Secrets of the Dragon Tomb by Patrick Samphire

commanded. “And my goodness, what has happened to your hair? Oh dear, this is a disaster! Why could he not have let us know he was coming? We are all in such a state.”
    As far as I could tell, we were all dressed much as normal—except Putty, of course, and Putty was never dressed normally. What else could any visitor expect this early? He was lucky we weren’t all in our nightclothes.
    Papa had vanished into his workshop—sometimes Papa was far cleverer than me—but Mama didn’t seem to notice. She swept toward the drawing room, only pausing to pinch her cheeks, to add an unnecessary hint of color to her skin.
    The visitor was much taller than Papa or Freddie. He had great, broad shoulders, big hands, and wavy hair that was starting to turn gray. He’d been sitting by the fireplace, but he stood as we entered, and bowed smoothly. Mama, Jane, and Olivia curtseyed in response. Putty bowed, just as I did, and I tried not to roll my eyes.
    â€œSir Titus,” Mama said. “You do us an immense honor. It’s been such a long time.”
    Sir Titus smiled. “Far too long, madam.” His voice was deep.
    Mama looked on the point of fainting. “May I introduce my children, Sir Titus? Jane, my oldest, Olivia, Edward, and”—she threw a despairing glance at Putty—“Parthenia.”
    â€œDelighted,” Sir Titus said, and swept us all with his gaze. There was something I didn’t like about his look. He seemed to be laughing at us. Jane and Mama didn’t seem to share my opinion, though. Both almost swooned.
    Mama, Jane, and Olivia seated themselves on a chaise longue opposite Sir Titus. Sir Titus lowered himself elegantly onto his chair, and Putty and I sat together.
    â€œI had hoped,” Sir Titus said, “to make the acquaintance of your husband, madam. Mr. Sullivan’s fame has spread across all of Mars, and Earth besides. His inventions have changed the face of our worlds. Is he at home?”
    â€œAt work,” Mama lied smoothly. “His business has detained him, I fear. He is a very busy man.”
    Well, he was certainly busy, but I couldn’t imagine he’d be thinking about the part of the business that actually made him any money. Right now, he’d be in the depths of his water abacus, oblivious to anything except its pipes and switches and dials.
    â€œA shame,” Sir Titus said with a quick smile. “It would have been an honor to tell people that I had met the famous Mr. Sullivan.”
    â€œOh, but not so famous as the legendary Sir Titus Dane!” Jane blurted, then blushed.
    â€œI’ve never even heard of Sir Titus Dane,” Putty muttered beside me. I hushed her, although I had never heard of him, either.
    Sir Titus’s eyes tightened.
    â€œIt’s been such a long time since we had word of you, Sir Titus,” Mama said. “Ten years, at least, although it feels longer.”
    Sir Titus bowed his head slightly. “My business has been most unremarkable, and I have not been on Mars in that time, I fear. I have had tedious matters on Earth to occupy my time. My father’s business too often takes me away from where I would most like to be, as you must know, Mrs. Sullivan.”
    â€œOh, yes,” Mama sighed. She turned to the rest of us. “I knew Sir Titus as a girl in Tharsis City, you see. He once promised to take me to Paris and Vienna. He was a very ardent admirer of mine, were you not, Sir Titus?”
    â€œAnd still am, madam.”
    Mama blushed. “Sadly, Sir Titus was forced to travel away from Tharsis on his father’s business, and we did not see each other again after that time. If he had not been so forced, I dare to think … Well.” She let out a breathless laugh, as brittle as crystal. “That was a long time ago.”
    â€œAnd a source of many regrets, also,” Sir Titus said.
    Olivia lifted her handkerchief and gave a little