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"Can the contents of enome help?" There had been much discussion of the babies since I’d had my ultrasound, and speculation as to what effect a witch’s blood--a weaver’s in particular--ene I didn’t want my children to end up as science experi Benja ress

"I don’t want your DNA to be the subject of further scientific research" Matthew stalked to the"I should never have taken that sah With every hard-won freedoranted me and each conscious effort he made not to smother me with overpossessiveness, his authoritarian traits had to find a new outlet It was like watching so river And Matthew’s inability to locate Benja it worse Every lead Matthew received about Benjamin’s current location turned into a dead end, just like esBefore I could try to reason with hi bars of "Sye When the phone was programmed, someone had irrevocably attached it to one of " Matthew’s tone was capable of freezing Old Faithful

"What do you want, Baldwin?" There was no need for polite preahed "I’ht come to New Haven and make sure that your acco made my conversation with Baldwin completely audible The oath he uttered in response to his brother’s words was blistering

"Mattheith lass and Miriam are one block away Mind your own business" I drew the phone froer to disconnect

"Diana" Baldwin’s voice

I returned the phone toin Matthew’s lab--Richard Bellinghaoes by now"

"Yes" My eyes went to Mattheas standing in a deceptively relaxed position in front of the --legs spread slightly, hands clasped behind his back It was a stance of readiness

"Be careful around him" Baldwin’s voice flattened "You don’t want ham But I will do that, without hesitation, should I think he possesses information that could provedifficultfor the fanant" It was evident that Baldwin knew a great deal about our life in New Haven already There was no point in hiding the truth

"Every vampire in that provincial town knows And they travel to New York Often" Baldwin paused "In my family if you create a mess, you clean it up--or Matthew does Those are your options"

"It’s always such a pleasure to hear frohed

"Is that all, my lord?"

"It’s ‘sieur’ Do you need me to come there and refresh yourout the word

"Good Tell Matthew to stop blocking my calls, and on’t have to repeat this conversation"

The line went dead

"That f--" I began

Mattherenched the phone out ofsound of breaking glass when it hit theh the violent e

"Now I’ll have to get another phone" I looked into Matthew’s stormy eyes They were a reliable indication of his state of reen when his pupils enlarged with ereen rireen were battling for supremacy

"Baldill no doubt have one here before the day is done" Matthew’s attention fixed on the pulse at my throat

"Let’s hope your brother doesn’t feel he needs to deliver it himself"

Matthew’s eyes drifted to my lips "He’s not lass’s boo, cheerful voice rose up fro I gave hi my spine and my mouth so that he could feel, in this e

"Oh Sorry Shall I colass said from the stairs Then his nostrils flared as he detected , Matthew?"

"Nothing that Baldwin’s sudden and seely accidental death wouldn’t fix," Matthew said darkly

"Business as usual, then I thought you ht want me to walk Auntie to the library"

"Why?" Matthew asked

"Miriaet out of Diana’s knickers and into lass consulted the pal "Yep That’s exactly what she said"

"I’ll getaway frolass stared, besotted, at the i thenity and so had bestowed nicknaers Did you notice, Matthew?"

Gallowglass kept theon our walk to cah he expected Baldwin to rise up out of the sidewalk before us with a new phone and another dire warning

Leaving the de Clermonts behind, it ith relief that I opened the door into our research rooled provenance!" Lucy exclaimed the moment I appeared "So John Dee did own the Voynich?"

"That’s right" I put down ic, they were the only items I carried Happily, ave the Voynich to Ee for Ashmole 782" It was, in truth, a bit lass and Mattheere involved in the transfer of property

"The Bodleian Library es?" Lucy held her head in her hands and stared down at the notes, clippings, and correspondence littering the table

"Edward Kelley reland Kelley te At soes away