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“You have missed all the drama,” Tabitha said as she approached Felicity and Beatrice outside Templeton Stud. She turned to keep Asquith in her sights just as the lady made a show of inspecting every trunk and case before she let them be carried into the coach house. Charlotte was gathering her children and calling for Ursella, who had drifted over to the stable yard to look at the bear.
“If I left my office every time a shout let out in the square, I would get nothing done,” Felicity replied.
“Well, let us hope Mrs. Asquith does not see fit to abandon her career as a writer,” Tabitha said. “She is not fit for the stage.”
“Did said drama originate with her?” Beatrice slipped her arm through Tabitha’s as they strolled across the green.
“She favors portentous half thoughts dropped into conversation to tantalize the listener.”
Felicity took her other arm and pouted. “Oh, do not say she is an awful person. I so enjoy her books.”
The Peaselys rushed to greet the Duke of Osborn, who proceeded to make much of them. As the ladies passed, he asked, “What play shall you give us?”
A flash of inspiration had Tabitha suggest: “Let us haveHamlet, Your Grace.”
“The Melancholy Dane?” The bear Shifter hummed regretfully. “It is a play of deep thoughts, Miss Barrington, and not as much of an entertainment as others in our beloved Bard’s oeuvre.”
“Oh, we can do it in less than three-quarters of an hour,” said Mr. Peasley.
“All the while sustaining the tension and pathos,” added his wife.
“Now that I have to see!” The duke proceeded to quiz the Peaselys on their approach to the play.
“This will be the first performance I have ever hosted,” Felicity said as she herded them off to the side of the crowd. She continued to chatter about theater and Shakespeare and Edmund Kean until they could be private.
Tabitha kept her eyes on the whole of the square. “My friends, I need your help.”
“Anything,” Felicity said.
“We are at your service, of course, Tabitha.” Beatrice’s perfect little face wrinkled with a scowl. “Has it to do with the lady author?”
“I saw, from a distance, that Asquith was holding something out to the children. The way it caught the light sent a tremor down my spine. You know I do not speak so fancifully, ever, but it was as though a dreadful event was about to transpire.” She recounted her run to the Close and finished with her turning away from the lady author. “She knew Ursella’s name and that she is an Omega, and then threatened me with who knows what.”
Beatrice laid a trembling hand on Tabitha’s arm. “Was the chain she lured the children with—was it gold?”
“I believe it was.” She laid her hand over her friend’s. “I am aware gold is anathema to Shifters.”
Felicity set her jaw. “I find I do not trust Mrs. Asquith.”
“Only one with dire motives would visit Lowell Close with gold at their disposal.” Beatrice shook her head. “As she isversipellis, I would be amazed she exposes herself to it.”
“I fear she has use for it.” Tabitha’s mind reeled with the possibilities, wedded with the timing of Asquith’s visit, and came up with nothing good.
“That is a very serious accusation.” Felicity lifted her chin, and Tabitha took heart: nothing stood in the way of the Duchess of Lowell when she did so. “We must be able to support it without question. If only O’Mara were here.”
“Ursella is young and very knowledgeable,” Beatrice said, “but I do not know if dealing with this person is beyond her abilities. I shall speak to her parents, but it is their decision as to whether the child can help.”
“I believe Asquith will not hesitate to boast of her successes,” Tabitha said. “I shall write a speech for the players to speak, trippingly off their tongues, and trick her into exposing herself.”
“The play’s the thing,” Beatrice supplied.
“To catch the conscience of a…whatever she is,” Felicity finished.
“A snake,” Tabitha said, without hesitation. “I am sorry to break theversipellianlaw, but it must be said.”
“Are you certain?” Beatrice asked. “Even after all this time amongst them, I can spot aversipellisbut cannot discern their species.”
