Page 70 of A Lady’s Guide to Mystery and Mischief

“What happened to Mr. Martin?”

Farah took an innocent sip of her fermented milk. “Mr. Martin?”

“Her old solicitor,” her father said.

Next to her, Grey began to fidget in his seat.

“I believe he retired,” Farah told him.

“Retired?” Sami repeated. “He can’t be more than forty—”

“Either way, it’s lovely to have you here,” Zahra said, reaching to a place a hand over her husband’s. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you please.”

“Thank you.” Grey’s tone was wooden. “I’ll only be a day or two at most.”

“I will say, I thought we’d been graced with the elusive Mr. Beaumont’s presence,” Caroline Southcott said.

The Southcotts had taken part in the trip to Wales, and while Mr. and Mrs. Southcott had elected to continue on to London, it seemed that Caroline and Amelia had chosen to linger in Painswick for a spell. Though they were close friends of the family, and though Farah adored them, she began to wish her legs were long enough to kick Caroline under the table.

“Did you see Mr. Beaumont in London, Farah?”

That was Amelia, ever away with the fairies and utterly oblivious to the tension that had settled over the table.

“No,” Farah lied, voice tight. “I did not.”

The silence that fell was thick enough to cut with a knife and have for pudding.

Kalila decided to come to Farah’s aid, saying, “A new scientist asked to join our laboratory before we went on holiday.”

The table broke out in interested murmurs, all attention blessedly redirected for the present. Farah sighed in relief, even as she found herself on the receiving end of one of Kalila’s pointed looks. Her cousin continued to distract the table until supper was over and everyone stood to retire to the parlor for the evening. Farah made to accompany the group, but was intercepted by both Dameer and Kalila, who came to a stop right in front of her.

“What?” she asked, noticing how crestfallen Grey appeared at her sudden absence.

“Oliver will save him from any awkwardness,” Kalila said, reading Farah’s mind with alarming accuracy. “You needn’t worry.”

“I’m not—”

“Come on,” Dameer said, unsteadily moving away from the parlor.

With no choice left but to follow, Farah allowed her brother to lead the way to the library. Once inside, Kalila closed the door behind them, the privacy dissolving all pretense.

Dameer spoke first. “Do you care to explain yourself?”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you mean,” Farah said, throwing in a few wide-eyed blinks for good measure.

“Don’t play coy.” Her brother dropped himself into an armchair. “Why would Aunt Dalia send her solicitor to accompany you on your journey home?”

“She didn’t want me to travel alone,” Farah replied.

“You can’t expect us to believe that,” Kalila said, propping herself on the armrest next to Dameer. “Although—hmm.”

“Although?” Dameer repeated. “Although what?”

Kalila shrugged. “It’s not my information to share.”

“Not you, too!” Dameer exclaimed. “Why am I always left scrambling to keep up?”

Farah watched them bicker, a weight settling upon her chest. It was hard—so hard—to not be able to share everything with those closest to her. Even Helena, her truest friend, had been purposefully kept in the dark. Biting her lip, Farah wondered what she could divulge, what she could possibly say to—