Page 83 of Jessica Beam is a Hot Mess

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I blink in surprise. So… the projectisn’tover?

I clear my throat and gaze up at him. ‘Oh, Leo,’ I croon in the slinky Lucille voice. ‘You are soooo thoughtful.’

And we’re back.

* * *

Early European Rivalries in the New World: Spain vs Portugal Conflicts and the Battle for Empire

The Decline of Indigenous Empires and the Shift in Global Power Structures During the Age of Discovery

The Role of the Ottoman Empire in Shaping European Exploration Routes

The Rise of Mercantilism: How Economic Policies Fueled European Expansion During the Age of Discovery

Leo arranges for a Woolf Frost town car to take me back to Bonham Square, and when I get there Grandma is eagerly awaiting my return.

She jumps up from her chair as soon as I enter the drawing room,Lady Chatterley’s Loverclattering to the floor. Huh. She’s taking her sweet time with that book. I wonder if she’s just rereading the filthy bits like I do.

‘How did it go, dear?’ she asks,super eagerly. ‘What happened? I’ve been waiting for you to get back!’

I flop down onto the sofa and sprawl out, completely drained of all my energy.

‘Frost took me to a coffee house.’

Grandma blinks. ‘Not to dinner? How … unusual.’

‘It was a poetry night.’

‘Poetry?’ Grandma pulls a face. ‘Poor you.’

If I wasn’t so ill, I’d laugh.

‘Did he try to kiss you?’ she asks hopefully.

Hmm. I think he might have done if I hadn’t just barfed up. Grandma doesn’t need to know that, though, it’ll just bum her out.

‘He did,’ I lie. ‘But I turned so it landed on my cheek, just like the guide said. He’s asked me out again for Thursday night.’

‘Oh, how wonderful!’ Grandma claps her hands together. ‘I am so pleased, Jessica. You’re doing so well. So well. Remember, you must write down what happened for the book. The sooner we have something to show Valentina the better.’

Oh yeah. The first twenty thousand words. I’d forgotten about those. Blerg.

Grandma peers at me worriedly through her big red glasses. ‘Are you all right? You look a little peaky.’ She reaches across and flattens the back of her cold hand against my forehead.

‘I feel a bit sick’ I say − the understatement of the century. ‘Nowt to worry about, though. Just a dicky tummy.’

‘Hmm,’ Grandma murmurs. ‘Peach has been unwell too. Perhaps it’s a bug of some sort.’ She pats my knee. ‘Get yourself to bed, dear. I’m sure the pair of you will feelmuchbetter in the morning.Everythinglooks better in the morning.’