Magic & Mercy

by Annabel Chase

  “Where are my manners?” Smithers said, shaking his head. “Please come in. I had my lecture on manners only this morning. Seems I wasn’t paying close attention.” He stepped aside to let me pass through the narrow doorway.

  “My name’s Ember Rose,” I said. “Does that name ring any bells?”

  “Rose? Simon’s folks?” He was unimpressed. “I hear the owner of Thornhold is a real…”

  I held up a hand. “You need to watch what you say. The owner has a way of knowing when someone’s disparaging her.”

  “Disparaging?” He cracked a smile. “That’s a mighty big word for a little bird like yourself.”

  “Are you sure you’re a butler?” I asked. Who would employ this guy? He seemed nothing like the other butlers I’d met; probably one of the reasons Marigold liked him. He was the Bad Boy Butler, serving up naughtiness whenever she beckoned and called. I fought the urge to laugh.

  “My master’s a vampire called Vlad. Original, I know. Owns a place near Big Sur called Velingrad. Gorgeous estate. You should pop ‘round if you’re ever on the West Coast. The place is surreal.”

  I watched with interest as he began to polish his bald head with a pristine white handkerchief. “So, why did you miss your initial lunch date? Marigold says you two get together every year.”

  “Yeah, a real shame, that. I was thrown for a loop when Higgins met the true death. Couldn’t manage a social call, even one as intoxicating as Marigold.”

  I choked on saliva. “Wait. Hold on.” I wanted to ask about Higgins, but I couldn’t let his remark slide. “You find Marigold intoxicating?” Surely, he meant the way cold medicine can give someone night terrors if they abuse it.

  “She’s like a rare blood type,” he said, and laughed. “I’ve worked for Vlad for so long, I’ve picked up a more than a few of his expressions.”

  I wondered whether he picked up more than expressions from his vampire master, like maybe a taste for blood. “So, you knew Higgins?”

  “Not well, but we meet up here every year, so I knew him enough.” Once he seemed satisfied by the shine of his head, he tossed the handkerchief aside. “I heard he was killed for some kind of treasure. Why would he bring treasure to a conference? Makes no sense.”

  “I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate,” I said, without offering further details. He didn’t mention the map; whether that was a deliberate omission, I wasn’t sure. “Where did you go that day instead of lunch?”

  He stopped examining his reflection in the mirror and faced me. “That’s a very pointed question, Miss Rose. What exactly are you asking me?”

  “How did you handle news of the murder?” I asked. “Did you go to the pub and toast his memory? Cry in a bathroom stall?”

  “I came here, to my room,” he said. “Took a nap. Made an offering to the gods. Showered again to wash off the stench of death.”

  “Says the guy who butlers for a vampire.”

  “That’s different,” Smithers replied. “Higgins was freshly dead and not coming back. He was killed right in front of our eyes.” Smithers clenched his hands into fists. “A room full of attentive gentlemen and no one saw what happened. Belvedere’s right. We’re a disgrace to the association.”

  Smithers seemed genuinely upset. It was then that I noticed the small stack of books on the bedside table, right next to the alarm clock. I could only read the title on the spine of the top book, but it was enough.

  Famous Vampire Pirates in American History.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” I said, averting my gaze. I didn’t want him to know that I’d seen the books. “I’m a journalist and I didn’t notice anything, either. A story unfolded right in front of my eyes and I have no leads.” Except the one standing in front of me.

  “Higgins seemed like a decent fella. Can’t imagine why anyone would want to off him like that.” Smithers stroked his bald head. In fact, he seemed a little obsessed with it.

  “Since the conference has been extended,” I began, “you should reschedule with Marigold. If you only visit once a year, it’d be a shame to miss the opportunity.” Since it was likely the only action Marigold got all year. I felt a momentary pang of guilt over Ian, but Smithers was obviously a meaningless fling. If Ian played his cards right, maybe Marigold wouldn’t be interested in meeting up with Smithers next year. Then again, in a toss-up between Ian’s sniffles and Smithers’ biceps, I knew which one I’d choose.

