exam paper as though it were a mortal enemy. Ian had bragged about scoring highest marks on the exam and winning the prize. Niall doubted the Egyptian medallion was worth a fraction of the amount Ian seemed to think it was, but he was well aware of the pride involved in winning. The medallion was a symbol of superiority that Ian was determined to claim.
“Eyes on your own exams, gentlemen,” Professor Carroll scolded at the front of the room.
Niall sucked in a breath and focused on his own work once more. The jolt of being called out—if Professor Carroll was, indeed, singling him out or if others were engaged in the same curiosity—was enough to push Niall through the rest of the examination time. When Professor Carroll finally ordered them to put their pens down, Niall was satisfied that he hadn’t completely embarrassed himself. He’d done all right. But the exam was the very last thing he cared about.
“Good old Carroll was trying to fool us with those irregular Greek verbs,” Ian boasted as they all gathered their books and satchels and headed to the hall once the exam papers were collected. “I’m certain I translated every one of them perfectly, though.”
“Then congratulations are in order,” Blake told him with a smile that Niall would have sworn was genuine, if he didn’t know better.
Niall and Blake walked shoulder to shoulder down the crowded hallway, brushing up against each other every few steps as they dodged fellow students exiting their exams or rushing off to study sessions. John and David kept their distance, several strides behind. The two knew full well what Niall and Blake had been up to for the past few weeks, and Niall suspected they found it hilarious. Just to show them, Niall kept as close to Blake as possible, risking exposure by touching Blake however he could. It would have been a perfect overture to what Niall knew was coming if Ian hadn’t tagged along with them, keeping up at Niall’s other side.
“I thought it was devilishly clever of Carroll to include those questions about Thebes as well,” Ian blathered on, strutting like a peacock and smirking at Blake, as though Blake couldn’t possibly have been ready for the questions. “I’m glad I thought to reread the papers Carroll published about his excavation last year.”
“They were far more useful than I expected,” Blake agreed.
Ian looked momentarily crestfallen. “You read them too?”
Niall fought to hide his grin as Blake shrugged and said, “Of course. Anyone with any sense reads the papers a professor has written before sitting an exam for a prize he’s offering.”
Blake looked so cool and calm as he spoke that Niall’s heart bounced around his chest. Not only was he handsome and clever and a beautiful singer, Blake could tease a clod like Ian and come off sounding magnanimous.
“I’m certain you’ll tell Miss Cannon all about it at supper this evening,” Ian grumbled as they passed through the main doorway and out into the unseasonably warm spring day. The sun was shining as it dipped toward the horizon, the roses that had been planted just outside of the building filled the air with gorgeous scent, and everything was green and fresh.
And Blake made it all a thousand times better by saying, “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to make it to supper this evening. I’ve already sent a note to your mother.”
Ian scowled for half a second before his expression brightened to something akin to joy. “You won’t be there?”
“No,” Blake said. “Other plans.” His hand subtly brushed Niall’s, though there was no way Ian could have seen it.
Niall nearly missed a step as his heart thumped and his body heated.
“That’s a shame,” Ian said, sounding as though it were anything but. “I guess I’ll have Miss Cannon all to myself then.”
“Looks like you will.” Blake smiled at Niall, mischief dancing in his eyes.
“Your loss,” Ian snorted. “You know she and I have been getting particularly close lately.”
“I’m happy for you,” Blake said genuinely.
Ian narrowed his eyes slightly. “She’s almost as much of a prize as Professor Carroll’s medallion, you know.”
“So I’ve been told. And I’m certain you’ll win both.” Blake nodded to him, then veered slightly to the right, where a path cut through two of the university’s main buildings and headed off campus. “Best of luck to you,” he said to Ian. “And Niall, I have a question about the days we’re rehearsing next week. Walk with me?”
“Certainly,” Niall said,