Aurelie rose and greeted them one by one, first Daisy, then Jasper. She noticed Gareth was missing and frowned. Des filed in last, and the moment their eyes met, she felt heat rush to her cheeks. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking when he acknowledged her with a curt nod.
Daisy proceeded directly to the tea service Aurelie had set out and helped herself to a cup of sugar with a splash of tea, while Jasper took an armchair. Des apparently intended to stand as far from Aurelie as possible. He leaned against a wall with his arms folded over his chest.
“Can I assume from your presence you’ve agreed to help me?” Aurelie asked.
“Gareth was the first to volunteer,” Daisy said.
Des tore his gaze from Aurelie to look at Daisy. “And I forbade it.”
“He tried to forbid me, too,” Jasper added. “Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t been promoted yet.”
Aurelie nodded. “I see. So the three of you will help?”
“Yule is Thursday,” Des said, as if they weren’t all aware. “My promotion is scheduled for Wednesday. And as far as I understand it, you need to complete this portal by Friday.”
“That’s correct.”
“We all have shifts in the coming days,” Des said. “We have Yule off, but we have to work a twenty-four-hour shift starting tonight. We’re on a skeleton crew this week.”
“I’ll take whatever help I can get,” Aurelie said. “Thank you for being here.”
Des and Jasper nodded. Daisy, bless her, smiled.
“Erm, right. I suppose I’m in charge of all this, aren’t I?” Aurelie laughed awkwardly and gestured to the notes scattered on the floor. “These runes are, I believe, the key to activating the portal. I think my time is best spent trying to interpret the rest of them, since I have, at this point, at least some familiarity with Elder Vansion.”
The only person who seemed to have any idea what she was talking about was Daisy, who nodded for her to continue. Perhaps she was simply being encouraging.
“For Jasper and Des, it would be extremely helpful if you’d begin placing the stones into the frame. They are quite heavy and I’m not sure Daisy or I will be of much use there. Though of course you are welcome to help them,” she added hastily, nodding to Daisy.
“That’s all right. Is there something else I can help with?”
“We need to affix the metal plates to the stones. I’ve tried out several methods and have found an adhesive that I believe will work best.”
“Go on,” Des said when she hesitated.
“Well, I tested a gelatin-based glue, but it’s not particularly waterproof. Not that there will be water involved, necessarily, but one never knows. I’ve also been experimenting with my slug elixir, though I lack a large supply of slugs, so unfortunately, I will have toput that project on hold. Something to keep in mind for the future, though. Then there are the plant-based glues, of course. Pine pitch, whichiswaterproof. I’ve done some trials with a certain type of mistletoe. Oh! And there’s a bacterium which I believe...”
Aurelie looked up to find all three guards staring at her.
She cleared her throat. “I believe acacia resin will work best.”
“Acacia resin it is,” Daisy said with a grin.
“Excellent.” She glanced at Des to find him watching her intently, his brow furrowed, his arms still folded across his chest as though he were deliberately guarding his heart. She remembered the way his muscles had felt beneath her hands, reddened, and stooped to gather her papers. She’d tied the bow at her throat extra tight today, to make up for her utter lack of control yesterday. “Very well. I’ll take you all to my workshop and let you get to it, then.”
“Jasper knows the way,” Des said, shooting a pointed look at the other guards. “I’d like to speak with Aurelie for a moment, if you don’t mind getting started.”
Jasper nodded, but not before Aurelie caught him and Daisy sharing a glance that seemed a little too knowing for her liking. Des wouldn’t have told them about what happened last night, surely. He hardly communicated in anything other than grunts and commands. But when Daisy turned on the threshold and winked at Aurelie, she knew they at least had some inkling of what had transpired.
When the others were gone, Aurelie—her cheeks still burning with embarrassment—picked up the tea tray and headed toward the kitchen. She could feel Des behind her, his warm, looming presence. He followed silently until she’d placed the tray on the counter and began to fill the sink with water.
“Aurelie.”
“Hm?”
“Turn around and look at me, please.”
“I’d rather not.”