can. It’s probably a coping mechanism because my mum died when I was young.” He sent me a rueful look.
He’d said it all as a joke, but underneath I sensed the truth. “Sorry. Declan mentioned some of what you went through when you came here. It must have been hard leaving everything behind for the United States.”
“Yeah, people talk funny here, and you have weird names for things. For us a lift is an elevator, a chip is a French fry, a biscuit is a cookie, a shag is a fuck, and don’t even get me started on football.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Declan cleared his throat, and I tossed a glance back to see him glaring at both of us. His hands sat on top of his desk, one clutching his pen tightly.
I arched a brow at him. Don’t even go there with me, buddy. You have no right to be jealous. You left me this morning, I wanted to yell out.
Blake leaned over until our shoulders touched. He’d been quiet since the twins sat down. “Want to grab lunch later?”
I thought about it. With Colby walking around, I didn’t want to be alone. “You mind if we ask these guys to come too?” I nodded toward the twins. “And maybe Shelley?” I wasn’t ready for the talk he’d mentioned, and I needed a buffer between us.
“Something wrong with just me?”
“No, of course not. I just want to branch out and get to know more people.”
Like a normal college girl.
Dr. Feldman came into the auditorium, saving me from Blake’s reply. She was a tall, sparse lady with long brown hair she kept in a thick braid down her back, and her face was like stone, making you wonder if she ever smiled.
Wire-framed spectacles sat on the end of her nose as she swept beady eyes across the auditorium. “I trust you’ve all read the reading list I provided when you registered?”
Silence.
“I see. Another stellar class.” Disdain dripped from her words. She shuffled some papers. “Well, for the first few weeks, we’re going to be studying Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I do expect classroom participation, so be aware that when I call on you you’re required to stand and present your discussion.”
Dax’s hand shot up, and she waved at him to stand.
He did. “Do you grade on our discussion?”
She arched a derisive eyebrow. “Of course.”
He shot her a cocky grin. “Brilliant, because I’m a great talker.” He plopped back down.
“Any more questions before I call roll?” she asked, looking around the room.
No one moved.
“Fine.” She ran her finger down what I assumed was the class roster and chuckled. “Is there seriously an Elizabeth Bennett in this class?”
I raised my hand tentatively. “That would be me.”
“Please stand when you speak, Miss Bennett, so the entire class can see and hear you.” She raked her eyes over me as I stood. “I confess, I’m extremely curious … did your parents name you after the book?”
I straightened my shoulders. “My parents never married, so Bennett’s my mother’s name. Elizabeth is just a name my mother picked. I doubt my parents had ever heard of Jane Austen.” I shrugged. “I didn’t discover Pride and Prejudice until high school.”
She tapped her pencil against her leg. “Are you looking for your Mr. Darcy here at Whitman, Miss Bennett?”
My face flushed and I blinked. “I—I’m not looking for love, Dr. Feldman, just an education.”
“Hmm, I see. But as humans aren’t we naturally inclined to seek out love? Elizabeth found her soulmate. Don’t you want to find yours?”
“No.”
She gave me a surprised look. “Ah, I see. That might be a discussion for another day then. You may sit.”
I sat down, relieved.
“Bugger, you could have warned me how scary she is,” Dax leaned over and whispered.
I shrugged. “Wait until she asks hard questions. I heard at least half of all her students drop after the first day.”
Feldman’s voice interrupted us. “Mr. Declan Blay, please stand if you are present today.”
Rustling motions came from behind me as Declan stood. “Present.” His husky, clipped voice sent shivers over me.
She nodded, her eyes gliding over the muscles in his arms then coming back to rest on his face. “Mr. Blay, I trust you’ve read the required first ten chapters of Pride and Prejudice before today’s class?”
“Not precisely.”
She bristled. “I don’t tolerate students who don’t follow directions or complete homework assignments.”
Declan cocked his head. “No, let me explain—”
She cut him off. “Please sit down so I can call on someone who’s read the