Friday morning as Kirsten and I ate my breakfast, I caught a story about the Rift destabilizing—a sign that it might move again.
“Maybe I’ll get lucky and the Rift will swallow up the betrothal party,” I said.
Kirsten glared at me. “We’re going to be there, so we’d be swallowed up, too.”
Maybe I’d find out what happened to my dad, I thought, but didn’t say anything.
I had taken a three-day weekend, so I went into work with Kirsten. I helped her prepare for closing up the shop, mostly carrying things for her to put away and checking the automated systems. Primarily, I was concerned about security. I double-checked all the magitek security devices I had installed as backups in case Kirsten’s wards failed.
The party at Findlay would be bringing people into town from all over the world, and it offered opportunities for their enemies. I didn’t want them striking at me through Kirsten, and that shop was her life.
She closed up mid-afternoon, and together with our guardians we rode up to Findlay house. We arrived to what can only be described as an orderly madhouse. Once we entered the gates, our guardians were conscripted for other duties, and we were abandoned to our own devices. That suited me just fine.
“Come on,” I said. “We’ll park our bikes in the family garage.” Kirsten followed me down a long drive behind the main house to the underground garage hidden in the trees. I raised the visor on my helmet, and the facial-recognition software triggered the gate so we could enter.
“Wow! I didn’t even know this existed,” she said after we parked on the fifth level down.
“It’s like an iceberg,” I said. “This whole hill is honeycombed with underground tunnels, bunkers, laboratories, and storage areas.”
And I knew every hiding place on the premises. Most of the Family never ventured beyond the house and the gardens, so there were lots of places where I could get away from them.
I led her to a door, and inside was a funicular that took us up past the garage, labs, and storerooms to the subbasement of the main house. Ignoring the elevator, we sneaked around to the back stairs.
“Why are we sneaking?” Kirsten asked in a whisper.
“Because I’m trying to avoid people. Let’s get up to my rooms, then we can shower, change, and make an appearance.” I stopped and turned to her. “Kirsten, I know all of this is going to seem glamorous and attractive, but we’re walking into a snake pit. Half of my relatives would stick a knife in my back if given the chance, and the other half would cheerfully help bury the body. Watch yourself, and don’t talk about me if you can help it. Okay?”
She bit her lip, then nodded. “It’s really that bad?”
“Yeah. I have rights, inherited from my father, that I’ve never chosen to exercise. I don’t take their money, and other than a few contracts for magitek work that I’ve done, I don’t get involved with their business. It’s safer that way, and I’m happier that way.”
Being presentable was something my grandmother would appreciate, but avoiding my other relatives was my main goal. I had a bottle of whiskey in my room and figured a couple of shots might make it easier to deal with Courtney when we inevitably met.
We made it past the most of the crowd, but waiting at my apartment door was the one person who always knew when I stepped on the premises. She was accompanied by another maid, which was unusual.
“Good afternoon, Lady Danica.”
“Good afternoon, Marjorie. This is my friend Kirsten. She’ll be staying with me.”
“So Lady Findlay-James informed me. Good afternoon, Miss Starr.”
Kirsten shot me a look.
“Marjorie takes care of me and my guests when I’m here,” I explained.
“This is Natalia,” Marjorie said. “She shall attend to Miss Starr. There is a very tight schedule of events starting in about two hours.”
Kirsten shot me another look, a bit more wide-eyed.
“Thank you, Marjorie,” I said, opening the door and ushering Kirsten in. “I’m pleased to meet you, Natalia.”
The maids followed us in, relieving us of our saddle bags and Kirsten’s overnight bag. I led her to the second bedroom.
“You’ll be in here, and your bathroom is that door over there. Those two doors are closets, and Natalia will hang your clothes for you. Your dress for tomorrow evening is probably in the one on the right. If you need anything, including toiletries and makeup, let her know, and she’ll fetch it for you. Also, give her any ironing, laundry, shoes that need polishing, or stuff like that. If you want anything to drink or eat, let her know. There is a minibar and fridge over there, and a full bar in the sitting room. The door to the balcony is that one.” I pointed. “If you go out, turn left. A set of stairs about a hundred yards along the hall leads down. Any stairs leading up go to the guest rooms on the third floor and the servants’ quarters on the fourth, which are off limits.”
She had seen my rooms a couple of times, but never stayed with me. Her eyes were wide as pie plates.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Natalia will also provide you with the stick to shove up your ass so you can pass as one of the family.”
That broke the tension, and she started laughing. Poor Natalia didn’t know whether to be shocked or laugh with us. Marjorie gave me a look that my grandmother would have been proud of.
Chapter 41
Marjorie waited until I showered, then attempted to do something with my hair. In the end she just put a couple of my grandmother’s diamond combs in it and gave me a matching diamond choker to wear. I reflected on the fact that the jewelry I was wearing was worth more than my own personal
