The Sapphire Library by Rosalie Oaks

Author:Rosalie Oaks [Oaks, Rosalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780645027846
Publisher: Parkerville Press

15

In which lovers disagree

Elinor

* * *

In the morning, Elinor woke early; restless and impatient. When was Beresford going to be home? Jaq said he was already in London, so perhaps James was in the townhouse right now.

The thought propelled Elinor out of bed to dress hurriedly and go below. Yet only her mother was at the breakfast table; Perry and the countess, it seemed, were still sleeping off the night’s excesses. Upon enquiry, the butler informed Elinor that Beresford still had not returned. Elinor tried to ignore the worry that suddenly shook her.

“Well?” asked Mrs Avely, as Elinor took her place at the table. “How did the royal visit go?”

“It was fascinating,” said Elinor, and proceeded to tell her mother about the Sapphire Library. She also reluctantly explained the matter of Lord Rapp’s death; after all, the countess knew of their interest in it, and Elinor did not want to exclude her mother again. “The night Lord Rapp died, it appears he may have been Bemused, which might explain his behaviour in challenging the duke.”

Mrs Avely was frowning. “Lord Rapp was a Musor? That is concerning.”

Elinor hesitated. “Lord Rapp was a Discernor.”

Mrs Avely put down her fork. “A Discernor? The king’s Discernor? That is not good news.”

“Why do you say that?”

“It is the Royal Discernor’s role to scry dangers to the king. Perhaps someone wanted any possible warning silenced.”

Elinor reflected. “I quite like that theory. It means the murder was aimed specifically at the Royal Discernor, not just any Discernor.”

Her mother’s finger tapped on the table. “Hm. Perhaps it is better we remove from London, after all.”

“Oh, no!” said Elinor. “We’ve only just arrived!”

“You have established that the pearls are cared for.”

“We have seen them, but I am not convinced they are in safe hands.” Elinor then explained about the Vampiri Edicts. She was not surprised when Mrs Avely nodded her approval. Elinor wrinkled her nose and asked a question that had woken her in the middle of the night. “By the way, Mother, the king asked if Perry was Gifted. Do you think it is possible he could have a Gift and not know it?”

Mrs Avely shook her head. “I have never seen any signs of it. Usually, it manifests around nine years old, as you remember in your case. I’m afraid Perry is perfectly ordinary.”

“That is the way I like him,” said Elinor. She wondered how Perry was feeling after his night’s adventures.

Perhaps it was the memory of staring into Jaq’s dark eyes that caused Perry to eventually emerge after Mrs Avely left. He groaned and cast himself down at the table with an oath. “Oh God,” he said. “I drank far too much last night.”

“That you did,” said Elinor cheerily. “Did the late cup of tea help, assisted by those mermaid tears?”

Perry raised his head and glowered at her. “No.”

“It was kind of Jaq to bring you home.”

“Mmmgh,” said Perry. He returned to his contemplation of the table, perhaps recalling Jaq’s arm around his waist.

Elinor pressed on. “It sounds as if Jaq saved you from some embarrassing gambling bets.

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