Read Online The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams - Free Book Online Page B

expect any favorable treatment, not at all. I’m just another fellow here, after all.”
    â€œNot just another fellow, Miss Schuyler. You are by far my most promising student. With your diligence and your elegant mind, you make the others seem like factory drudges.”
    Violet looked into her muddy tea. “Thank you.”
    â€œMy dear”—his tone shifted, taking on a sympathetic weight—“believe me, I do know how difficult it is for you, surrounded by these men of narrow and conservative attitudes, who don’t understand you. Isn’t it?”
    â€œI have no cause to complain.” Her eyes stung. She kept them trained on her cup.
    He shook his head and leaned in a little. “My dear, dear child. I’ve seen how they avoid you, how they refuse to include you in any of the usual social activities, lunch and tea and that sort of thing. Did you think I hadn’t?”
    â€œI hope you haven’t wasted your time with such trivial concerns, Dr. Grant. I’m getting along just fine.”
    â€œTell me, my dear, has any one of them approached you outside of the institute? Has any one of them perhaps offered you any sort of outstretched hand at all?”
    â€œNothing of any significance.”
    â€œSomething, then?”
    â€œI’ve received a note or two at my room. Invitations to tea.”
    â€œHave you answered them?”
    â€œNo. I thought it improper. I didn’t even recognize the names.”
    â€œAh, Violet.” He placed his tea on the edge of the desk and took her hand. “You must understand, you’re an exceptionally attractive woman, young and quite obviously inexperienced. I’m afraid this university has no shortage of cads wishing to take advantage of that inexperience.”
    His hand was warm around hers. “I am perfectly capable of understanding the difference, Dr. Grant. As I said, I haven’t answered the notes. I don’t have the slightest interest that way in any of my colleagues.”
    â€œGood.” He patted their enclosed hands. “Very good. I’m relieved tohear it. I take a particular interest in you, Violet. I see you as a kind of protégé. I intend to look after your interests with all the zeal in my power.”
    His kind voice made her eyes prickle with tears. She wouldn’t tell him, she couldn’t tell him how lonely she’d been, nobody saying a word to her, cold glances and cold lunches, her cramped and empty rooms at the end of the day. Studying, studying. Her coffee delivered hot in the morning by her landlady, accompanied by the only smile she would receive until her return that evening. The alien voices and vehicles and architecture, the September drizzle parted at intervals by a fickle sun. At least at Radcliffe she knew a few other girls like her, ambitious and clever girls, who were always happy to commiserate over hot cocoa at midnight. Here she had nobody, she had less than nobody: a negative space of openly hostile company.
    â€œYou are so kind,” she said.
    â€œThere, now. If you have any trouble, Violet, you’re to come to my office immediately. You may ring me at any time, day or night. You’re to think of me as an uncle, Violet, a very dear uncle who admires you greatly.”
    If his words were a little more fulsome than avuncular, Violet was too grateful to notice. She blinked back her tears and returned the squeeze of his warm hands. She looked up into his face—the face of Dr. Grant, brilliant and renowned
Dr. Walter Grant
, gazing at her with such tenderness! She was overcome with gratitude; she was melting with it. “Thank you, sir.”
    He shook his head, smiling. “You must call me Walter, in these rooms. I’m your uncle, remember? Your nearest relation here.”
    â€œYes, of course.” But she couldn’t quite bring herself to say
Walter
, not yet.
    He gave her hand a last pat and picked up his cup.