Property of a Lady Faire (A Secret Histories Novel) by Simon R. Green Page A

myself time to work out exactly what I was going to say. It wasn’t going to be easy, because there was no right thing to say, but it was important to me that we understood each other. I brushed crushed grass off my clothes, to let her know I was approaching, and then moved carefully in beside her. I had enough sense not to touch her.
    “Visiting the Regent, my Grandfather, in search of answers . . . is next on my list of things to do,” I said. “Right after I’ve talked to the Council.”
    “You had time to stop off for a drink at the Wulfshead,” said Molly, still not looking at me.
    “That was business,” I said. “And this spying on me is becoming less charming by the moment.”
    Molly turned her head to scowl at me, her dark eyes flashing dangerously. “You promised me that when we got back from France, we’d go straight to Uncanny and get some straight answers out of the Regent! I want to know who gave him the order to execute my mother and father! I want to know exactly who in your family was responsible!”
    “And we will,” I said. “I promised. But first, loath as I am to admit it, I do have duties and responsibilities to my family.”
    She looked away again. “That’s always been your problem, Eddie. Always one more mission, one more thing that needs doing . . .”
    “Molly . . .”
    “Cut the cord, Eddie! Before I decide to do it for you, and in a way you won’t like. What’s holding you here?”
    “Right now?” I said.
    “You didn’t have to come back here for a debriefing, and you know it!”
    “You’re right,” I said. “I’m here because I was called back to attend the reading of my grandmother’s will. The mission was just something to keep me busy till all the paperwork was in order.”
    Molly looked at me blankly. “But . . . Martha was killed ages ago! And they’re only now getting around to the reading of the will? Why has it taken so long?”
    “Things move slowly inside the family,” I said. “Customs and protocols, and all that. And to be fair, we have all been very busy. Anyway, I have to be present for the reading, because apparently I’m mentioned in the will.”
    “Ooh!” said Molly, brightening immediately. “Any chance she’s left you some money?”
    “What do we need with money?” I said, suddenly suspicious. “Last time I looked, we had enough tucked away to last several lifetimes. Have you been shopping in the Nightside again?”
    “Of course we don’t need the money,” said Molly, her voice maddeningly calm and reasonable. “It’s the principle of the thing.”
    “No, it isn’t,” I said. “With you, it’s never the principle of the thing. It’s always all about the money!”
    “So you do think she’s left you something!”
    “I don’t know,” I said. “The Armourer just said I was . . . mentioned in the will. And knowing Grandmother, almost certainly not in a good way.”
    Molly looked at me thoughtfully. “You know, most people have two sets of grandparents. I know the Regent, your grandfather Arthur, was Martha’s first husband. Before she kicked him out of the family, and married Alistair . . . and that Emily was her daughter by that first marriage, who married your father, Charles . . . Or Diana and Patrick as they now like to be known . . . God, your family’s complicated, Eddie. But where are your father’s parents? What about his family?”
    “Good question,” I said. “I have no idea. The Droods never like to talk about outside relatives. Inside the Hall, it’s only Droods who matter. Makes it easier to instill family loyalty and duty. I grew up thinking both my parents were dead, and my family never wanted to talk about either of them. When I finally got to meet my parents, there just wasn’t time to stop and talk . . . And since they’ve gone missing again . . .”
    “Complicated,” said Molly. “Very complicated.”
    “It is something I think about,” I said. “I like to believe that there’s another