to read the journals to get the information. And he would do almost anything to get what he wanted.
The idea of going to Yorkshire to see Livianna Mulgrave again left him strangely breathless. It wasn’t that there was anything outstanding about her appearance. She looked like every other prissy miss of the time, her golden blonde hair tortured into ridiculous ringlets, her body wrapped in yards of washed out fabric that did nothing for her pale, slightly freckled skin. At least the Regency era had done away with the corsets and other dire torturous pieces of female apparel. And they wore no makeup, which was another blessing.
But for all Livianna’s average appearance, there had been something about her that had drawn his eye, even before she was pointed out to him as Mulgrave’s curator. It might have been the soft laughter he’d heard coming from that corner of the quiet room. Or the pleasing blush her cheeks seemed prone to. Or could it be the liquid brown eyes that reminded him of a fawn’s. Whatever it was, he had been drawn to meet her.
Then, when he realised that she was no typical ninny of that time, but an intelligent, articulate and educated woman, his interest had increased. And when she had looked deeply into his eyes, it was as if she saw right into his soul. It had been disconcerting, that in-depth scrutiny. But oddly rewarding. And he still carried that image of her in his mind, popping up at odd moments when his preoccupation with his research waned for a moment.
He half hoped the computers would not be able to locate information on Mulgrave’s journey. Seeing her again would be a bonus.
With light steps, he strode along the moving walkway toward the new research facility. And just as he left that path and started walking along between the Retriever’s buildings, he heard someone call his name.
Rene stopped and looked around. Coming toward him at a graceful jog, was Jane NewSW, her glorious hair blowing behind her like a bright copper cloud. He smiled.
‘Rene, how did it go? Have you found your mythical worm?’ she asked with a gasp, as she reached his side. Her perfect, porcelain skin was flushed with exertion, and the flecks of gold in her green eyes sparkled with interest.
‘Not mythical, anymore. It is now safely within the realm of legend. I have found my white explorer, and I have seen his drawing of the giant earthworm. It is everything I had hoped for, and more. His granddaughter has given me permission to read his journals, if I cannot find a record of his journey by other means.’
Jane tipped her head to one side and studied him closely. ‘What’s different about you? You’ve got a lightness about you I’ve never seen before. And your walls are down.’
‘My walls?’ He had to laugh. Jane was the closest thing to a friend he now had in New Atlantis, but she still seemed like a very young girl to him, at times. But he had been right about her being his Midew. And he had become her pet, just as he had been pet to so many medicine women in the past.
Jane had been the one at his side when he underwent his ninth transition, early than planned. Her assurances that he had the strength of will to make it, had given him the confidence to see it through. With everything opening up for him at the time, he’d been terrified by the thought of cutting his lifespan short, if the transition had failed. But her optimism and strength had been just what he needed. And now he had his youth back, and all the energy he needed to carry his plans to fruition.
‘Yes, your walls. And don’t look at me so innocently. You know what I mean. You intentionally keep people at a distance. Your colleagues see you are superior and unfriendly, but I know you aren’t either. You’ve just got thicker and higher walls than most of the Old Timers. I thought it was because you were so old, but now I’m not so sure. You suddenly seem to be as young as this new, drop-dead-gorgeous body of yours.’ Her expressive eyebrows wiggled suggestively at him.
He laughed again, feeling every bit as young as she observed him to be. ‘Watch it, kiddo, or I will be duelling your Bonded for you! Drop-dead-gorgeous, indeed. Who came up with such a saying?’
She nudged him in the shoulder with her