Free A Matter of Magic by Patricia Wrede Page B

not likely to remember me. What is their connection with the Ministry?”
    There was a moment’s silence, then Lord Shoreham said ruefully, “Richard, you are uncanny. How did you know?”
    “There must be at least a hundred people in London who might have recognized me, including my dear brother Andrew. You didn’t ask me about any of them.”
    “Andrew’s in London? You didn’t see him, did you?”
    “As a matter of fact, I did. Briefly. It needn’t concern you.”
    “Nothing in this affair—”
    “You’re avoiding the subject, Edward. What’s so special about Bramingham and the Granleighs?”
    Lord Shoreham sighed again. “Stephen Granleigh is involved with the Ministry in a number of ways. Of necessity, he’s familiar with the history of the Saltash Bowl. Has decided opinions on the subject, too.”
    “I see. And St. Clair?”
    “Was elected to the College in your place.”
    “He must have been delighted.” Mairelon’s voice was utterly devoid of expression. “I must remember to congratulate him if I see him.”
    “Richard! Don’t take foolish risks.”
    “Foolish? Never.”
    “I ought to take the bowl, after all, and let someone else recover the platter.”
    “You can have it if you like, but it won’t keep me out of Essex.”
    “I was afraid of that. Richard, if the Runners catch you with the Saltash Bowl—”
    “The Runners have criminals enough to deal with in London. What would one of them be doing in Essex?”
    “Quite possibly looking for you,” Lord Shoreham replied dryly. “I told you someone’s been talking too much.”
    “I’ll take the chance.”
    “Very well. I hope your luck holds, Richard. And don’t hesitate to call on me if something happens.”
    “You may be sure of it.”
    The wagon door opened, and Lord Shoreham’s footsteps sounded on the steps. Kim heard Mairelon moving about the wagon, then a soft thump as the lid of the chest closed. She held her breath, waiting for him to leave and wondering how she was going to sneak out unseen. But Mairelon did not leave. Kim was just beginning to wonder whether she would have to stay where she was all night when Mairelon spoke.
    “I think you had better come out now, Kim, and explain why you’ve been eavesdropping on my conversation.”

7
    Kim swallowed hard and pushed the curtain aside. Mairelon was standing in the center of the wagon, watching her. His face was expressionless. Kim swallowed again and said nothing.
    “You
do
have some explanation, I trust?” Mairelon said.
    “I was just—it was an accident,” Kim said lamely.
    “I see. You just happened to hide behind the curtain at exactly the time Lord Shoreham was planning to arrive,” Mairelon said with a cool politeness that was worse than sarcasm and far worse than open anger.
    “Yes!” Kim said hotly. “You and Hunch didn’t have no use for me outside, so I came in here to look at that stage you got in back. Which you got to get back of the curtain to do.”
    “The timing was remarkably convenient.”
    “You never said when that Shoreham cove was comin’,” Kim said angrily. “So how would I of known when to hide? You ain’t told me nothin’, neither one of you.”
    “Why didn’t you come out?”
    “With the two of you talkin’ about me? And after that . . .” Kim squirmed. “It wouldn’t of looked right.”
    “Wouldn’t
have,
” Mairelon said, sounding as if his mind were on something else. “No, I suppose not.”
    “How did you know I was there?” Kim ventured. She had been half afraid Mairelon would throw her out at once, but it seemed she had been wrong. He wouldn’t be correcting the way she spoke if he’d made up his mind to get rid of her.
    “The end of the curtain was hanging oddly; I noticed it when I was showing Shoreham the bowl. Then I remembered seeing you come around this way and that you hadn’t come back. Simple, really.”
    “So why didn’t you say something right then?”
    Mairelon looked uncomfortable.