less she was her swan self, fixed so firmly in the present moment. Her human side was overshadowing the swan. Thalia felt the moment to Trade back drawing near. She still had to follow the instructions given her by the Board of Trade. For the first time, she was confident she could.
With plenty of wing-space in the Ryker courtyard, Thalia wheeled as she descended and came to earth precisely where she’d decided to land, less than a foot from the front doorstep. She folded her wings neatly and waddled forward. There was no way for her to ring the bell or manage the latch in her swan form, so she gave the door an impatient peck. It opened at once.
“Good afternoon, Miss Cutler.” Rogers the butler sounded both respectful and apologetic. Perhaps the incident with the shotgun was still on his conscience. More likely, Thalia decided, he simply had enough common sense to be wary of her swan form.
Rogers stepped back to let Thalia in. “Mr. Ryker, Miss Ryker, and, er, the others are waiting for you in the music room.”
Chapter Seventeen
Thalia followed Rogers to the music room as quickly as her short swan legs allowed. There the members of the Board of Trade were ensconced in the best chairs, sipping tea and nibbling cakes. Ryker was seated on the piano bench. Nell, still in her otter shape, was curled comfortably beside him, her chin on his knee. She gave a single welcoming chirp when Ryker dislodged her and rose to his feet as Thalia entered the room. Nell sprang from her resting position on the piano bench to perch atop the piano.
Mrs. Kipling and Madame Gillyflower set their teacups down.
“Excellent.” Miss Carey-Thomas helped herself to another little cake. “All present and accounted for.”
Madame Gillyflower said, “You may Trade back now, both of you.”
Taking them in turn, Thalia curved her long neck to eye the Board of Trade crossly. After her flight up the river, the music room was too hot, too stuffy, too small, and too full of things it would be easy to bump into and break. She wished she could be alone. The scrutiny of the Board of Trade was unavoidable, but it was embarrassing to have Ryker there watching too.
“Unless the ordeal was too much for you,” Madame Gillyflower added.
Thalia hissed scornfully at the very suggestion. She ignored the discomfort of being observed and let herself dwell on how hungry she was, and how good those little iced cakes looked. She thought about how thirsty she was. A cup of tea would be very welcome. She thought about what might be instead of what was.
Thalia Traded back. She found herself seated in a huddle on the floor. Her stage costume was undamaged. Her shoulders felt as if she’d strained something important. “Ow.”
“You did it!” Nell, now fully human again, but still as graceful as an otter, did a brief hopping dance of triumph. “So did I! I passed my ordeal too!”
Beaming, Ryker came to help Thalia up. Such was Thalia’s relief, she let herself lean on him for an entire second and a half. “I Traded.” Thalia tried the words on for size. They fit. She had done it on purpose at last. “I really truly Traded.”
“You did.” Ryker gave her a formal handshake. “You’re a Trader now.”
“Congratulations.” Madame Gillyflower addressed both Thalia and Nell. “You have both passed your ordeal. Once you have finished celebrating your success, demonstrate some restraint. I’m not certain polite society is ready for either of you yet.”
“Thank you.” Thalia followed Nell’s lead and curtsied to the Board of Trade. “Thank you all.”
“Thank goodness that’s over with.” Nell turned to Rogers, who was watching from the door. “Is there any smoked fish left, do you think? Perhaps a few sandwiches?”
“Very good, Miss Ryker.” Rogers turned to go.
“Champagne, too!” Nell called after him. “This is a celebration.” She twirled on the spot and returned to the piano bench. “I was sure you’d beat me here, but you took your time, didn’t you?” Without giving Thalia a chance to reply, she explained. “Nat gave the Board of Trade a lift in the Pierce-Arrow, so I slipped in the back and hid beneath the rumble seat.”
“Very clever.” Thalia accepted the cup of tea and the little cake Ryker handed her. She ate the cake as slowly as she could, but it was still gone in a moment. She was grateful that sandwiches were in her near future.
“Very bumpy.” Nell turned her attention to the