Hordes of decrepit old sticks, snuff stained, stumping after you with their canes and urging you to come and view their antiquities.”
Verity had to laugh as well. “You have an odd idea of museumgoers. Perhaps we’ll meet a dashing young explorer, here to examine previous finds before he sets off on an expedition to the antipodes.” Verity didn’t really expect such luck, but one could hope. She was guaranteed a look at treasures from all over the world.
They walked across the broad courtyard between the wings of Montagu House and up a few steps to the main entrance. Inside, Verity paused to consult the thorough guide she’d purchased before even coming to London and had pored over since. “I want to begin with the collection of objects from the South Seas,” she told Olivia, and incidentally the footman, who was looking about as if he expected footpads. “Can you believe they have the actual things Captain Cook found on his circumnavigation of the globe?”
“Circum… Verity, really, this place is turning your brain.”
“There are also books, engraved gems, coins, prints, and drawings,” Verity told her as they moved farther inside.
“I daresay,” Olivia said. “They seem to have a bit of everything. What a cramped jumble.”
“And then I want to see the Greek and Roman artifacts,” Verity continued, ignoring her friend’s comment. “And the Egyptian sculptures, of course.”
“My lord, do you mean to spend the whole day? Isn’t there a gigantic foot of… Apollo, wasn’t it?”
Verity turned to her, surprised and pleased. “Yes. How do you know that?”
“I can read, you know,” Olivia answered dryly. “I’m not a ninny.”
“Of course not. I just didn’t think you were interested.”
“Many things interest me. Who could resist seeing a gigantic foot? Let us begin there.”
“But I wanted to—”
“We can find your South Seas bits right after,” Olivia interrupted. She looked around, spotted an official, and went to speak to him. “This way,” she said when she returned.
Verity followed her through several rooms full of items she would have liked to examine. But Olivia was walking fast and disinclined to pause. “Aha,” she said a few minutes later.
They’d entered a large chamber adorned with Greek sculpture, but the more surprising sight was Miss Frances Reynolds standing alone beside one of the pieces. It represented the toes of a huge foot, Verity saw.
“Miss Reynolds, how odd to meet you here,” said Olivia.
Something in her tone bothered Verity. Olivia didn’t sound surprised.
The fair-haired girl flushed. “I’m waiting for someone.”
“Here? Whoever would you meet here?”
“A…a friend.”
“Are you ashamed of them?” Olivia asked with suspicious airiness.
“What? No, I… Of course not.”
“It’s just that a place like this.” Olivia gestured at the statuary. “Seems tailor-made to hide a connection you don’t want known.”
The younger girl looked stricken.
“Fanny,” said Olivia. “May I call you Fanny?”
“I’d prefer not,” said Miss Reynolds. “I dislike that diminutive of my name.”
Olivia rolled her eyes at Verity, as if to say what else can you expect of such a ninnyhammer. She turned to the sculpture. “How disappointing. It isn’t the whole foot. Just a few toes. An exhibit like this is practically guaranteed to convey disappointment.”
“There are many other things to see,” Verity said. She didn’t trust this oblique conversation.
“The Rosetta Stone,” said Miss Reynolds. “Which allowed scholars to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs.”
“Indeed.” Verity nodded.
“And the Elgin Marbles,” the younger girl added. “From the Parthenon. Byron called Lord Elgin ‘a filthy jackal’ who ‘gnaws at the bone’ of conquest for taking them away. In The Curse of Minerva.” She spoke distantly, as if thinking of something else. Something melancholy.
“Do you admire Byron?” Olivia said. “I wouldn’t have thought it of you.”
“I don’t admire him. Not in the least. I acknowledge that he has a gift for poetic expression.”
“How generous of you.”
“We’re going to see the South Seas materials,” Verity put in. “I’m particularly interested in those. You’re welcome to come along.” She ignored the face Olivia made.
“I think I’ll wait a bit longer,” Miss Reynolds replied. She seemed more determined than happy with her choice.
“Is your friend late?” inquired Olivia sweetly.
“Yes.”
“How thoughtless.” She turned and started toward the archway that led to other rooms.
Verity hesitated, then followed. “What was that about?” she asked when they’d left Miss Reynolds well behind.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t try to bam me. Something odd was going on back there.”
“Oh well.” Olivia smirked. “I may have sent Miss Reynolds a note that mentioned a certain bouquet and suggested a meeting by Apollo’s foot. A great touch, the foot, don’t you think? My father says