It turned out I was able to sleep five hours before Fenice came to find me.
“Are you awake—oh, lord, you’re at it again?”
“Hrn?” I woke up at the sound of a voice to find that Alden had rolled over until he was halfway on top of me, one leg thrown over mine.
Alden jerked back at the same time, blinking wildly and trying to focus his gaze on the door.
“Oh, it’s you, Fenice. We weren’t doing anything but sleeping,” I told her, stretching and yawning. “What time is it?”
“It’s gone half after eleven. We’re finally being allowed to hold classes, although obviously the remains of the house are off-limits.” She peered at us. “You look like hell, both of you. When did Alden get a black eye?”
“When I dragged him away from certain death.” I yawned again, and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “How many people do I have today, do you know?”
“Just three, but if you are too tired to cope—”
“No, I’ll be fine.” I stretched again. “I just need a little coffee and some food, and I’ll be good to go.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because I was worried youweren’t going to be up to it, and since the Fight Knight is only six days away, we need every man and woman on board. So to speak.”
“You think you can still hold that?” I asked her, unsure of whether it was wise, given the disaster. “Won’t people be put off by the fire?”
“Are you kidding? They’ll think it’s great—can’t you just imagine the pictures? Melee combat in front of the ruins of an Elizabethan house will be pure camera fodder.” She eyed Alden worriedly. “You... er... you won’t mind us having the event, will you, Alden? It means the world to Vandal and me, and we promise to give you all the proceeds if you’re taking funds for rebuilding. It’s the least we can do.”
“You can hold it,” Alden said tiredly. “It makes no difference to me.”
“We’ll take care of everything, don’t you worry.” She flashed me a low-wattage smile, and beckoned me.
With a glance back at Alden, I followed her out to the hallway.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of Alden, but I heard there was going to be an arson inspector out to look through the ruins once they are cool enough.”
“Arson!” I rubbed my arms. “No, not even Lisa would be crazy enough to burn down an entire house.”
“You think Lisa is responsible for the fire?” Fenice asked, looking askance. “Do you have any proof?”
“No, but I’m positive she’s behind the fall he took in the gallery.” Quickly I explained my theory, adding, “It makes sense when you think of her being up to something in the secret passageways.”
“I thought you didn’t find anything there but lights hung all over?”
“We didn’t, except a chemistry bottle and some trash.”
Fenice looked confused, so I gave her a brief rundown of our sole finds in the secret passageways.
“How very odd. Why would Lisa leave that?”
“I don’t think she did. At least, not intentionally.” I glanced back through the open door to Alden. He hadn’t moved. “To be honest, I think she has a crush on Alden, and is pissed because he chose me over her, and the murder attempt in the gallery was her way of getting back. She must have found the way into the secret passages from Lady Sybilla’s documents, and done some poking around there, even discovering the smugglers’ cave. But there wasn’t anything she could do there. Unless that’s where she started the fire... if she did do it. I admit that it might also be a faulty gas line that started the fire, although it’s damned highly suspicious that it started in Alden’s room.”
“Could be. Both the plumbing and wiring are quite old.” Fenice glanced at her watch. “I’d best get a move on. See you in half an hour?”
I nodded, and she left, allowing me to return to Alden. He lay on his back, his face shadowed by beard and sorrow.
“I didn’t dream it, did I?” he asked, staring up at the ceiling. “The house is really gone.”
“I’m afraid so.” I leaned forward to kiss him. “What can I do to make things better?”
“Nothing, unless you have a magical ability to reverse time.” He rubbed at his whiskery chin. “All our things were lost. Your clothes, and whatever else you brought with you. My clothes. My books. All my plans and papers.”
“You still have your laptop, though,” I pointed out.“And I didn’t lose anything but clothes and a few paperbacks. Nothing that can’t be replaced. Oh, Alden, I feel so horrible for you. You have to give me something to do, something that will help you and make you feel better.”
