A spark of hope was catching in Aurelia’s chest.
“Are you starting to believe us, Mum? Maybe Kitty can try talking to you.”
“How do you do, Mrs.—” Kitty turned to Julia and whispered, “Mrs. What?”
“Mrs. Bergerac,” Julia whispered back.
“How do you do, Mrs. Bergerac? My name is Catherine Bennet.”
“Oh—Kitty’s short for Catherine?” Julia asked.
“Yes, my sisters started calling me Kitty when I was younger. Mama still calls me Catherine at times, but I prefer Kitty.”
“Are you talking to Kitty?” Antonia asked, her voice still low.
“I am. Didn’t you hear what she said?”
“No, but I heard her voice.”
“She says hello, and that her real name is Catherine, but she likes to be called Kitty instead.”
Julia’s tone was light at first, but then she turned to Aurelia and her smile faltered.
“Why can’t she understand what they’re saying?”
“I don’t know.” Shaking her head, Aurelia turned to Sergeant Cuff.
“I am sorry to say that it seems to be one more of the shop’s mysteries,” he said. “There is a certain sense to it, I suppose. If one cannot see the characters, one likewise cannot converse with them.”
“Mum,” Julia said through the door. “Sergeant Cuff thinks it won’t work, that you won’t be able to… Mum, I’m sorry.”
Julia began to cry. Kitty put an arm around her, which dissolved into a swirl of printed words before she raised her arm so that it rested just above Julia’s shoulder.
31
Apallhadbeencastover the shop, so that even Miss Clack and Mrs. Jamieson were quiet below.
“It’s alright, Julia,” Antonia called through the door. “Can I come into the shop now?”
“Yes, just a second,” Aurelia said before turning to the characters. “Thank you all for trying. When she comes in, you’re going to be sent back to your books, but we’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“You certainly will,” Cuff said confidently.
“Goodnight, Julia. All will be well, my friend,” Kitty said as she stepped away to join Cuff and Blanche.
Julia sniffed back her tears and nodded to Kitty.
“Is everyone ready?” Antonia asked gently.
“Yes, we’ve said our goodnights. You can come through,” Aurelia told her.
The handle slowly turned, and Antonia pushed open the door by millimeters at a time.
The light immediately dimmed and Blanche, Kitty, and Cuff were drawn quickly back downstairs to their books on the Recommended Reads table, along with Mrs. Jamieson and Miss Clack.
Julia gasped and Aurelia put out a hand to reassure her.
“They’re fine. It just happens a bit faster when it’s not dawn.”
