Free The Body Thief by Stephen M. Giles Page B

aunt, Adele was struck by the joy slashing about all over her face and the brilliant red hair on her head. The professor had never spoken much about her sister Rosemary, apart from calling her a fat spinster who had wasted her life traveling the world like a bag lady!
    “What a beauty you are!” Rosemary cried, swallowing Adele up in her embrace and planting a cookie-coated kiss on her cheek. She looked admiringly at Adele’s hair, her mouth blooming in a gigantic grin. “Magnificent! Isn’t red hair a joy?”
    “Well…I suppose,” said Adele rather meekly.
    “Oh, hair can be such a dull business,” declared Aunt Rosemary, “all those blondes and brunettes clogging up the streets. But red —now that’s a color people notice!” She giggled, tapping her niece’s freckled nose. “Wonderful! Wonderful!”
    Blushing furiously, Adele found it rather difficult to speak. The thought that someone might actually be glad to have red hair was utterly shocking. After all, her mother considered Adele’s hair a great tragedy, a curse. And it was… wasn’t it? Even asking the question was bold and new, and the girl’s stomach began to tingle.
    “And as for you ,” declared Rosemary, turning her attention to Isabella (who was utterly appalled by the pear-shaped, red-cheeked, bucktoothed creature stalking toward her). “Well, you’re every bit as pretty as your father described in his letters. And what marvelous eyes! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prettier shade of blue.”
    “Well,” said Isabella, offering her aunt a faint smile, “that is very kind of you to say, Aunt Rosemary. And your eyes are very…black.”
    “It’s a Winterbottom curse, I’m afraid!” said Rosemary with a grin as she slipped off her coat and threw it carelessly over a chair. She hugged Isabella, planting a wet kiss on her pretty cheek and stunning the poor girl into silence. “Heavens, you remind me of your father! He was a beautiful-looking child, our Nathanial.”
    Isabella managed a proud smile even as she wiped the slobber from her face. “Our baby pictures are practically identical.”
    “You’ve never seen a boy more in love with himself than your father.” Rosemary let out a roar of laughter. “And so short! I had dolls taller than he was!”
    The girl’s smile fell away, replaced by a tense glare. “Come now, Aunt,” said Isabella, trying to sound lighthearted. “I am sure you’re exaggerating. Father wasn’t all that vain, surely?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Rosemary, dropping down onto the couch and letting out a lengthy sigh. “Nathanial was the vainest child who ever lived. Just ask your Uncle Silas.” She giggled again. “His favorite toy was the mirror. The silly boy would spend hours at a time staring into his own reflection. It was love at first sight, our mother use to say.” As quickly as she sat down, Rosemary jumped up again. “I must keep moving! I want to introduce myself to your cousin Milo and then have a nap before dinner. I’m dead on my feet!”
    With that she grabbed her coat and swept from the library, twirling around when she got to the door and waving at her nieces using both plump arms.
    “Lovely to meet you, pets!”
    “Miserable hag!” snapped Isabella, when her aunt was safely out of earshot. She sat down on the rug, leaning back against the sleeping crocodile. “She’s just jealous because my father is rich and handsome and she is a fat and ugly with big buckteeth and awful clothes. Did you see those big wooden buttons on her coat? I’m certain she made them herself. Probably carved them with her teeth!”
    “I thought she was very nice,” said Adele rather shyly.
    “Don’t be fooled, cousin!” Isabella crossed her legs and flicked her silky hair back over her shoulders. “Aunt Rosemary might act all jolly and fat and nice, but she came here for one reason only—the money.”
    “You think so?” said Adele, looking rather alarmed. The last thing she needed was more