page36 (1/2)

“All newly reborn vampires need someone like me to take care of them—and older ones, too, when they are in society I dressed Madame Ysabeau, and Miladies Freyja and Verin” Françoise took no notice of Phoebe’s startled reaction “I took care of Milady Stasia back in the winter of 802, when she was taken ill with the ennui and would not leave her house, not even to hunt”

Françoise finished her pillowcase and took up a sheet The hot iron hissed and spit against the damp cloth Phoebe held her breath This was more ancient de Clermont history than she had ever heard before, and she did not wish to interrupt

“I attended on madame when she was in the past with Sieur Matthew, and made sure she did not come to harm when he was about town on business I kept house for Milady Johanna after Milord Godfrey died in the wars, when she was in a rage and wished to die I have cooked and cleaned for Sieur Baldwin, and helped Alain take care of Sieur Philippe when he came home from the Nazis a broken man”

Françoise fixed her dark eyes on Phoebe “Aren’t you glad now that this is the life I chose: taking care of this family? Because without round under the heels of every vampire you meet, and Milord Marcus with you”

Phoebe wasn’t glad, precisely, although the rateful she was for the advice the wo And she still couldn’t understand why anyone with her full faculties—which Françoise obviously possessed—would choose to look after other people Phoebe supposed it wasn’t dissione to years and years of schooling for that and it seemed somehow more worthy than Françoise’s path

The more she considered Françoise’s question, however, the less sure Phoebe was of her answer

Françoise’s an to curve upward in a slow, deliberate smile

For the first ti a vampire, Phoebe felt an un silent, she had earned Françoise’s approval And it ht have expected

Phoebe handed Françoise the lump of sheet that was uppermost in the basket

“What’s ‘ennui’?” Phoebe asked

Françoise’s serous as Sieur Matthew’s blood rage, you understand, but it can be deadly”

“Does Stasia still have it?” Phoebe settled back onto her stool, watching Françoise’s ths of da on the floor The two of the was important to Françoise, Phoebe should at least try to discover why

“Middle-aged white women,” Miriam said as she entered Françoise’s territory

“What about them?” Phoebe asked, confused

“They were sahty-three—the one you claimed to like second only to cat’s blood,” Miriam explained

“Oh” Phoebe blinked

“We’ll get you some more Françoise will have it on hand—but you have to ask for it Specifically Unless you do, you’ll have nothing but the cat to feed from,” Miriam said

Whatever was the point of that? Phoebe wondered Couldn’t she just say, “I’e?

Françoise, however, see on She nodded Phoebe would learn later why this ridiculous rule was being imposed

“The cat will be sufficient, thank you, Miria in such need that she would utter the words “give ed white woman”

“We’ll see,” Miriam said with a smile “Come It’s time for you to learn horite”

“I knorite,” Phoebe said, sounding cross

“Yes, but we’d like you to do it without setting the paper on fire with excessive friction or carving up the desk” Miriaer in a way that made Phoebe shiver

For the first time in her life, Phoebe left the kitchen reluctantly It seemed a place of comfort and safe harbor noith Françoise and the laundry, the clean glasses, and the hiss of the iron Upstairs there was nothing but peril and whatever fresh tests her sadistic vampire schoolmistresses could devise

As the baize-covered door to the kitchen swung shut behind her, Phoebe finally arrived at the answer to Françoise’s question

“Yes I’lad” Phoebe was back in the kitchen before she had fully forht: thinking of where she wanted to be really was sufficient cause to get her there

“I thought so Go now Don’t keep yourthe heavy iron in the direction of the door as though it weighed no more than a feather

Phoebe returned to Miriam’s side As the baize door flapped its way closed, she heard the strangest sound, soh and a chortle

It was Françoise—and she was laughing

14

A Life of Trouble

25 MAY

“Sit Stay Wait” My son’s piping voice carried through the open , uttering a streaave Hector and Fallon every ti knocked over The kitchen door creaked open There was a pause “Wait Stay Okay”

Apollo bounded into the roo extremely pleased with himself—but not nearly as proud as Philip, who toddled after hi leash, hand in hand with Matthew

Alarriffin

“Mos Apollo joined in the eht

“Did you have a nice walk?” I sht up at the slightest breeze

“Very nice” Matthew gavekiss “You taste of almonds”

“We’ve been having some breakfast” I pointed to Becca, whose face was partially obscured by jam and nut butter Her smile of welcome for her father and brother was un”

This was uncharacteristic behavior for our daughter Becca tracked her food carefully, and had to be re put on the table was solely for her

Apollo hopped over to Becca’s chair He sat, long tongue lolling expectantly, his beady eyes fixed on the table, where the remnants of her feast re

“I see that Rebecca and Apollo are still working out their relationship,” Matthew co cup of coffee and sat doith the paper

“Coriffin while jiggling the leash enticingly “Come, ’Pollo Sit”

“Let’s get your bib on and soed the leash and put it on the table “Marthe made oatmeal Your favorite!”

Philip’s preferred breakfast was pale pink goo—a splash of quail blood, some oats, and lumps of berries—with plenty of ht not recognize the dish as such

“Apollo Here!” Philip’s patience was running out and his tone was decidedly peevish “Here!”

“Let Apollo visit with Becca,” I said, trying to distract hi hi the griffin

Apollo screeched in horror and launched hi hiht-side up and in his booster seat that the griffin settled back down to earth

“Have you seen Marcus thisfor a sound frorown son

“He ca about taking a run” I handed Philip a spoon, which he would use to fling the oatmeal around rather than feed hie” o;All newly reborn vampires need someone like me to take care of them—and older ones, too, when they are in society I dressed Madame Ysabeau, and Miladies Freyja and Verin” Françoise took no notice of Phoebe’s startled reaction “I took care of Milady Stasia back in the winter of 802, when she was taken ill with the ennui and would not leave her house, not even to hunt”