trust.”
“Only if the powers involved are invoked for weak motives,” Orient said evenly. “I’ll be happy to sit in.”
“I think it’s important darling,” Sybelle assured him. I told the count what I told you last night and he said that Carl never told him anything about his work in Lycanthropy. And the count agrees about the gun.”
Orient shrugged. “A man committing suicide isn’t logical. And many men prefer to work in secrecy.”
“Quite right,” Germaine chuckled with forced heartiness. “It’s the nature of the alchemist to work alone, eh doctor? A remnant of the days when inventors, scientists, and magicians were burned at the stake. Come,” he said as if the idea had just given him an appetite, “let’s have lunch.”
Hannah, Neilson, Lily, and Maxwell were seated around the dining table, waiting for them as they entered.
Hannah smiled vaguely and shook the little brass bell on the table next to her. A stout woman dressed in a white starched uniform took a step into the dining room, counted heads, and popped back into the kitchen. She reappeared in a few minutes with a large tray and began’ serving.
Orient glanced at Lily, sitting across from him. Her hair was a coppery flash against the clinging, black leather jumpsuit that outlined the long, supple curves of her body. She seemed engrossed in her whispered conversation with Maxwell. Orient wondered if the young Englishman had also declared himself Lily’s sponsor. He decided it was none of his business and tried to focus on what Hannah was saying.
“It couldn’t be avoided; I had to ask Anthony to leave this morning. I don’t want him to interfere with the séance.” Hannah’s neck was thin and very white against the black silk collar of her suit. Severely drawn-back hair accentuated the pointed, birdlike features of her face. Her eyes were set deep in blue circles that betrayed her insomnia and grief. “I was so tired of fighting with him,” she said softly.
“He’s a most unpleasant man,” Sybelle said, consolingly. “You did the best thing.”
Hannah turned. “I’ve put aside the crystals Carl left you. The package is in the library along with the things for Daniel and Maxwell.”
“You shouldn’t bother, Hannah, darling,” Sybelle clucked. “Why don’t you come stay with me for a few months?”
“Yes, I do plan to close the house and go somewhere. But I don’t know where yet.”
“I’ll be very interested to see Carl’s thesis,” Germaine said as he poured some wine into Hannah’s glass. “I had no idea he was interested in Lycanthropy.”
Hannah lowered her eyes. “Carl was working on something for years, but even I don’t know much about it.”
Germaine nodded. “Is it available?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t with the other documents in the lab,” she said softly. “But one drawer is still locked. We can’t find the key to it.”
“You’ll probably run across it,” he assured her, “no hurry.” He looked around the table. “Perhaps we should go over the agenda,” he said.
“When do we start, count?” Neilson rumbled.
“Right after lunch. We’ll have our regular five member meeting and then call in the candidates separately. Dr. Orient and Sybelle will give the first demonstration.” He turned and smiled at Lily. “Our young prophetess needs some time to prepare herself. We’ll see her in the late afternoon.”
Her amber eyes looked almost yellow in the sunlit room. “I hope Owen doesn’t mind warming you up,” she said, smiling.
“Owen won’t mind,” Maxwell assured her. “He’s of the old school. I know the breed well. A vanishing breed I might add, and all proper ladies and gentlemen.”
He was intent on the wine he was pouring and all that could be seen of his face was the smirking mouth.
“Perhaps I can help you further your studies,” Orient said calmly. “Our breed is full of surprises.”
Maxwell reached across the table and filled Orient’s
“Only if the powers involved are invoked for weak motives,” Orient said evenly. “I’ll be happy to sit in.”
“I think it’s important darling,” Sybelle assured him. I told the count what I told you last night and he said that Carl never told him anything about his work in Lycanthropy. And the count agrees about the gun.”
Orient shrugged. “A man committing suicide isn’t logical. And many men prefer to work in secrecy.”
“Quite right,” Germaine chuckled with forced heartiness. “It’s the nature of the alchemist to work alone, eh doctor? A remnant of the days when inventors, scientists, and magicians were burned at the stake. Come,” he said as if the idea had just given him an appetite, “let’s have lunch.”
Hannah, Neilson, Lily, and Maxwell were seated around the dining table, waiting for them as they entered.
Hannah smiled vaguely and shook the little brass bell on the table next to her. A stout woman dressed in a white starched uniform took a step into the dining room, counted heads, and popped back into the kitchen. She reappeared in a few minutes with a large tray and began’ serving.
Orient glanced at Lily, sitting across from him. Her hair was a coppery flash against the clinging, black leather jumpsuit that outlined the long, supple curves of her body. She seemed engrossed in her whispered conversation with Maxwell. Orient wondered if the young Englishman had also declared himself Lily’s sponsor. He decided it was none of his business and tried to focus on what Hannah was saying.
“It couldn’t be avoided; I had to ask Anthony to leave this morning. I don’t want him to interfere with the séance.” Hannah’s neck was thin and very white against the black silk collar of her suit. Severely drawn-back hair accentuated the pointed, birdlike features of her face. Her eyes were set deep in blue circles that betrayed her insomnia and grief. “I was so tired of fighting with him,” she said softly.
“He’s a most unpleasant man,” Sybelle said, consolingly. “You did the best thing.”
Hannah turned. “I’ve put aside the crystals Carl left you. The package is in the library along with the things for Daniel and Maxwell.”
“You shouldn’t bother, Hannah, darling,” Sybelle clucked. “Why don’t you come stay with me for a few months?”
“Yes, I do plan to close the house and go somewhere. But I don’t know where yet.”
“I’ll be very interested to see Carl’s thesis,” Germaine said as he poured some wine into Hannah’s glass. “I had no idea he was interested in Lycanthropy.”
Hannah lowered her eyes. “Carl was working on something for years, but even I don’t know much about it.”
Germaine nodded. “Is it available?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t with the other documents in the lab,” she said softly. “But one drawer is still locked. We can’t find the key to it.”
“You’ll probably run across it,” he assured her, “no hurry.” He looked around the table. “Perhaps we should go over the agenda,” he said.
“When do we start, count?” Neilson rumbled.
“Right after lunch. We’ll have our regular five member meeting and then call in the candidates separately. Dr. Orient and Sybelle will give the first demonstration.” He turned and smiled at Lily. “Our young prophetess needs some time to prepare herself. We’ll see her in the late afternoon.”
Her amber eyes looked almost yellow in the sunlit room. “I hope Owen doesn’t mind warming you up,” she said, smiling.
“Owen won’t mind,” Maxwell assured her. “He’s of the old school. I know the breed well. A vanishing breed I might add, and all proper ladies and gentlemen.”
He was intent on the wine he was pouring and all that could be seen of his face was the smirking mouth.
“Perhaps I can help you further your studies,” Orient said calmly. “Our breed is full of surprises.”
Maxwell reached across the table and filled Orient’s
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