Grimoires and Where to Find Them by Raconteur, Honor (ebook reader for laptop .txt) 📕

Oh? He looked as if someone had just smacked him upside the head. And was he even breathing? I followed his gaze and saw Niamh pass by, his eyes automatically drawn to her.

Ah. That oh. “Gerring, man up already. There’s music playing in the other room, go ask her to dance.”

He swallowed hard, eyes still glued to her. “Am I even on her level?”

“You won’t be if you don’t man up,” I responded in exasperation. “Look, you’re a full-fledged detective. Just as good as being a kingsman. Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Yes,” he answered absently. “No. I don’t know. She’s just so amazing.”

Where’s a clue bat when I need one? “Faint heart never wooed fair lady.”

He blinked at me in confusion. “What?”

“Just go, already.” I gave him a shove between his shoulder blades.

Gerring went, looking a little dazed still, but determined. I saw him approach Niamh, gesture toward the room with the music, and she gracefully took the hand he extended. See? Not hard, Gerring. Most women will accept an offer to dance.

Sherard slipped in to stand at my side, and he regarded the two with amusement. “Did he finally make a move?”

“Finally, yeah. Good timing, too, I think our grimoire is due in about five minutes.” We’d scheduled this to make it look like a natural party, with people arriving a little early, or on time, or fifteen minutes late. That, and we wanted a good bulk of people here before the grimoire arrived, just in case.

Andrea Tilton was not quite what I envisioned when I thought of a semi-retired magician. She was tall enough to give me a run for my money, with ice-pink hair and a boisterous personality. Within the first five minutes of meeting me, she told me she had been a showgirl in her teens and had paid her way through school with the money she’d made. Then she promptly showed me a picture.

It was with that showman style that she entered the house, wearing a flattering black evening gown, pink hair pulled up in a mad collection of curls high up on her head.

She called out in a strong voice, “Marvella! I’m here!”

Marvella rushed (I used that word very loosely, as she was too old to actually run anywhere) for the door, her hands already reaching out. “I’m so glad you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting on pins and needles all week. How are you, Andrea?”

“I’m fine, dear, and goodness, what a party! You are excited to have this back.”

“I truly am. Come over here, put it on the table. I’ve got a spot of honor for it in the study.”

Andrea followed directions and came into the smaller study, where a round table had been put in the center of the room for tonight. Eddy had said the study would be perfect for two reasons. One, it was the expected place for the grimoire to go. Massimo wouldn’t think it strange. Two, it was off the beaten path of the rest of the house and removed enough from the party to encourage sneaking in.

Of course, that also meant it was harder for us to keep an eye on it without being super obvious.

It’s fine. I had cats.

A few of us trooped into the room with her, ostensibly to look the book over and ooh and ahh.

Marvella drew the grimoire out of the box with careful hands, handling it with a smile, her fingers lightly stroking the plain, dark-brown leather. “You’ve taken good care of it.”

“I did have to oil the leather a bit recently, you know how it goes. But it’s the box Jere made for it that’s done the best job preserving it.”

“Yes, he’s a darling man. I’m so glad I was introduced to him. He did marvelous work with the whole series. Here, everyone, take a look at it, but please don’t try to take it from my hands.”

We all did. Some light chitchat and congratulations followed, but it was a small crowd. And after looking the fake over, several people melted back out of the room, giving the rest of us space to maneuver.

Marvella stroked the book a little more, then carefully placed it back into the protective wooden box before sealing the top firmly into place. “I’m so glad you brought it back to me. I’ve a check ready for you, take it with you before you leave, alright?”

“I will.” Andrea linked arms with her, a sassy grin on her face.

I walked back out, spied Henri trying to unobtrusively hover near the dessert table, and beelined for him. His mother must have had the same idea, as she and I ended up there at practically the same moment.

“Really, Henri,” Ophelia chastised, poking at her only son in the shoulder. “You are far too stiff. Relax.”

“I don’t like social gatherings to begin with,” he reminded her, expression pained. “Although you both look splendid.”

I was wearing one of his favorites, a red velvet evening gown that always got both thumbs up from him. It was also one of the easier dresses to run in, if I had to make a dash for it.

I may have tested this theory.

He was in a black-tie affair himself, hair combed back, although his recently trimmed curls hadn’t stayed tamed. Phil sat on his shoulder much like a furry parrot, his eyes sharp on our surroundings. He acted as Henri’s eyes, a more unobtrusive watcher than the magician himself. My own Felixes were casually arrayed around the house in much the same way, being our eyes wherever a person would be suspicious.

Ophelia reached up and gave Phil a good head rub. “I’m so delighted you’re now part of the family, Phil. Do say you’ll come over more often.”

Phil rubbed his head into her hand, purring. “Will.”

“Have you told RM Felix about this development yet?” she asked, eyes flicking between the two of us.

I waffled a hand back and forth. “Sort of. It’s been so busy this