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“He’s expecting an update from Paris,” Matthew explained
The phone calls came every few days Freyja spoke to Ysabeau, and then Matthew’s randson So far, Phoebe was doing brilliantly There had been a few hiccups, Freyja acknowledged, but nothing that wasn’t expected during a va Phoebe every step of the way, and I knew froed in her pursuit of Phoebe’s success Still, Marcus couldn’t help worrying
“Marcus hasn’t been himself since he told you about Obadiah,” Matthew said, attributing his son’s anxiety to a different cause
Obadiah’s violent end had been the subject of atha, and Sarah Over the past few days, Marcus had returned to the events of 1776, adding new details, worrying if there was so his father and still have protected his mother and sister
“The threads that bind hiled and twisted,” I ad if a simple charm would help, one woven with the second knot He’s all blue these days”
“I don’t think he’s that depressed,” Matthew said with a frown
“No, not that kind of blue!” I said “Though et the expression Everywhere Marcus rubs up against tiister in shades of blue: royal blue, pale blue, purple, lavender, indigo, even turquoise I’d like to see more balance Last week there was some red, white, and black in the mix Not all of them are happy colors, but at least there was some variety”
Matthew looked fascinated He also looked concerned
“Second-knot spells rebalance energy They’re often used in love ic,” I said “But that’s not their only purpose In this case, I could weave a spell to help Marcus sort out the emotions that are tied to his past lives”
“For a va to terms with our past lives is the most important e do,” Matthew said cautiously “I don’t think ood idea, mon coeur”
“But Marcus is trying to ignore his past, not face it,” I said “I kno impossible that is”
Past Present Future As a historian, I was intrigued by the relationship between them To examine one thread required that you study them all
“He’ll realize that,” Matthew said, returning to his paper “In time”
—
MATTHEW AND I WERE TAKING the children for a e spotted a convertible approaching the house It turned in to the driveway and wended its way to the house at a crawl
“Ysabeau,” Matthew said “And Marcus, too”
It was a bizarre procession Alain was at the wheel of the car Ysabeau de Clerlasses and a sleeveless dress in a pale primrose color The ends of the Hermès scarf knotted around her head fluttered in the breeze She looked like the star of a 1960s film about a European princess on su if there was news from Paris
“Jesus, Grand-mère,” Marcus said when they finally arrived in the courtyard and Alain switched off the ignition “Why own a car with thatto let Alain drive it at five olf cart?”
“One never knohen one ily
The children clah she did sneak in a wink at Rebecca
“How’s Phoebe?” Marcus was practically dancing in anticipation of the news
Ysabeau didn’t answer her grandson’s question, but ht decent chah of it in this house”
“And Phoebe?” Marcus asked, renewing his calls for more information
“Has Becca’s tooth co Marcus “Hello, Diana You are looking well”
“Good , Maman” Matthew stooped to kiss his mother
Sarah and Agatha joined us in the courtyard Sarah was still in her paja a cocktail dress They made an odd pair
“It is afternoon, Matthew Have you no clocks in the house?” Ysabeau looked around for her next target and found one in e frock I hope you didn’t pay much for it”
“Nice to see you, too, Ysabeau Agatha made it for me I’m sure she’d make one for you, too, if you asked nicely” Sarah drew the vivid kimono around her
Ysabeau looked askance at the garment, then sniffed
“Are you having a proble reek of lavender?” Ysabeau asked
“Why don’t we all go inside,” I said, shifting Becca to my other hip
“I have been waiting for an invitation to do just that,” Ysabeau said, her annoyance at the delay evident “I cannot just walk in, can I?”
“You would know better than ht with my mother-in-law “My vaht in and head for the kitchen”
Her worst fears confirs and into the house that had formerly been her home
Once she was ensconced in a comfortable chair in the parlor, Ysabeau insisted everyone have a drink, and then she held the twins on her lap and e phone interrupted it
“Oui?” Ysabeau said, after drawing her bright red e clutch with a distinctive Bakelite handle shaped like a running greyhound
Marcus crept closer to listen to the conversation on the other end, during what I, and the other war silence
“Ah That is excellent news” Ysabeau smiled “I expected no less of Phoebe”
Matthew’s face relaxed a fraction, and Marcus let out a shout of joy
“Bee Bee!” Becca sang out her pet name for Phoebe
“And she is feeding well?” Ysabeau paused while Freyja responded “Persephone? Hein, I was never fond of that girl and her endless complaints”
My eyes narrowed In the not-too-distant future, Ysabeau and I were going to have a talk about things ht of a fully grown griffin
“Has Phoebe asked for randmother
Ysabeau’s long fingernail pressed into her grandson’s chest in a gesture of warning I’d seen that sarew still
“You may tell Phoebe that Marcus is in excellent health, and we are finding ways to keep him occupied until she is returned to us” Ysabeau made it sound as if Phoebe were a borrowed book “Until Sunday, then” She disconnected the line
“Thole days!” Marcus groaned “I can’t believe I have to wait thole days for more news”
“You are fortunate to be doing this in the age of telephones, Marcus It took more than two days for news to reach Jerusalem from Antioch when Louisa washihts of Lazarus, instead of ing in self-pity There are soand inexperienced Go and play”
“What are you proposing, Grand-mère? That I lead them on a quest to the Holy Land? Have an archery tourna
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ysabeau said “I hate jousts There’s nothing for the woly and look decorative Surely there’s a country to conquer, or a govern to justice” Her eyes sparkled at the prospect
“This is precisely hoe ended up with the Congregation,” Marcus said, pointing an ader “Think how much trouble that caused We don’t behave like that any an update from Paris,” Matthew explained