Page 74 of Inventing Vivian

Chapter 19

Benedict set down the crateand tried the door handle. He pulled and then strained against it, but it was no use. His mind raced, sorting through various scenarios. This was definitely not part of the plan. Had the door accidentally locked? Had Mr. Barnaby betrayed them? If so, to what end would he leave them in a deserted warehouse?

He turned, and seeing Vivian’s wide eyes in the moonlight, he put on a smile, hoping to calm her fear. “How very convenient,” he said. “Now I have all the time in the world to explain, and you have no choice but to listen to me.”

She darted a look to the door.

“Don’t worry,” he said, projecting a confidence he didn’t feel. “I’m sure Mr. Barnaby will return soon.”

Hearing the squeals of fighting rats, they returned with quick steps to the mummy crate, where the light was brightest.

Benedict hopped up to sit on the crate and offered a hand to assist Vivian.

“It seems disrespectful to the deceased,” she said, hesitating.

More squeaking and scampering apparently changed her mind, and she took his hand, allowing him to help her up. They pulled up their feet, sitting with legs crossed.

“When you said you had an idea to help Zhang Wei, I did not picture this.” Benedict grinned, hoping the teasing would calm her or at least distract her.

“Nor did I,” she said, grimacing as she looked over the crate’s edge. “I really don’t like this, my lord.”

They sat in silence for a moment, seeing the occasional furry body run between the shadows. Benedict had had no idea rats could be so noisy.

Vivian shivered, wrapping her arms around her knees.

Benedict broke the silence. “I never wanted to join the Newton League of Young Inventors in the first place.”

She stared at the floor.

“It was my father’s idea,” he continued. “I had no wish to spend my summer holiday in London. And I had no interest in scientific invention.”

Her mouth tightened, but she didn’t look at him.

“My father wouldn’t take no for an answer. And in the end, I convinced some friends to join as well.”

Vivian turned her head to the side, watching him. She kept an impassive expression but couldn’t hide the pain in her eyes. The wound he’d caused was deeper than he’d realized.

“You were so much smarter than any of us,” he said. “The teacher...” He paused, trying to remember the man’s name.

“Professor Graysom,” Vivian said in a quiet voice.

“Professor Graysom.” He nodded. “He always used your work as the example. You caught on to the most complicated equations, and I... I didn’t understand anything. I was embarrassed by it, and I—”

“You told your father to have me expelled,” she said.

“I did.” He swallowed. “I’m very ashamed of how I acted, Vivian. Please accept my apology. If there is any way to make it right...”

She didn’t answer, and he knew she was thinking about the exhibition.

“I haven’t the words to thank you for what you’ve done.” Benedict spoke in earnest. “For you to help Zhang Wei like this... to miss the exhibition after all your efforts. You are an incredible woman, Vivian.”

“How could I not try to help him?” she asked.

Although she tried to conceal it, he could hear the ache in her voice. “You deserved to be there,” he said. “I knew it as soon as I saw the Personal Propulsion Vehicle. You have the most brilliant mind of any person I know.”

She glanced at him and looked away.

“That is why I offered you the sponsorship. I demanded secrecy from Professor Wallis because I did not want you to believe it was done solely out of guilt for what happened—what I did to you—all those years ago. Although, I must admit that was part of it.”

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