Unhallowed (Rath and Rune #1) - Jordan L. Hawk Page 0,48

then turned to Helen, who sat beside him spooning cereal into her mouth. “What is your class studying for the last few weeks of school?”

She shrugged. “Fractions.”

“We’re studying the comet!” Willie offered.

“Tell me all about it,” Sebastian said.

The change of subject didn’t fool Bonnie. When they’d finished eating, she said, “Pete, dear, do you have time to see the children out the door for school?”

“It’d be my pleasure.” Pete turned to little Jossie. “Why don’t you find your shoes, my girl?”

“I know where they are!”

“Do you now? Where?”

Jossie sighed and slipped off her chair to start the morning hunt for her footwear.

There was a brief swirl of chaos as Willie and Helen helped clear the table, and Tommy toddled off to play with the toy ship Pete had carved for him while at sea. Sebastian tried to take advantage to slip out the door, but Bonnie cornered him in the front hall. “So. Mr. Rune.”

“I have to go to work,” Sebastian said.

“It’s ten minutes before you usually leave.”

“I have…a lot of work today.”

“Mmhmm.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you want to tell me why you changed the subject so quickly at breakfast? And why Mr. Rune left without saying good-bye last night?”

Sebastian had hoped she wouldn’t notice. So much for that. “I…um…well, we had a few drinks from the scotch bottle, and…I don’t know.”

Bonnie rolled her eyes. “And you started thinking with the head that’s not on your shoulders?”

“Bonnie!”

“What? I’ve created five children and enjoyed doing it. I’m not ignorant.”

Most of the time, Sebastian was grateful for a family that loved him. This morning, he almost wished Bonnie was a little more standoffish. “All right, fine. I kissed him. It was stupid.”

She cocked her head. “Why?”

“Because he is—he was, anyway—my friend.” He sighed. “There’s a reason I don’t mix pleasure with friendship.”

“The reason is because you’ve got a hole in your skull, but continue.”

Sebastian shot her a glare. “No, it’s so things won’t be awkward later. Ves…I haven’t know him long, it’s true, but I enjoy his company. I…like him. Now I’ve ruined it by kissing him, and I have to see him every day at work.”

Bonnie winced at that. “Yes, well, you might have something there. He won’t complain to Mr. Quinn, will he?”

“I shouldn’t think so. I would never force my attentions on anyone. As soon as he indicated he wasn’t interested, I stopped.” Sebastian’s shoulders slumped. “Even so, he ran out as though I’d set him on fire. There was a…project we were working on together. I’m afraid facing him again will be awkward.”

“It probably will,” she agreed. “But don’t fret. There are more men in the sea. And even more on the land.” She paused, brow furrowed in thought. “Actually, I think Pete’s first mate—”

“No!” Sebastian held up his hands, backing away from her. “Stop talking. Please.”

“Oh, what about the adorable tailor at Dryden and Sons?”

“I’m leaving now,” he said, opening the door and backing out of it.

“Or the—”

“I can’t hear you, because I’m not here!” he shouted, and shut the door behind him.

Thanks to Bonnie, he was almost late to work. Which was fine: Ves came in early, but Irene never walked in an instant beforehand, even though her family’s chauffeur drove her to the museum each morning. Instead, she sauntered in right at eight o’clock, her hair perfect and never wearing the same outfit twice.

Bonnie’s attempt at commiseration hadn’t helped Sebastian’s mood, and he found himself pathetically grateful to have an excuse not to face Ves, at least for a little longer. Yesterday, he would have gone straight to the bindery. Today, here he was hoping not to casually run into a man who might under other circumstances have become a good friend.

Maybe they could just…pretend it hadn’t happened. A few years from now, they’d laugh at Sebastian’s clumsy attempt at seduction. Joke about what a terrible match they would have made.

Thankfully, Irene swept into the library and relieved Sebastian of the company of his thoughts. She wore an exquisitely tailored ladies’ suit accompanied by a chiffon turban-style hat with black and white feathers.

“Irene!” he exclaimed as he approached her. “How is my favorite Endicott today?”

She gave him the look the sentiment deserved. “What do you want, Sebastian?”

He grinned. “Something that will gladden your sorcerous little heart. Have you ever heard of the Books of the Bound?”

“I have not.” A gleam came into her eyes. “Tell me all about them.”

Ves spent as much time mapping the library’s lowest level as he