  “I plan to,” he said. “I figured she might be upset after I cancelled twice in such a short span of time, though. That maybe she thinks I’m trying to send her a message.”

  This date was a necessity now. I’d have Marigold poke around in his thoughts and find out whether those books on his nightstand were for more than bedtime reading. If she happened to get lucky at the same time, good for her.

  “If you’re worried about her saying no out of spite, I can act as an intermediary,” I said.

  Smithers slipped on his black tails, covering his biceps and tattoos. Now he looked more like a butler. “You’d do that for me?”

  “More for Marigold,” I said. “She’s my teacher. If she’s in a good mood for our next lesson, we both benefit.”

  Smithers shook an amused finger at me. “You’re a wily one, aren’t you? I bet she has to look out for you.”

  My smile widened. “You have no idea.”

  Chapter 11

  "Why couldn't we just send Simon to get the books we need for our assignment?" Florian asked. He gazed around the interior of the library as though he’d never been here before.

  "First, because you should do your own work for class," I said. "And, second, Simon is preoccupied. And I'm sure your mother has a list of chores a mile long for him.”

  “I don't see why butlers even need a conference," Florian complained. "They do the same job day in and day out. What's to learn?"

  "Even if it's just an excuse to brush up on existing skills, or an opportunity to complain about their employers, it's worth it for them. Think of it as a mental health break."

  Florian chuckled. "I'm not sure it’s a mental health break for mother. She loathes this time of year. She's far too accustomed to having Simon attend to her every need. I found her in the kitchen the other morning, holding an empty martini glass. She wasn't sure what to put in it."

  "My vote would be nothing at that hour," I said.

  "Florian, Ember. Is there something I can help you with?" Delphine appeared from behind the counter. Her hazel eyes sparkled, probably due to Florian's unexpected presence.

  "Hi, Delphine," I said. "We’re working on a writing assignment for history class and we could use a little help finding the right resources."

  Delphine appeared surprised. "I didn't realize you were both taking the class."

  “Ember talked me into it," Florian said. "I decided it wasn't such a bad idea to know more local history, especially now that I'm active on the tourism board."

  Of course, he neglected to mention the added benefit of his mother's goodwill. Florian was adept at not looking spoiled and selfish in front of those he wanted to impress. It gave me hope that he deemed Delphine worthy of impressing.

  "What's your topic?" Delphine asked. "Then we can narrow down which section to go to."

  "We’ve decided to write papers about vampire pirate booty in Starry Hollow,” I said.

  "Hidden or found?" Delphine asked.

  "Still hidden," I said.

  "Makes it more exciting," Florian added. "Maybe there's a chance we can find it."

  I shot him a disapproving look. "That's not really the point of the assignment." Then again, I was using the assignment for the multi-pronged purpose of catching a murderer and matchmaking, so who was I to talk?

  Delphine offered a shy smile. "I can certainly help with that. Follow me."

  We made our way to the second floor where there was a special room labeled Starry Hollow history. It seemed to be in distinct sections.

  "I didn't realize t
here’d been so many books written about the town," Florian said.

  "Oh, there have been many," Delphine said. "Starry Hollow is rich in history. I believe your grandfather even has a book in here."

  "Grandfather?" I repeated. "As in my grandfather, too?"

  Delphine bobbed her head of curls. "That's right. I believe he has a book called Starry Hollow: Brightly Shining. I can look up the reference number, if you’re interested in seeing it."

  Florian lit up. "Marley would love that, wouldn't she?"

  I thought it was incredibly sweet that Florian would think of Marley. "Yes, she would, and Elvis knows we could always use another book on deck. Marley burns through them like Tic Tacs.”

  "I'm going to see if I can find it for her," Florian said. "You two keep going with the pirate booty and I'll be right back."

  "I can get the reference number for you," Delphine said. "Make it easier."

