Page 86 of Royally Rivalled

“Well, I wanted your honest assessment of her.”

My panic flashed to confusion. “Um… as in how?”

“Is Astrid—in your opinion—as good as she seems? I’ve not taught her yet. The only work I’ve done with her is via the projects we’ve worked on. She does good work, but I know you helped with that.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. He was still in the dark.

“Astrid is very talented—exceptionally intelligent. She’s moregifted than most of my peers,” I said. “Do not tell them that. She can trounce Jeremy, for example, in maths. And her ability to question things and tease out concepts is fabulous.”

“And you enjoyed working with her—you do.”

Yes, of course. She was in my goddamn bed this morning, begging me to eat her out.

“We get on fine,” I answered diplomatically. “She’s very… professional and clever.”

“I ask because I know you’re a stickler. Quite demanding.”

“Well, I have to be. I want everyone to be their best. Astrid is blazing through classes. She just got perfect scores on her exams.”

“How did you know that? I don’t even know that.”

Because outside of this place, I spend every hour I get with her.

“She told me. We have… bonded, I suppose.”

Briggs smiled. “Good.”

“Why do you ask? She’s not in trouble?”

Briggs laughed. “No… uh… we are going to extend her an offer to move into the doctoral program after she finishes her coursework.”

I gaped.

“If she’s interested anyway.”

I sat on this information, unsure if Astrid would go for it. She was talented and should move forward. She would be wasted back home. I wanted so badly to say how proud of her I was and how this was a massive achievement, but I’d have to sit on my hands.

“What are you doing for the holiday?” Briggs asked.

“Uh, for the next few days, marking essays. She and I split them. We’ll compare marks soon. Get that out of the way before we leave.” I caught myself. “Well, we’re both leaving town about the same time, I guess.”

“Any plans?”

“Just going to see a friend,” I said.

“Good. It’s always nice to get away. I got your draft. You’re first on my schedule after I return.”

“Thanks,” I felt sick just thinking about thesis feedback.

“I figure we can schedule a defence for February.”

“That soon?”

“Parker, this thing was ready to go two months ago. Do not kid yourself. You can graduate and try to look for jobs. What are you even going to do? It would be best if you had been on the market. I know you do notneedemployment, but you’d be wasted. You love to teach. I know someone looking for a lecturer at St. Andrews.”

“I have a lot to consider,” I said.

“I will drop her a line.”

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