“That’s possible, I suppose.” As far as I knew, everyone in my family was dead. If any of them had my power, they hid it until they died. Unlike Affie, my magic could be disguised in many ways.
“I believe magic waited until this generation to reappear in many lines, and when it was time for the two cities to merge, magic woke from its slumber.”
“This is the second time someone claimed magic is sentient.”
“Do you still think it is not? Think for a moment, Marbrey. When you are building your marvelous creations, doesn’t your magic guide you where to put things? Isn’t it magic that told you what to do with Buster? I believe that it does have at least a minor sentience.” He patted my knee. “Pay attention next time and listen to what your magic tells you.”
Before I could refute his theory, the carriage stopped at his front door. We exited with little fanfare. Justin’s servants were efficient, and the front door swung open before we’d set a single foot on the gravel. The servants didn’t acknowledge me. I was fine with tolerant disinterest rather than outright disdain.
A few steps inside the mansion, we ran into our first problem. A woman in a white cap with curly brown hair wearing a governess uniform came rushing up. She curtseyed quickly to Justin and nodded to me as an afterthought.
I didn’t take offense. Her panicked expression told me this wasn’t the time for niceties.
“Marbrey, this is Cassandra Flaggert, the governess I hired. Ms. Flaggert, this is my companion, Marbrey Small. He will be moving in to help us with the baby.”
This was news to me, but I kept my mouth shut. We could talk about it later.
If anything, the governess became even more flustered. Her hands shook and she swallowed several times.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Flaggert?”
“Y-your Grace, the baby has disappeared.” She flinched as if expecting a blow.
I narrowed my eyes at her reaction. If he struck her, I would leave him, baby or no baby. I would have nothing to do with a man who would hit a woman.
“How did that happen?” Justin asked. Other than a set jaw and an unnatural stillness, he showed no other sign of his great upset.
“We don’t know. I set him in the crib last night after he had been fed. When I went to check on him this morning, he was missing.”
“Who was to watch him last night?”
I pushed away the fission of guilt trying to make its home in my chest. I had told him to go home, but it was neither of our fault that the baby had vanished.
“Mason and Frederick were on guard last night. They are also missing.”
Not suspicious at all unless you had a brain.
“Where is Ms. Grace?” Justin’s tone became harsher.
“She was in her bedroom having tea last I checked.”
“Did she not seem concerned for the baby?”
“I couldn’t say. She’s still tired from birthing.” Ms. Flaggert twisted her fingers together.
Justin turned on his heel and stalked off. I followed, worry swirling in my stomach. Someone had taken Justin’s child. For what reason? Blackmail or something worse?
I followed him as he stormed into a lavish bedroom. Minerva Grace lay propped up against a mass of pillows. The pink shimmering housecoat she wore gave her pale skin a soft glow. Each dark curl on her head lay perfectly as if she was seconds away from sitting for her portrait to be painted.
A silver tray with the remains of her breakfast sat on the table to her right. A few pieces of fruit graced the fine china, no doubt to be fought over by whichever servants took it back to the kitchen.
There was a reason the lower class fought to work for the Lords.
A smile lit her face when she spotted Justin. I didn’t rate acknowledgement. Maybe she hoped to ignore me out of existence.
“Where is my baby?”
Minerva turned pale, and the flirtatious expression she’d donned when Justin entered transformed to fear. “I-I don’t know.” She smoothed her hands over her housecoat. “One of the servants probably took him off for a bath.”
