Lady Avely’s Guide to Guile and Peril (Hollyhock Farm #4)

Chapter 1

In which peril threatens

When peril threatens, one may discover inner resources, previously unknown.

— from Lady Avely’s Guide to Guile and Peril

The kitchen at Garvey House was rather full of people, but it was dreadfully empty of one person in particular. Where the Duke of Sargen had stood only moments ago was an empty space, his glass of brandy still half-drunk on the wooden bench.

Judith’s heart thudded as she stared at the vacant stone. Dacian’s warning gaze was sharp in her memory. He had been trying to tell her to keep away, even as he couldn’t speak, held immobile by the very same Gift that he himself possessed.

Her fingers clenched around the topaz ring in her skirts, her nails biting into her palm.

The ring was a Travel charm, and it would enable her to follow him into the fort.

If, indeed, that was where ‘Captain Drumpellier’ had taken him.

The softly-spoken captain had turned out to be an agent of the Musor Custos, which Judith had not known when she had pleaded for his help: a secret officer who prosecuted crimes of magic.

Unsuspecting, she had led him straight to the duke.

So it was all her own fault, really, and she had a duty to rectify her mistakes.

Her hands fumbled as she pulled the ring out of her pocket.

She slipped it onto her middle finger, where it weighed heavily with its dark blue stone.

She would have to muster up some of Dacian’s own daring.

He was made up of arrogance and strength, audacity and boldness, and she must pretend she had some of those qualities now.

But before she could say the word for Travel, Marigold spoke up. Judith’s tiny vampiri companion—curly-haired, usually cheerful, and usually naked—was standing on the kitchen table. She was wrapped in a flannel handkerchief, and her voice was sharp with anxiety. “Judith, wait!”

“Why?” Judith twisted to face her. “They might do something awful. I must hurry.”

Traditionally, the punishment for magical felonies was to strip the culprit of their Gift, and even their memory, with a mind-altering dose of Lethe. She couldn’t bear to think of it. She must go back into the fort, even if it meant landing right in the nest of the Custos.

“I will come too,” said Marigold staunchly. “You might need me.”

“Fine.” Judith was too distraught to weigh the risk carefully. Marigold might, in fact, be useful.

With alacrity, Marigold transformed into a bat and lurched into the air, dragging her flannel handkerchief along with her.

She managed to cram both herself and the kerchief into Judith’s gown pocket.

Her curly head popped out again, looking around with triumph.

“Time to rescue a duke,” she said. “Let us be off!”

First, Judith drew a breath and faced the remaining occupants of the kitchen.

Mrs Selina Southcott stood by the table, her apple-green mobcap twisted in her hands, her face a picture of guilt.

She, after all, had failed to stand her ground in the duke’s defence.

Robert lay on the bench by the door, his injured leg swaddled with bandages and blankets, his cup of chocolate now cooling and forgotten next to him.

His complexion was still pale from blood loss.

He was Judith’s husband’s illegitimate child, and although she had been distraught to discover his existence a while ago, she was now very upset to see him wounded.

Miss Georgina Garvey sat beside him. She was the only person who truly had a right to be in the Garvey House kitchen, as the daughter of the house. Her eyes were wide and her mouth open at the scene that had just unfolded before her: a duke accused and then snatched away before their eyes.

“Georgina,” said Judith firmly. “You must use your Healing to help Robert as much as you are able, for he intends to follow me to Castle Lanyon. It is a good three days’ drive from here, and I don’t want him travelling in his current condition.”

“Nonsense,” said Robert vaguely. “Right as rain. Already feeling better.”

Judith suspected it was the brandy speaking; he had consumed copious amounts of it to deal with the pain. His blue eyes looked heavy, and his chestnut hair was tangled.

Georgina cleared her throat. “I will do my best, Lady Avely, and I fancy that my Gift is not unequal to the task.”

“Good. Robert, dear boy, travel in easy stages.” Judith cast her eye around the room, landing on Mrs Selina Southcott. “Selina, give me one of your rings.” Her tone was peremptory, for she was angry with Selina.

“A ring? Whatever for?” Selina put down her mobcap and splayed her fingers. “I only have my wedding ring. I cannot part with that; Mr Southcott would notice.”

“I need a trinket to renounce,” explained Judith shortly, “should that dastardly captain ask for my Travel charm again. He was eager to confiscate it last time, but I cannot let him have the topaz.” That ring belonged to Dacian, and Judith might have need of it again.

And she was determined not to cede anything to Drumpellier.

