Rosa and the Veil of Gold Read Online Free Page A

telling a joke about an archaeologist and a mummy. Daniel tried to focus on his conversation with Aaron. “I don’t know. I like to leave my options open.”
    Aaron raised his eyebrows. “So what do you want me to tell Frank?”
    “Don’t tell him anything yet. I’ll think about it.”
    A moment later, Em was there at his shoulder. “Daniel? Can I interrupt?” She crouched, resting her small pale hands on the table.
    “Morning, Em,” said Aaron. “Day off today?”
    “Yes, Daniel and I are driving up to St Petersburg. I’ll need you to sign off on the car for me.”
    “That’s fine.”
    “Daniel, I’d like to leave just after one o’clock. That’s not too late for you?”
    “No, no,” Daniel said, though last night he’d spent the hours until he fell asleep fantasising about meeting Rosa for a long, languid lunch which ended with sex.
    “Good. I’ll drop by your room.” She stood and delicately plucked a roll from the bread basket before withdrawing.
    “Does she ever join the rest of them for breakfast?” Daniel asked Aaron.
    Aaron watched her go. “Not really. Same with other meals. She’snot a people person.” He turned his attention to Daniel. “But you needn’t be so afraid of her.”
    “I’m not afraid of her,” Daniel said dismissively.
    “Well, I don’t see you having too many script meetings with her.”
    “She doesn’t need my help.”
    “Everyone can use a bit of help.” Aaron refilled his mug from the teapot on the table.
    “Maybe I am a little intimidated,” Daniel admitted. “She’s famous, she’s attractive, she’s clever…and she’s a bit cold.”
    “No, not cold. Just professional. And she’d probably appreciate some help with her Russian.” Aaron laughed. “Though not for long.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Every shoot we’ve been on for this series, she’s picked up the local language in a couple of weeks.”
    “Maybe she already knew them.”
    “No. Czech, Turkish…she was speaking Italian in six days.”
    “How well?”
    “Well enough. Language is no barrier.”
    Daniel shook his head. “If she’s a genius, she definitely doesn’t need my help on the scripts.”
    “Humour me,” Aaron said, taking his mug and readying to leave. “Do what you’re paid to do. We’re old mates. Don’t make me have to get heavy with you.”
    Aaron left and Daniel poked at his blini, feeling like an ineffectual fool. Was it any wonder Rosa hadn’t stayed?
    “Why so glum, Daniel?” This was Richard, breaking away from the group and turning his chair to Daniel. “Work troubles? Or girl troubles?”
    “Both. Neither,” Daniel said. “I think the problem is me.”
    Richard shrugged. “You can’t escape yourself,” he said.
    “Yeah,” said Daniel. “I’d better get sorted.”
    Rosa found the bear uppermost in her thoughts and wondered about its enchantment. Its odd human-like face—Slavic eyes above the bear snout, a knowing smile on full lips—waited just behind the veil of her perception, ready to peek out as she fell asleep orwhen she gave her imagination over to idle thoughts. What did it want?
    “What’s that dirty piece of rubbish?” said Larissa, Vasily’s lady friend, bustling into the office as though she owned it. Maybe she thought one day she would.
    “The men found it at the building site,” Rosa said.
    “It needs a good scrub,” Larissa sniffed, rubbing a well-manicured thumb over the bear’s mouldy belly. She strode through to Vasily’s room, purple scarves and French perfume streaming in her wake.
    “Maybe you do need a good scrub,” Rosa said to the bear, picking it up and taking it into the kitchenette with her. She cleared a space between empty coffee cups and searched for a soft cloth, pausing for a moment to consider the bear.
    Rosa’s second sight was untrained, but she had learned over the years how to open it up and close it down at will; now she took a breath and opened it, feeling the rush of magic upon her eyes