“Oh yes, you’re the mathematician! He’s mentioned you. Fondly. Tell me . . .” Brook reached into a bag slung onto her shoulder and pulled out a few papers. “It’s really very fortuitous that I should run into you. I’ve been trying to find someone to discuss this with, but none of my friends care in the least, and my husband, who first introduced me to these concepts, is a bit busy at the present time. Have you read Professor Einstein’s latest paper on how general relativity describes the creation and fate of the universe?”

Margot’s fingers itched—not like her insides did when someone said something stupid, but in a way that made her reach out and take the proffered paper with more enthusiasm than could possibly be polite. “I have not been able to find any recent copies of the Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzungsberichte.”

“It’s rather difficult to get anything originally published in German right now, to be sure. But my grandfather has connections.” Brook waved a hand. “Keep that one, read it, and then I would love your thoughts, if you’ve the time. Are you volunteering here?”

She nearly nodded, just because of all the positivity thrumming through her head. But she caught herself. “No. I’m just visiting a patient with a friend.” Unable to resist, she thumbed through the journal.

“Then take this too.” A calling card appeared in Margot’s vision and tucked itself into the page of the journal she’d opened to. “When you’ve had a chance to read it, just jot me a note, and we’ll arrange tea or dinner or whatever is most convenient for you.”

“I will. Thank you so much, Your Grace.” She dragged her gaze off all those beautiful scientific words long enough to smile at the lady.

Said lady positioned a hat over her short curls with a grin. “Excellent. So glad to have met you, Margot. I’ll let you get back to your friend, and I to my boys, before my father can spoil them beyond recognition. Bonne soirée!”

“Merci. À vous aussi.” Margot’s eyes ran down the index of the journal. All the articles looked interesting, but she made special note of where Professor Einstein’s began—page 142. At least with all the codebreaking she’d been doing, her German was more or less fluent. She ought to be able to follow the professor’s words. And the numbers, of course, would speak for themselves in that language unique to them, independent of German or English or French.

The matron huffed and took Margot by the elbow, propelling her back into the corridor. “I ought to take that from you, young lady—it is surely a sin to fill your mind with that rot.”

“I beg your pardon?” Margot closed the journal and tucked it under the arm opposite the matron.