air, but I’m also fouling her boyfriend. No wonder she looks like she wants to throttle me.
    “You aristocrats, you’re so romantic,” Allie said. “How do you get contracted anyway? Did you go down on one knee and ask her to sign something or was it part of the curriculum?”
    Jared gave her a long look and sighed. “It was arranged by our parents. If you’re in a talkative mood, why don’t you tell us what you miss most about Egypt?”
    “Apart from sunlight