Voyage in Time: The Titanic (Out of Time #9) Read Free Page A

Evelyn before.”  
    “Haven’t I?”
    Elizabeth glared at him, but managed to shape her mouth into a curious smile as he turned to look at her.
    “No. Pretty sure I’d remember that.”
    It wasn’t that she was jealous. Simon was a grown man. A man who’d lived forty years before they’d met. Of course he’d had relationships. He’d probably had plenty of them. After all, he was handsome, smart, and rich. The women of England had probably thrown themselves at him relentlessly, like that hussy Evelyn.
    “Are you all right?” Simon asked.
    “Of course,” Elizabeth assured him, even though she wasn’t. In some confusing, territorial, primal way she felt threatened by a woman who, by all rights, didn’t even exist in this moment. The whole thing was surprisingly discombobulating. It was silly. Of all the things in the world she knew she could rely on, Simon’s love for her was a constant, above all else. And yet it still bothered her. She wasn’t going to let Simon know that, of course. He’d be far too gleeful about it. Although, judging from the smirk he was trying to hide, he had a pretty good idea already.
    “How far is it?” she said, hoping he’d let the conversation shift.
    He gave her one last enigmatic smile and then nodded toward a set of buildings. “That’s it right over there.”
    Cavendish Laboratory was an impressive three-story building that looked more like an elegant hotel than a lab. Simon led her through an elaborate arch that fed into a short tunnel. It made Elizabeth a little giddy to think that twenty-nine Nobel Prize winners had or would make that same walk.  
    They emerged into the inner courtyard where ivy climbed the walls.
    Simon paused and glanced around. “Over here, I think.”
    They walked toward a doorway and as they got close enough Elizabeth could read the placard, Maxwell Lecture Theatre. As Simon opened the door she heard voices inside.
    The lecture hall wasn’t very large and was nearly at capacity. There were six or seven rows of long, dark wooden desks and benches. Most were filled by students and fellow scientists. Their rumpled suits and pipes were as much a uniform as the students’ robes.
    A few outliers in cutaway morning suits and top hats sat in the back row. Elizabeth was, as far as she could see, the only woman there.
    An older gentleman, who looked exactly like the Monopoly guy, Rich Uncle Pennybags, right down to his white mustache and cane, bumped into Simon as he came into the room.
    He tipped his top hat in apology. “So sorry. Terribly clumsy.” He noticed Elizabeth and took off his hat completely and bowed chivalrously. “Madam.”
    She smiled back and then looked for seats again. “Quite the turnout.”
    “Yes, I don’t know if—” he said. “Ohhh, I see three over there. If you don’t mind some company.”
    “Not at all.”
    “Bully!” He held out his arm for Elizabeth to take, then seemed to remember Simon. He looked at him, a little abashed, and cleared his throat and bowed again. “Sir Charles Ridley.”
    Simon removed his hat and held out his hand. “Sir Simon Cross and my wife, Elizabeth.”
    “Charming.” He smiled at her and then glanced up at the empty set of seats. “I’m afraid we’d better …”
    Simon nodded and gestured for Ridley to proceed. Ridley held out his arm again for Elizabeth. She took it and he smiled broadly at her as he patted her hand and led her up the stairs.
    “Are you the scientific enthusiast or is your husband?”  
    Elizabeth was impressed he hadn’t simply assumed it was Simon’s interest that had brought them here.
    “A little of both.”
    “Very good. Shared passions are healthy for a marriage. Although for the life of me I never could make a go of Whist no matter how often we played. Dreadful game.”
    Elizabeth barely managed not to laugh as they took their seats.
    Simon leaned around her and addressed Sir Charles. “I take it you’re familiar with Thomson’s work.”
    “Oh