Her mom nodded. “All this time, Fernand was responsible.”
Sylvie wanted to ask her mom what they were going to do, but like drops of rain cascading down, the crowd descended.
Sylvie shrunk back as Jack Bass stomped toward them.
“I knew you two were trouble.” His eyes darted across the scattered debris. “Now, you’ve shown the world I was right.”
Before Sylvie could say anything, another familiar face came into focus.
Madame Godard eyed the crumpled kitchen. “What on earth happened?”
Sylvie tried to figure out where to begin.
“I think it’s clear.” Bass adjusted his hat. “Your girl Abby was trying to cheat her way to another win, but something went wrong.”
“No. It wasn’t her fault,” said Sylvie. “It was—”
“It was Josephine.” Her mom squeezed her protectively. “She was preparing aVindicti-au-vent.Sylvie stopped her.”
“Don’t you try to pin all this on me!”
Sylvie turned.
A fine layer of dust now covered Josephine’s blonde hair. She tucked her Blade into her chef’s coat. “Sylvie is the one you want. Her and her cheating mother.”
Bass shook his head. “Rotten apple. Rotten seed.”
Speaking of apples,Sylvie was about to say, but someone interrupted.
“Jack, my friend. Maybe you’re being too harsh.”
Sylvie recognized the voice, warm as shimmering oil, but just as dangerous.
Fernand LeGrande squeezed past the group of onlookers. “Thankfully no one was seriously injured.”
Sylvie glared at him. “No thanks to you.”
“How dare you speak to LeGrande like that!” Bass’s nostrils flared, making him look like an angry bull. “Fernand is a top-ranking Sage from an esteemed family.”
Fernand flashed a pearly smile. “It’s all right. Poor Sylvie has been under a lot of stress. This grudge between Josephine and her mother has gone too far. I, of course, blame Josephine.”
Sylvie couldn’t help but notice Josephine’s wounded expression.
“Sylvie was just trying to save her mother. If anything, she deserves a reward. She didn’t do half bad.” Fernand nudged Bass. “Perhaps the CCS should give her a shot at taking the test.”
Sylvie knew exactly what Fernand was trying to do. Win her silence with favors. It was dizzying, how ingeniously he could spin things.
Bass glanced uncertainly from Fernand to the steaming wreck.
“Sylvie!” Georgia and Flora muscled their way through the crowd.
“Ah, ladies! I told you we’d find her.” Fernand clapped a hand on Sylvie’s back. “They’ve been worried about you, running off like that. It was noble to try and save your mom, but you really should’ve let the experts help.”
“You all right?” asked Georgia.
Sylvie felt Fernand’s hand around her arm, squeezing like a nutcracker.
“Yeah. I’m … fine.” The truth suddenly didn’t feel so easy.What if no one believes me? What if all I do is make things worse?
