“I’ll tell you later. Just an idea I’ve been toying with.”
When they entered the dim West Room, an opulent but rarely used sitting room in the far west wing, they found Grace North pacing before the windows in the setting sun. She was staring out at the swathe of destruction across the front. Imogen stood near her, silent and still. Charlotte was across the room, spinning herself in a desk chair.
Grace turned at the sound of the door. She was pale. “What in God’s name happened here? Gaios?”
As Simon went to the sideboard to pour sherry for three, Kate said, “Yes, he disagreed with my landscaping choices.”
Charlotte chuckled, pushing herself faster. Kate grabbed the back of the chair and unwittingly nearly sent the girl flying.
“That’s impolite, dear. We have a guest.” Kate patted Charlotte’s back. “And isn’t it making you sick?”
“Almost.” Charlotte hopped off the chair and staggered about like a drunk.
Grace demanded, “Why didn’t you inform me immediately that Gaios had been here? I am your liaison.” She shivered slightly, glancing at the cold hearth.
Simon stepped around the weaving Charlotte and handed a sherry to Grace. “What would you have done about it, Mrs. North?”
Grace eyed him suspiciously and downed the wine in a single unladylike gulp. “What happened? How did you survive him?”
“It was very genteel. We had a bit of a chat and he went on his way.”
“A bit of a chat?” Grace looked to Kate for some sanity, but Kate nodded in agreement. “He destroyed your grounds as a precursor to a chat?”
“No, he originally wanted to kill us, but he could not.” Simon held a chair for Kate and put an easy hand on her shoulder, but he stayed on his feet since Grace was still standing. He maintained a diffident manner as if he were a country squire discussing the latest garden party. “He warned us to stay out of his way or we would die. The usual blather.”
“He was toying with you,” Grace said firmly. “Trying to frighten you. That must be it. If he had wanted you dead, you would be. Archer, you simply cannot continue being so vulnerable. Surely there is a way for you to recover your magic. The stakes are very high. Your nation is counting on you.”
Simon returned to the sideboard to pour another sherry. His voice was strained. “Everything that can be done is being done.”
“That seems—” Grace North started to turn again to Kate but stopped to stare at Imogen, who stood only a few feet away. She then stepped back uncomfortably and focused her attention on Kate. “That seems unlikely. Miss Anstruther, surely there is something you can do with your great alchemy skills. You must impress upon Mr. Archer that he has a duty. You understand duty, do you not?”
“I do.” Kate kept her polite demeanor. “Charlotte, you and Imogen go play in another room.”
Charlotte sat on a sofa and huffed. “But I’m being quiet.”
“Please, dear. Go find Mr. Malcolm. He would love your company.”
Charlotte exchanged a quick gleeful grin with Imogen but then placed a frown back on her angelic face and stomped to the door. She spun and curtsied to Grace before leaving. Grace looked slowly toward Imogen, who had not yet moved. There was an awkward moment, then Imogen seemed to glide out of the sitting room. Simon closed the door behind the girls with a wry smile at their minor anarchy.
Grace continued, “Miss Anstruther, Gaios came here, with no fear of your combined strength, and wreaked havoc on your home. Imagine what he can do to those who are unprepared throughout Britain. He must be stopped. We must do all we can or who knows what innocent lives will be lost by our failures. We can’t afford to ignore any possible effort.”
Kate nodded with false agreement. “We are endeavoring to learn more about Gaios’s plans from his confederate.”
“The Irishman?” Grace grew stern. “Ah, that’s why it’s so cold here. No fires. Have you extracted any information from him?”
“Nothing. Yet.”
“He likely doesn’t know anything.” The sophisticated blond woman straightened the lace on her cuff. “Gaios doesn’t fall into the trap of confiding secrets in underlings, particularly if they’re lunatics. Gaios might be crazy, but he’s not an idiot. You must do more if you hope to stop him.”
Simon gave Kate a sidelong glance to defuse some of his growing anger. But even her steady look did not settle him. “I’ll certainly keep that sentiment in mind, Mrs. North. If you’ll excuse me.”