My eyes bulge. Grandmère stares with eyes like daggers. She fears letting anyone outside the family know too much about our business.
Mom whips around. “What did you say, child?”
“Ariella,” Grandmère chides. “You’re dangerously close to looking like a gossip, dear. And you know the saying: A dog who brings a bone will carry one. Clearly, you’re not that type of girl, are you?”
“Of course not,” Ariella replies.
“She must’ve misspoken.” I yank Ariella’s arm and sweep her into a far corner.
Ariella smiles as the band strikes up a jazzy tune. “You are gonna dance, right, Em?”
“In a bit.” I squirm. I better figure out what my grandmother is up to first.
“Suit yourself.” She winks, already stepping away, the crowd pulling her in. Then, over her shoulder, she calls, “But the night is young, the music’s sweet—don’t let it pass without dancing feet.”
“Emma, birdie, you know how I feel about letting outsiders in on our personal business. I trust that you have not shared any inappropriate information.” Grandmère’s eyes grow shrewd.
“No, ma’am.” As desperate as I’ve been to share our magical secret, particularly now that Grace is gone, I haven’t.
Grandmère turns to my brother. “Though perhaps itistime to check in on our competition. Demetri, tomorrow morning, I want you to pay a visit to the Davenport Family Revue. My sources tell me they’re currentlyin Philadelphia.” She leans close to him, but I overhear her whisper, “In the year 2024.”
The future! My heart flutters like a kite in the wind. I’ve never driven that far into it, never gone farther than the 1960s.
Grandmère’s eyes study the crowd as she whispers, “Gather as much information as you safely can on their movements, mood, and abilities. I want to know how they’re preparing for what’s to come and who we might be up against.”
I wait for my brother to ask her what she’s talking about, but apparently he already knows. “Are you sure now is the time for me to be away from the family?”
She raises an eyebrow. “You’re more handsome when you’re not questioning my decisions.”
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
“I don’t need to tell you what’s at stake here,” she snaps.
“What’s at stake?” I interrupt, fed up with their cryptic talk and doublespeak. “Why am I the only one in the dark?”
They ignore me. “Demetri, remember not to approach our enemies. This is strictly for intel, dear boy.” Grandmère leans closer to him, gaze hardening. “Unless you see an opportunity…”
“I’m going with him.” I’m tired of being left out.
Grandmère’s hand strokes mine. “That’s not going to happen, little bird.”
“Please, Grandmère. I can do this. And you know I’ve been wanting to visit the twenty-first century.”
“No.”
“Why?” I challenge, the disrespect hot on my tongue.
“Because I said so,” Grandmère replies firmly. “Besides, if my guess is right, you’ll soon be far too busy to worry about a scouting mission.”
Is this the moment I was dreading? Is she planning one of her brutal punishments for what I did at the circus, after all? I don’t know how much longer I can stand the secrecy.
Grandmère gazes toward the window for a moment. “All in good time, birdie. All in good time. Now, enough shop talk.” She reaches up tostraighten Demetri’s bowler hat, then looks across at Ariella, who is talking to my parents on the other side of the room. Mom is elegant in her black-fringed dress, and Papa’s dapper in his navy suit. “Go on, beautiful boy. Someone is eager to dance.”
Demetri gives our grandmother a worried look as he pauses by my side.
“I have everything under control,” she snaps. “Go! Enjoy yourself!”
He takes long strides across the room, speaking to men in top hats and tailcoats before greeting our parents.
