page18 (1/2)
“And you think an atlas and de Crèvecoeur’s account of life in New York are going to help?” Matthew looked skeptical
“It’s a start,” I said “Otherwise I won’t be able to fit Marcus’s story into the big picture”
“I thought the goal was to help Marcus cope with his memories,” Matthew said, “not write the definitive account of eighteenth-century America”
“I’m a historian, Matthew I can’t help it,” I confessed “I know the s an exciting ti to see how his experiences illuminate it”
“You ht be disappointed by how little Marcus remembers that historians consider important,” Matthearned “He was still in his teens when the war started”
“Yes, but it was the American Revolution,” I protested “Surely he remembers that?”
“What do you remember about the invasion of Panauess is very little”
“I didn’t participate in either of those conflicts Marcus did” So did Matthew, come to think of it “Wait Did you write to Philippe while you were in America with Lafayette?”
“Yes” Matthew sounded wary
“Are the letters here, do you think? I could use those to flesh out the details that Marcusprimary sources further sparked my historical curiosity I specialized in an earlier period, a different country, and was not a ain was thrilling There was so much to learn
“I can look, but it’s farwith the records of the brotherhood I was in the colonies on official business”
The Knights of Lazarus, the de Cleranization, seeh creature ion was strictly forbidden by the Congregation
“That would be fantastic If it’s here, you’ll find it much quicker than I would” I studiedthe lid “The fall of Ft Willia Obadiah must have suffered for years because of what he witnessed”
“War is always terrible, but what happened to the British aric,” Matthew said “A lack of understanding, followed by miscommunication and frustration, led to unspeakable violence”
The account I’d read had made it clear that the Native Americans who attacked the British army and their followers had expected to take the spoils of war—guns and weapons—back home with them as sy different rules and allowed the British to keep theiras they surrendered the auns, the Native Americans took other prizes instead: captives and lives
“And Obadiah saw it all” I shook my head “No wonder he drank”
“Battles don’t always end just because sootiates a truce,” Matthew said “For sooes on for the rest of their lives, shaping everything that happens afterward”
“Was Obadiah one of those soldiers?” I thought of the bootjack, and the wary look in Marcus’s eye when he spoke of his father—even though he was a grownabout events that had happened centuries ago
“I think so,” Matthew said
No wonder Marcus’s ry It wasn’t the red door and the lilacs that were causing hi father
“As for the bigger historical picture,” Matthew continued, taking ing before you discover what that is—never nificance”
“When we timewalked, I was surprised by what life was really like,” I said, thinking back to the time we’d shared in the sixteenth century “But it was still possible for me to fit what I discovered into what I already knew I suppose I thought I could do the same with Marcus’s story”
“But reh it,” Matthew observed
“No They’re entirely different kinds of ic,” I mused
I was going to have to be very careful where I asked Marcus to dig into his former life
—
SARAH AND AGATHA arrived around midday
“We weren’t expecting you until late this afternoon,” Matthew said, giving first Sarah and then Agatha a kiss
“Diana said it was an eatha called Baldwin,” Sarah explained “Apparently, he has a helicopter on standby in Monaco and was able to send it for us”
“I never said it was an eency, Sarah,” I corrected her
“You said it was urgent Here we are” Sarah took Philip fro man? What have you done now?”
Philip presented her with a carrot “Horsey”
“Carrot,” I said Sometimes the twins confused what the animals ate with the animals themselves
Becca had forgotten the horses and was totally absorbed in greeting Agatha She had her fists in Agatha’s hair and was exa her curly locks with fascination
“Watch out, Agatha Soets excited and pulls,” I warned “And she’s stronger than she looks”
“Oh, I’ to braid it, and it just ends up in knots Where’s Marcus?”
“Behind you!” Marcus said, giving out hugs of welcome “Don’t tell me you two are here to check up on me?”
“Not this ti up on?”
“Probably,” Marcus said cheerfully, though his smile was a touch anxious
“What’s the news froatha asked “How is Phoebe?”
“All good, so far,” Marcus replied “But it’s a big day”
“Miria to illuuests If all went according to plan, today Phoebe would get her first taste of blood that didn’t come from her maker
“You h Phoebe’s a baby,” Sarah said with a frown
“She is,” Matthew replied
“Phoebe’s a grooman, Matthew Maybe we could say, ‘Today Phoebe is experi her new diet,’” Sarah suggested
Matthew’s face bore an expression of bewildered exhaustion—and Sarah and Agatha had only just arrived
“Why don’t we go into the solariuatha toward the kitchen door “Marthe made some lovely shortbread, and we can catch up on all the nehile Matthew feeds the twins”
As I suspected, the prospect of sugary treats was irresistible, and Agatha and Sarah settled into the comfortable chairs with coffee, tea, and cookies
“So what’s the crisis?” Sarah said around a bite of shortbread
“I think Philip wove his first spell,” I said “I didn’t catch the words, so I’ with time, at the very least”
“I don’t knohat you think I can do about it, Diana” No matter the situation, Sarah could be relied upon to be perfectly candid “I didn’t have any babies to worry about, witchy or otherwise You and Matthew are going to have to figure it out yourselves”
“I thought you ht remember what rules Mom and Dad set out for me when I was a baby,” I prompted her
Sarah thought for a moment “Nope”
“Don’t you re about my childhood?” Irritation and worry made my tone especially sharp
“Not rande You weren’t in ‘how about you drop by for a visit’ range” Sarah gave a disapproving sniff “Besides, Rebecca wasn’t exactly welco” o;And you think an atlas and de Crèvecoeur’s account of life in New York are going to help?” Matthew looked skeptical