The Vanishing Trick by Jenni Spangler

Author:Jenni Spangler [Spangler, Jenni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Felix scoured the books yet again, searching for any tiny clue they might have overlooked – anything to stop Pinchbeck harming Charlotte. Leander’s reading wasn’t good enough to be of any use, so he mostly sat guard over the well-stuffed food hamper. He’d already devoured his chunk of fruitcake and pocketed handfuls of biscuits and sugarplums when he thought Felix wasn’t looking, but Felix pretended not to notice. He knew it wasn’t greed. Leander had spent months never knowing when his next meal would come. The longer Felix knew him, the more Leander reminded him of Isaak; though he was much older, Leander had the same stubbornness, the same false bravery and puppy-dog hopefulness. Felix was growing fond of the boy, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Never get attached.

The carriage swayed to a stop and the door opened to reveal Charlotte.

‘She’s asleep. I’ve covered her with blankets, but we don’t have long. The air’s biting.’

Felix shifted the pile of papers so she could squeeze in.

‘Did she say anything?’ he asked.

‘Mostly bragging about her own genius and complaining about the hardships of being a woman, as if I didn’t know.’

Leander held a piece of cake out, but she shook her head. Felix saw him pretend to put it back in the basket, but instead slip it into his pocket.

‘The letter,’ said Charlotte. ‘Did you leave it in my uncle’s study?’

‘Yes,’ said Leander. ‘Well, sort of. I got caught by the housekeeper and had to drop it on to the carpet. I hope he sees it.’

Charlotte nodded. ‘At least we tried.’ She rubbed her hands together, then stuck them under her arms for warmth.

‘I suppose we just have to wait and hope,’ said Leander.

‘We’re on our way to Stafford, through Coven. What’s in Stafford?’ asked Charlotte.

‘Coven?’ said Felix, a memory stirring but still foggy. ‘Did she mention anything else?’

‘She said her secrets have been buried for eight years, whatever that means. I think she was suspicious. I might have been too nice.’ Charlotte was shivering. Felix didn’t know if it was because of the cold or the horror of the night’s events.

‘No luck here, either,’ said Leander. ‘We—’

‘Wait.’ Felix cut him off. Charlotte’s words had loosened something in a dusty corner of his mind. An idea was waiting just beyond his grasp. Buried for eight years. He dropped to the floor, combing through papers they’d already checked. ‘Leander, quick. The Grimoire of Marsh and Blight, where did we put it?’

‘Which one is it?’ Leander joined him on the floor.

‘The blue one with the golden edges.’ Charlotte pulled her feet up on to the bench to give them space.

‘Got it.’

Felix clambered on to the seat beside Charlotte. Leander began tidying away the papers.

‘Where is it, where is it?’ Felix turned the book upside down and shook it, causing a shower of dried petals and paper scraps to fall into his lap. He discarded the book to sort through them. ‘I saw a note. I had a nagging feeling it might mean something.

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