Noble Secrets
Chapter One
Department of Aetherics, Huntington University, 4 July 1862
Pauline looked up from her newspaper. It was still early, and she’d been enjoying the summertime quiet, but the sound of men’s voices ascending the stairs—presumably attached to her bosses—meant it was time to get back to work. She folded the paper and put it in her large reticule so no one would see her reading it. In spite of the university being a bastion of learning, it was frowned upon for the staff—well, female staff—to engage in intellectual pursuits.
She turned on the steam kettle and set up the tea tray, turning in time to see four men walk into the front hall of the department.
Dean Hartford led the charge. Pauline mentally ticked off what he would want - Earl Grey, extra strong. Two bluebe
