Crown Phoenix: Night Watchman Express

by Alison DeLuca

Chapter 18

  Mana’s Wooden Comb

  ana had her wooden comb out again, teasing the tangles out of Miriam’s hair. The late summer sun dyed the wall red behind them, and the light hit the dark curls. “It’s grown very long,” Mana said. “You’re getting taller, too. Almost a young lady!”

  “Not that! Anything but that!” Miriam laughed. “That would mean I would have to act like a young lady.”

  “Heaven forbid.”

  “Mana, Simon and Neil’s school break is almost over. Have you discovered anything yet?”

  Mana twisted the hair into a braid. “To tell you the truth, I have been counting the days left until Simon returns to school,” she finally said. “He will be much safer there, and it will be better for you as well. With him gone – well, perhaps Miss Cantwell will find other interests.”

  “But Neil and he will have left, and I’ll have no one to talk to!” Miriam cried.

  “No one?” Mana asked, her lips twitching.

  “Well, you know what I mean,” Miriam said. Mana gave her a little nudge and began to comb out the curls around the girl’s face.

  “What a very interesting comb,” someone said behind them.

  Miriam gave a little shriek, and even Mana was startled. Barbara stood in the doorway, one arm on the doorframe in an elegant attitude.

  “Good morning,” Miss Cantwell said, coming into the room. “I thought I heard someone mention my name!” She smiled at Mana. “And I repeat, what a very interesting comb. Please, may I see it?” The unwelcome visitor held out one white, soft palm.

  Mana thrust the object into her own pocket. “I’m sorry. It is a family heirloom,” she said firmly.

  Barbara puckered her forehead. “Come now – Miss Postulate, is it? – do let me see it. I am very interested in island artifacts.”

  “I’m sorry, but no.” Mana picked up a ribbon and prepared to tie it around Miriam’s braid, but Barbara stepped forward and whisked the slim band out of the governess’ hand. She stepped closer to Mana and stared at her.

  “You will listen to me when I speak to you,” she said in a low tone. The change in her was incredible – her lips curled back, the orange eyes narrowed to slits, and all of her attention was focused on Mana.

  Mana raised her eyebrows. “I will listen to you as long as you wish.”

  Barbara withdrew a fraction of an inch and smiled again in her most winning manner. “Forgive me,” she said, a small laugh bubbling from her. “I have been so busy these past weeks… Miss Postulate, I will pay you for that comb, sight unseen! Let’s say, fifty guineas?”

  “It is not for sale,” Mana said.

  “One hundred,” Barbara said without hesitation. “You couldn’t do better than that – it is a figure that must be more than twice your yearly salary!”

  “You are surprisingly accurate,” Mana said. “Still, it is not, nor will it ever be, for sale.”

  Barbara stopped smiling, and she looked at Mana for a long moment. The governess gazed back unblinkingly. Miriam sat frozen between them, feeling as if she were in the middle of some silent battle of wills. Finally, Miss Cantwell said, “There is more than one way of getting an object if one wants it, Miss Postulate; remember that.”

  “I’m sure you know better than most,” Mana responded.

  At that, Barbara turned away suddenly with a swish of silk skirts and was gone.

  Mana stood still for a long moment, and she opened the drawer of Miriam’s bedside table. Taking out another ribbon, she silently wound it around the girl’s hair and tied it in a long bow.

  “What does that mean –” Miriam began, but Mana cut her off by sitting beside her on the bed. Miriam could feel her arm beside her own, and the muscles beneath the dark skin were taut, as if the woman were trying to contain herself.

  At last, Mana whispered, “That could not have been worse timing. I never sensed her there, and I usually … Who knows what she heard?”

  “But she gave herself away,” Miriam objected. “She raised the price without hesitation! At least you know now that she really wants something that you have, although why she wants a wooden comb so much, I can’t imagine.”

  Mana put her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Do you know, Miriam, you are right,” Mana said. “I hadn’t thought of it like that. But listen,” she added. “If I suddenly have to leave now, or if I am gone when you wake up one day, go to the islands. Go to Lampala; all of you, including Neil and Simon. Don’t forget what I tell you – find some way to make it to Lampala! You’ll remember?”

  Miriam nodded, feeling as though she had thousands of questions with no time left to ask them.