or daemons or even a scrap of paper from the Book of Life within its walls.
Gerbert and Satu Järvinen will be here in one week’s time.”
The silence was deafening.
“How was I to know that Matthew and Diana were here?” Baldwin said. “But it’s no matter. The Congregation’s delegation will not find a single irregularity during their visit. That means Diana must go, too.”
“What else?” Matthew demanded.
“Is abandoning our friends and families not enough?” Marcus asked. Phoebe slid an arm around his waist in a gesture of comfort.
“Your uncle always delivers the good news first, Marcus,” Fernando explained. “And if the prospect of a visit with Gerbert is the good news, the bad news must be very bad.”
“The Congregation wants insurance.” Matthew swore. “Something that will keep the de Clermonts and the Knights of Lazarus on their best behavior.”
“Not something. Someone,” Baldwin said flatly.
“Who?” I asked.
“Me, of course,” Ysabeau said, sounding unconcerned.
“Absolutely not!” Matthew beheld Baldwin in horror.
“I’m afraid so. I offered them Verin first, but they refused,” Baldwin said. Verin appeared mildly affronted.
“The Congregation may be small-minded, but they’re not complete fools,” Ysabeau murmured. “No one could hold Verin hostage for more than twenty-four hours.”
“The witches said it had to be someone who could force Matthew out of hiding. Verin wasn’t considered sufficient inducement,” Baldwin explained.
“The last time I was held against my will, you were my jailer, Baldwin,” Ysabeau said in a syrupy voice. “Will you do the honors again?”
“Not this time,” Baldwin said. “Knox and Järvinen wanted you held in Venice, where the Congregation could keep an eye on you, but I refused.”
“Why Venice?” I knew that Baldwin had come from there, but I couldn’t imagine why the Congregation would prefer it to any other location.
“Venice has been the Congregation’s headquarters since the fifteenth century, when we were forced out of Constantinople,” Matthew explained quickly. “Nothing happens in the city without the Congregation knowing of it. And Venice is home to scores of creatures who have long-standing relationships with the council—including Domenico’s brood.”
“A repulsive gathering of ingrates and sycophants,” Ysabeau murmured with a delicate shudder.
“I’m very glad not to be going there. Even without Domenico’s clan, Venice is unbearable this time of year. So many tourists. And the mosquitoes are impossible.”
The thought of what vampire blood might do to the mosquito population was deeply disturbing.
“Your comfort was not the Congregation’s chief concern, Ysabeau.” Baldwin gave her a forbidding look.
“Where am I to go, then?” Ysabeau asked.
“After expressing appropriate initial reluctance given his long-standing friendship with the family, Gerbert has generously agreed to keep you at his home. The Congregation could hardly refuse him,”
Baldwin replied. “That won’t pose a problem, will it?”
Ysabeau lifted her shoulders in an expressive Gallic shrug. “Not for me.”
“Gerbert cannot be trusted.” Matthew turned on his brother with almost as much anger as Marcus had shown. “Christ, Baldwin. He stood by and watched while Knox worked his magic on Emily!”
“I do hope Gerbert has managed to retain his butcher,” Ysabeau mused as though her son had not spoken. “Marthe will have to come with me, of course. You will see to it, Baldwin.”
“You’re not going,” Matthew said. “I’ll give myself up first.”
Before I could protest, Ysabeau spoke. “No, my son. Gerbert and I have done this before, as you know. I will be back in no time—a few months at most.”
“Why is this necessary at all?” Marcus said. “Once the Congregation inspects Sept-Tours and finds nothing objectionable, they should leave us alone.”
“The Congregation must have a hostage to demonstrate that they are greater than the de Clermonts,” Phoebe explained, showing a remarkable grasp of the situation.
“But, Grand-mère,” Marcus began, looking stricken, “it should be me, not you. This is my fault.”
“I may be your grandmother, but I am not so old and fragile as you think,” Ysabeau said with a touch of frostiness. “My blood, inferior though it might be, does not shrink from its duty.”
“Surely there’s another way,” I protested.
“No, Diana,” Ysabeau answered. “We all have our roles in this family. Baldwin will bully us.
Marcus will look after the brotherhood. Matthew will look after you, and you will look after my grandchildren. As for me, I find that I am invigorated at the prospect of being held for ransom once more.”
My mother-in-law’s feral smile made me believe her.
Having helped Baldwin and Marcus to reach a fragile state of détente, Matthew and I returned to our rooms on the other side of the château. Matthew turned on the sound system as soon as we’d passed