Selina curled her hands in repudiation, and Judith turned away in disgust. Upon inspection, Georgina too had nothing to offer, her youthful fingers bare of adornment.

Judith contemplated the silver thimble on the table, wondering if it could pass as a Travel charm.

It held traces of brandy, as it had been a drinking receptacle for Wooten, Dacian’s vampiri.

At least Wooten was with Dacian, hidden in his pocket.

Though God knew, the vampiri might have been hurt by the restraining Impact, or soon discovered.

At least he had his velvet cloak with him, so his dignity would not be too impaired, which was always Wooten’s first concern.

Then another small voice floated down from the roof. “I could fetch a suitable ring, if you like.”

Judith looked up to see Miss Yvette Belfleur peering from behind a rafter. Her black hair fell in waves around her face, hiding her expression.

Marigold’s curly head craned upwards in affront. “You! We don’t want your help, you fraudulent female! You’ve done nothing but lie to us!”

Yvette’s tone lowered, with guilt perhaps, or maybe boredom; it was hard to tell with her French accent. “It could be a small recompense for the ill I have done you both.” She pushed her hair away from her face, the gesture slightly defiant.

Judith examined her: the elegant cheekbones and full lips, now closed and wary. “I would appreciate it, Miss Belfleur. I take it you are going to steal one of your companion’s rings?”

Yvette did not blink. “I regard myself as freed from that bond, and I do not balk at the necessity.”

“Ha,” muttered Marigold. “Of course you don’t balk at stealing. Duplicitous, double-dealing, deceitful…”

“That’s enough, Marigold,” said Judith.

Yvette’s expression remained inscrutable. “In my defence, I was acting in the best interests of my companion, as you are about to do, Miss Cultor. Surely you can understand?”

“My companion isn’t about to murder someone!” huffed Marigold.

“As I say, I did not suspect that that was the case.”

“And how do we know you’re not lying again?”

Judith coughed gently. “I know that she’s not lying; I’m a Truth Discernor, remember?”

Marigold wrinkled her nose and receded into the pocket in a huff. Her voice came out muffled. “Fine. Fetch us a ring. It’s the least you can do.”

Without further words, Yvette dove from the rafter. A glimpse of a small, naked, female form showed before she transformed into a bat and swept out of the kitchen.

Judith busied herself, despite the agony of waiting, with marching to the stables and giving orders to Dacian’s coachman, so that the poor man could deal with the villains currently tied up in the Garvey House drawing room.

When she returned, Yvette was on the kitchen table, a deep blue silk cloak pulled tightly around her.

She held a gold ring set with diamonds, heavy in her tiny hands.

Marigold’s head popped out again and she eyed the ring with annoyance. “Good to see you didn’t restrain yourself,” she said, with mingled approval and scorn.

Yvette ignored her. “This used to be a Travel charm,” she explained to Judith, “but it has lost its potency. It should show traces of the Musing, however, and lend credence to your story.”

“Thank you.” Judith took the ring and slipped it on her middle finger, where it fit snugly, the diamonds glinting in the candlelight.

“Hmph,” said Marigold.

“One more thing, my lady,” said Yvette hesitantly, her head bowing. “Could I accompany you too?”

Marigold drew a breath of outrage. “You may certainly not!”

Judith hushed her and examined Yvette closely. “Why should you wish to do that?”

“They will expect you to have one vampiri, not two, and I could assist if you need to distract the guards.” She met Judith’s eyes. “And I don’t want to stay here. It is too painful.”

Marigold grumbled something indistinguishable but otherwise remained silent. Judith put out her hand. “Very well. I am not in a position to refuse any offers of help.”

Yvette walked onto the back of Judith’s wrist and then clung on as Judith transferred her to another pocket. She did not think it wise to stuff Yvette in a small space with Marigold. Goodness knows what might happen. Fisticuffs at the very least, or something even more scandalous.

Now she had her pockets stuffed full of vampiri. What would her children say if they could see her now?

She turned and gave a last farewell to Robert. “Goodbye, dear boy. You mustn’t rush to Castle Lanyon, but you can be assured of a safe harbour there once you reach it.”

He nodded. “I’ll bring the duke’s luggage, and yours.”

Judith couldn’t even begin to think about luggage. She gave a distracted nod, then tucked her lapis lazuli pendant into her bodice, keeping this sign of her Gift hidden. It was time to Travel into Pendennis Castle.

“Veho,” she said firmly, and twisted the topaz ring on her finger.

It was time to rescue Dacian.