  Florian waved her off. "No, I got this."

  He disappeared between the book stacks and I observed Delphine as she remained fixated on the place where Florian had just been standing.

  "So, is this a crush, or is this full-blown l-o-v-e?" I asked.

  Delphine snapped to attention. "What? I was only thinking about the reference number.”

  I laughed. "Witch, please. I recognize that lovesick expression. I've seen it on enough soap operas. I knew you liked him, but I didn't realize exactly how much."

  The pink in Delphine's cheeks deepened to a crimson. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't know I exist."

  "Of course, it matters. Your feelings always matter," I protested.

  "Not to someone like Florian," she said. "He’s used to the attention. I’m just one of many adoring faces in the crowd."

  "If it's any consolation, I can totally see the attraction. If he weren't related to me, I'd probably be right there with you." As spoiled and selfish as Florian could be, I’d witnessed enough goodness in him to know that he was capable of more. In that sense, I understood why his mother refused to give up on him. I only wish she would stop giving in to him.

  “I’ve seen the types of women he prefers to date," Delphine said. "I'm a witch. He never dates witches because he knows that's what his mother wants."

  Someone had been taking copious notes. "What if he got to know you first? He might decide it was worth asking you out.”

  “And how would I manage that?" Delphine asked. "It's a rare occasion that brings him to the library."

  I beamed. "He's here now. And if you offer to help him with his assignment, I bet he'd jump at the chance." She’d have to appeal to Florian's lazy side, of course, but that was easy.

  "Found it," Florian called, triumphant. He came around the corner, holding a book aloft.

  "That's great," I said. "Marley will be so excited." So was I, for that matter. Any new link to the family I never knew was a bonus. "Great news, Florian. Delphine happens to love our topic, so she’s volunteered to work with us."

  "Excellent," Florian said. He dropped into the seat beside her. "If you provide the research and our resident journalist here provides the writing, that just leaves me to do the learning. I can cope with that."

  "Florian, you excel at everything," I said. "If you decided to do the research and writing, you would totally rock this assignment."

  “Precisely," he said. "So what's the point? Better to let somebody else have a chance to improve themselves."

  I groaned. What was worse was that his logic actually made sense to me. It was the future I worried about for Marley. That she would become jaded in her studies as she grew older and more accomplished.

  "I'm going to hunt down a few books," I said. “Why don’t you two discuss the topic in a little more depth? Maybe that will help us decide what to focus on."

  I retreated into the stacks and, to my delight, located three books that were actually useful. My disappearance had been a ruse, of course, but a productive one. I called the books down from the shelf by name and tucked them under my arm. My bedtime reading was covered for the next few nights.

  When I returned to the table, Delphine and Florian were deep in conversation about the origin of Arctic trolls. Florian stood when he saw me approaching.

  "Are you about ready? I have a meeting in half an hour across town."

  "This is a good start," I said. "Thanks, Delphine. You've been a great help."

  "Anytime," Delphine said. "Let me know when you'd like to come back and I'll make sure my schedule is clear."

  Florian winked at her in his usual flirtatious manner. "I'll be in touch."

  I waited until we were exiting the building to comment. "I was right about her, wasn't I? I told you she was smart."

  Florian stretched his arms over his head and basked in the warmth of the sun. "I never disputed her intelligence. It was her suitability as a date that I questioned."

  "Why do I get the feeling that you've changed your mind?" I asked.

  "It's not that I've changed my mind, so much as I've decided to have an open one. It's hard to resist a girl who knows about Arctic trolls and looks at you with those big eyes.”

  “Sounds like a winning combination to me,” I said.

  “Too bad she’s a witch,” he added, and my excitement quickly deflated. Clearly, it would take more than one enjoyable conversation to convince Florian that Delphine was worth his consideration. Luckily for Delphine, I was up for the challenge.

  “I’ve been thinking about these treasure maps,” Florian announced. “Ember and I are writing papers about local legends and, I have to be honest, the topic is fascinating.”

