Page 48 of Fangs, Frost, and Folios
Beatrice knew the man was right. In her heart of hearts, she was still a librarian. “Good night, René. And happy holidays, whatever you celebrate.”
He walked into the shadows and disappeared, the muffled sound of the car door shutting the only sign of him before the black sedan sped into the night.
“And away from England he speeds.” Beatrice turned to the glowing lights of Audley Manor in the distance. Who was the villain here? The thief who came to steal what was stolen from another? The one who stole without knowing? Or the villain who valued ambition over innocent life?
“Will was right,” she murmured into the cold night. “The devil is a definitely a gentleman.”
Mystery and adventure made her blood flow, but the night was as cold as the great stone manor house, and Beatrice was ready to go home.
The fire rose in the night, sparks flying into the eucalyptus-scented air of San Marino. Ben and Dema stood nearby after they situated Caspar and Isadora on the porch and covered the elderly couple with blankets to ward off the cold.
Isadora’s expression was bright, and she watched the girls. “Look at them. Kaya has gotten so tall. The little girls are growing up.”
Caspar smiled. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”
“Do you think she should wait for her parents?”
Dema said, “The momentous occasion happened this morning, so she decided that this had to take place tonight.” The nanny smiled at Isadora. “Since this is Sadia’s thing, she gets to make the rules.”
Caspar nodded. “Very appropriate.”
The guest of honor stood next to the fire in her favorite shirt, the grey one with black crosses on it. Her best friend Kaya stood behind her, wearing a white shirt with grey crosses. Both girls wore a solemn expression as Tenzin and Zain added wood to the fire.
“Dark and light twins,” Ben whispered to Dema.
The nanny nodded. “So cool.”
“Much cooler than us.”
With reverence, Tenzin flew into the air, holding a gold vase. She reached inside, then brought her hand out, tossing water over Sadia, who stood before the fire with her arms outstretched. Then she threw some of the water into the fire where it steamed and rose in a cloud.
“Rainwater from the neighbor’s catch barrels,” Dema said.
“Rainwater?”
“Something about a storm goddess from Aleppo.”
Ben nodded. “That’s pretty cool.”
“Tap water wasn’t okay—it had to be rainwater, so I told her the Prescotts had a really big vegetable garden and probably had rain buckets.”
“Good thinking.”
“I have my moments.”
Sadia sat on a leopard-skin rug as Tenzin landed behind her.
Dema asked, “Is that a real leopard skin?”
“Yeah,” Ben said. “It was in her storage unit here. I’m pretty sure it’s a few hundred years old, so I don’t think it’s illegal, and I can’t get her to get rid of it. She said the leopard tried to eat her and it was a fair fight, so she’s keeping it.”
“I guess since it’s already dead…” Dema shrugged.
“With Tenzin, you have to pick your battles, and this was a better choice than her stealing a live leopard.”
“Would she be able to—?”
“With her, anything is possible.”
