Emily had been planning to say “leave me alone,” but never mind.
The strange thing was that the pretending of a headache actually preceded the onset of one. A heavy bilious headache that came on abruptly. Within moments, Emily’s head was throbbing.
CARISSIMA MIA.
Emily pressed fingers to her temple, trying to remember what she’d just been thinking about. Something that had made her angry and upset all at once. But though she tried hard to remember what it was, all she could come up with was a memory of huge rabbits. Huge black rabbits with red eyes.
“Here we are,” Miss Pendennis said, bustling in. Emily pulled the covers down just far enough to expose her eyes and watch Miss Pendennis approach. The woman was carrying the large leather case Emily had seen her unpack earlier that morning, the one that was bound in steel. Pulling a chair to the side of the bed, Miss Pendennis sat down. She laid the case on the bedside table and snapped it open, revealing an exotic assortment of items nestled in a blue velvet lining: bright iridescent bottles, long quills and parchment, candles of many colors.
Miss Pendennis lifted out the top drawer of the case, laying it aside, momentarily revealing another layer of larger items underneath. There was a chalice, a bowl, and … Emily felt a strange thrill go through her … an athame. A gleaming Witch’s blade, small and slim, a single piece of exquisitely sharpened steel with a handle wrapped in thin black velvet cording. It was neatly fitted into the bottom of the case. Emily’s gaze lingered on it for a long time. It hummed softly to her. She longed to touch it.
PERFECT.
Sudden panic gripped Emily as images of spurting blood flashed at the corners of her eyes.
“No!” She sat up, sheet clutched to her chest, eyes squeezed shut against the sudden burning pain in her temples. She looked at Miss Pendennis, opened her mouth to say something, but the minute she did, the words evaporated.
Miss Pendennis looked at her, astonished.
“Miss Edwards?” she asked. “Were you going to say something?”
NO.
“No,” Emily said quickly, the word sounding before she even knew her lips had formed it.
Miss Pendennis put her hand on Emily’s forehead, held it there for a long time. Her eyes took on a canny quality.
“You said Dreadnought drank a compulsion potion, didn’t you?” Miss Pendennis said. “But of course, when you drank the potion, nothing happened. Because of the stone in your hand.”
Emily opened her mouth to say, “That’s right.” But before the words could be spoken, she closed her mouth abruptly.
AH, IT IS A TRICKY WITCH! BRAVA!
“I never drank the potion,” Emily said, finally, laboring over the words.
Miss Pendennis looked at her.
“So you didn’t touch or taste any of it?”
Yes, Emily struggled to speak. I tasted it to make sure that Mr. Stanton wouldn’t be hurt …
NO, CARISSIMA MIA. YOU NEVER TOUCH IT.
Yes, I …
NO.
“No,” Emily said, haltingly. “Rose … Grimaldi … made it. She … fed it to Mr. Stanton. I never touched it.”
Miss Pendennis scrutinized Emily’s face. She knew that the woman did not believe her. She also knew that the woman could not be allowed to disbelieve her.
WE WILL MAKE HER BELIEVE.
Emily felt hot, unbidden tears well up in her eyes, all the tears she’d been meaning to cry a moment ago. Her heart ached; she curled herself forward over her knees, sobbing wretchedly.
“Miss Edwards! Emily! My dear, what is the matter?”
“Mr. Stanton,” Emily said simply, through the hand that covered her face. “Why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t he … tell me?”
OR WILL THIS MANNISH FEMALE NO UNDERSTAND THE BROKEN HEART?
But understanding did dawn on Miss Pendennis slowly. She clucked her tongue, laid a heavy hand on Emily’s shoulder, sighing heavily.
“Oh, dear,” she said ruefully. “Oh, dear. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Emily sobbed harder. She was acutely aware of Miss Pendennis’ hand patting her back soothingly.
“Now, now,” Miss Pendennis said. “I was so surprised myself, I didn’t mean to go on and on about it. How stupid of me. I’m so sorry. You mustn’t worry yourself about it. We have so much to do.”
YES, CARISSIMA MIA, SO MUCH TO DO!
The thought struck Emily between the eyes. It made her sit up stock-straight and dash her tears away.
“You’re right,” she said. “So much to do.”
Throwing the sheet off herself she leaped out of bed and rushed to the pile of discarded clothing. She pulled on her undergarments and threw the