True Grey by Clea Simon Read Free Book Online

the long, lined sheet as if talking directly to it. ‘Are you here?’
    Nothing. Nothing beyond Lloyd’s voice, that is, which now seemed to be agreeing to something or other.
    â€˜It was probably one of Esmé’s,’ Dulcie realized, with a sinking feeling, and turned her attention back to the page. There was nothing of import here, just some old notes from the previous semester. Her handwriting really was atrocious. Not at all like . . .
    She stopped, frozen. That was it. What she had found in the Mildon was a handwritten draft, perhaps the first version of the book. And if the Mildon had the first draft in its collection, that gave Dulcie, as a resident scholar, an edge. No matter what else this Melinda Sloane Harquist may have found at Ellery University or wherever, she wouldn’t have the original manuscript. Even if she had more of the complete book, in its final printed form, she’d have a harder time proving that the author of
The Ravages
had written it without the handwritten manuscript. Of course, during her stay here, it was possible she might stumble upon the same page that Dulcie had. But Dulcie had another advantage: she’d been familiar with that handwriting. She’d seen it often enough in her dreams. If only she could get back in and keep looking . . .
    The gruff sound of Lloyd clearing his throat broke into her thoughts, and she looked up, annoyed, momentarily forgetting the reason he had been on the phone.
    â€˜Dulcie?’ Lloyd was looking at her with a questioning gaze, and she realized he’d probably been speaking to her.
    â€˜I’m sorry.’ She brushed the curls back from her face. ‘I got caught up in an idea.’
    He nodded absently. ‘Well, that’s good, I guess. And I have some good news, too. For starters, Rafe confirmed it
is
Melinda who’s coming to stay in the guest suite. And as far as getting in to talk with her, he’ll do what he can. She’s giving this talk on Sunday – you probably know about that – and then she’s supposed to go to the monthly master’s tea later that day, too. So you could meet her there, if you wanted to deal with a house’s worth of undergrads. But he told me there’s also going to be some kind of private welcoming reception for her tomorrow, Saturday. Seems she or – no, the dean – has ordered that they get a proper drinks cart from the student bartenders. The master’s sherry isn’t good enough for our visiting scholar.’ He paused. Under ordinary circumstances, they’d both be thrilled by this little bit of gossip.
    â€˜Too good for Harvey’s Bristol Cream?’ As distracted as she was, Dulcie managed a smile.
    â€˜Top shelf all the way, I gather.’ Her balding office mate leaned in. ‘I wonder what the deal is? No offense, Dulcie.’
    â€˜None taken.’ Lloyd had learned from Dulcie about the prejudice against the Gothics. ‘And I don’t know. I mean, a new work would be important to
me
, but it’s not like we’re going to find out she really wrote Shakespeare’s sonnets.’
    Lloyd looked interested for a moment. Then – as his quick mind calculated the dates – he came back to the moment.
    â€˜However, I may be able to help you. Rafe says he can’t get you in to the drinks party. That guest list is set. But he thinks you might be able to talk to her first. Turns out, he was asked to have her suite ready by two. The party is at five. She can’t take three hours to get ready for a party, can she?’
    Dulcie held her tongue. Ever since leaving the commune – what Lucy called an arts colony – she had learned that most of her gender was capable of doing just that and more. But if gorgeous Raleigh hadn’t initiated Lloyd into the finer points of mainstream American primping, then Dulcie liked her the better for it.
    â€˜So, will he introduce me?’ Now that