“Well,” Tommy said. “That sounds horrid.”
Philippa nodded. “It will be.”
“I have something that will cheer you up.” Tommy opened the lid of the wicker basket. Her big, romantic gesture would no longer lead to romance, but at leastthiswould be a welcome surprise. She lifted out the book and handed it to Philippa.
Philippa looked at it blankly. “What is this?”
“Er,” said Tommy. “Hopefully one of the Northrup manuscripts.”
“I see that,” Philippa said. “That’s exactly what it is.”
Tommy nodded warily. She had expected more in the way of squeals of joy and perhaps a bit of bouncing up and down. Philippa hadjust saidwhat she most wanted was proof to use against Northrup. Tommy had just handed some to her. It was right there. In her hands.
Philippa stared at it. “Where did this come from?”
“Er,” said Tommy. “I started with the easiest place on your list.”
Philippa looked up. “Which of the forbidden, fortified, or heavily guarded places was the easiest?”
“Cambridge?” Tommy said.
“You removed a protected illuminated manuscript,” Philippa said slowly, “from the Cambridge University Royal Library.”
Tommy nodded carefully.
“You robbed the Royal Library,” Philippa repeated. “Withoutme.”
“Er,” Tommy said again.
Philippa dropped the valuable and extremely stolen illuminated manuscript onto the dining table with a thud.
“You’re not pleased,” Tommy ventured.
“I’m not pleased,” Philippa agreed.
Tommy’s chest hurt. “I’m trying. I would give you what you want if you would just tell me what it is.”
“I don’t want to be the passive recipient of someone else’s decisions,” Philippa said. “I don’t want you to bring me flowers. I want to help pick them. I want to hold the shears from time to time.”
“To be fair,” Tommy mumbled. “It’s not flowers.”
Philippa’s eyes sparked. “You want me to believe I am the person you most admire? It didn’t occur to you to stop lying to me about Great-Aunt Wynchester. It didn’t occur to you I might want to be consulted on the plans I helped you to create, despite the fact that Ibeggedyou to let me be a part of the adventure.” Her voice shook. “I didn’t occur to you at all.”
“That’s not true,” Tommy said. “You’re the only thing that does occur to me. You’re the reason I did it.”
“No,” Philippa corrected. “You stole it because that’s what Wynchestersdo. You solve problems and save the day. You’re always the heroes. Well, I don’t want to hear about your daring deeds secondhand. This ismycase, too. I brought it to you. Damaris ismyfriend.Ifound the hidden letter.I’mthe one expected to smile and simper at Northrup’s smug, duplicitous face. But you don’t see me as a resource. Not even to talk it over.”
“I…” said Tommy.
That was as much of an argument as she had.
Philippa was right. Including her in the operationhadn’toccurred to Tommy or her siblings. They’d always done everything on their own. They each had their particular expertise, and they worked seamlessly together. Tommy certainly wouldn’t have tried to insert her into arobbery.
“It’s not just you. I’m tired of everyone making decisions for me. I’ve had a lifetime of it.” Philippa’s shoulders deflated. “I suppose you expect me to sit around quietly whilst you gad about stealing more manuscripts.”
“Er,” said Tommy. That was exactly the plan. Or had been.
“I’m grateful,” Philippa said. “Even if I’m disappointed. I might’ve thought if the wild Wynchesters can do impossible things, surely you could have devised a method tocommunicatewith me. A reverse homing kitten. A messenger falcon.”