  We were gathered in the main room of the tourism board office, having an impromptu meeting with Aster and Thaddeus.

  “Really? You’re actually writing a paper? Using actual words?” Aster asked, tapping her elegant fingers on her phone. Her gaze was riveted to the screen and I was surprised she’d even registered Florian’s statement.

  “I am. I also thought we might incorporate more of the local legends into our promotional efforts,” Florian suggested. “Focus more on the vampire pirate history and lost treasure. Tourists would eat that up.”

  Aster finally glanced up. “To what end? Encourage treasure hunters? I’m not certain those are the sort of paranormals we’re interested in attracting.”

  “You sound like Mother,” Florian huffed.

  “Simply because I don’t agree with you doesn’t make me like Mother,” Aster snapped.

  Florian folded his arms. “As a matter of fact, it makes you exactly like Mother.”

  Aster narrowed her icy gaze before returning her attention to the phone. “Sterling is meant to be home with the boys, but the piano teacher says he hasn’t arrived. Naturally, he’s not answering my texts.”

  Florian and I exchanged concerned looks.

  “Maybe he’s stuck in a meeting,” I said.

  “He’s always stuck in a meeting,” Aster shot back and tucked away her phone. “The boys have practically forgotten what he looks like.” She suddenly seemed embarrassed to have lost her cool. “I’m exaggerating, obviously.”

  “You know, Marley and I have been talking about spending more time with the twins,” I said. “We’d be happy to babysit one evening, so you and Sterling could have dinner together.”

  “Alone?” Aster queried.

  “That would be the idea,” I said. “It seems like you two have been ships passing in the night lately.”

  She sighed and leaned her elbows on the nearby display table. “I suppose we have. We’re both so busy. If it’s a choice between spending quality time with the boys and spending time with me, I’m always going to want him to work the boys into his schedule.”

  Thaddeus pushed up his glasses, a sign he was preparing to speak. “When I was a young centaur, my parents made sure to have time carved into the schedule for each other. They considered their relationship to be the heart of the family. It was their belief that if they kept it beating, then that, in turn, would keep all
the other organs thriving. I liked to think of myself as the kidney. It was my favorite organ.”

  I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. No child I knew had a favorite organ.

  “We used to make time for each other,” Aster admitted. “He would often come home in the middle of the day to have lunch with me. That hasn’t happened for ages.”

  “Is this because the pressure of his job is getting to him?” I asked. It wasn’t like Aster and Sterling needed money or prestige. They already had plenty of both.

  “That’s what I’ve assumed,” she said.

  “You haven’t discussed it?” I asked. I realized how judgmental it sounded, but it was too late.

  “We don’t all live filter-free lives, Ember,” Aster said. “Sometimes it’s best to keep the peace. I see so little of him that I don’t want to spend those precious moments arguing about his absence.”

  No one mentioned the possibility of an affair, but I knew we were all thinking it. No psychic link required for that one.

  “Like I said, Marley would love the chance to hang out with the boys again,” I said. “And I’d be there to maintain order. Just let me know when.”

  Aster offered a grateful smile. “Thank you, Ember. That’s kind of you. Perhaps we’ll take you up on it.” She grimaced. “Right now, I’d like him to get home and relieve the piano teacher.”

  “I’m interested in your idea about the treasure maps, Florian,” Thaddeus said, deftly steering the conversation back to business. “What did you have in mind?”

  Florian’s enthusiasm was palpable. It felt as though all the negative energy in the room immediately dispersed. “We could base the treasure on real stories and design fake maps to correlate with them. Use local businesses as locations on the map to encourage tourists to stop in.”

  “But it would be clear the treasure isn’t real?” I clarified.

  Florian shrugged. “We can’t say for certain that it isn’t. We’d try to be as accurate as possible, maybe bring Delphine or Maisie on board as a consultant.” He grinned. “Or both.”

  I groaned inwardly. Florian could turn any project into a dating strategy, not that he needed one. He only had to ask.