“And yet I recall it like it was yesterday.” Marthabeamed. “I hear that Alexander’s face was priceless. And Victoria nearly took the door off its hinges.”
Victoria’s expression signaled she had blocked this particular memory for good reason.
“I had a witch hex a rival’s corset at the 1987 Moonlight Gala,” Rosemary Pike volunteered unexpectedly, glancing up from her plate. “The thing inflated like a balloon during the waltz. She floated into the chandelier.” She returned to her biscuits and rearranged one subtly. “No one said a word.”
Isobel tittered involuntarily and sobered hastily under Helen’s cold stare. Martha and Felicity bestowed approving smiles upon Rosemary.
“The point stands,” Priscilla said smoothly. “Our children are adults. They’ll make their own choices. As did we.”
Helen subsided with poor grace.
A soft thud from beneath the table distracted me. I looked down.
Bo had crept across the floor and was making a move on the serving cart. He froze mid-reach, one paw extended toward a tray of crustless sandwiches on the lower shelf, his eyes enormous and guilty.
My mouth flattened to a thin line.
Unbelievable. I’d put this dog on a diet eighteen hours ago and he was already committing crimes.
Pearl poked her head under the edge of the table. She observed the scene below with narrowed eyes.
“Pathetic,” the cat hissed scathingly. “At least have the decency to steal with some finesse.”
Bo retracted his paw and tried tolook innocent, which was difficult when his tongue was hanging out and his eyes were locked on the sandwiches like targeting systems.
To my quiet despair, the meeting ground on. Pack boundary inspections were scheduled. A complaint was lodged about unauthorized bonfires near the southern preserve. Felicity and Martha got into a spirited argument about whether the annual Winter Hunt should include a vegetarian option, which devolved into a broader philosophical debate about why supernatural creatures should eat salad.
Things were mercifully winding down when Martha addressed the table.
“By the way, does anyone know when the Lincoln sisters are returning from their vacation?”
I stiffened. Thankfully, no one noticed.
Priscilla frowned faintly. “I’m not sure. Itisstrange that they’ve been gone this long.”
Felicity perked up. “I’ll tell you what’s strange. Those Marchefords.”
My spine straightened, my wolf going on full alert.
“What about the Marchefords?” Victoria said, puzzled.
“I saw two of them at the general store in North Amberford on Tuesday,” Felicity confided with an edge of glee.
The Council exchanged surprised glances.
“That’s unusual, considering they’re rarely out and about,” Isobel remarked.
“They were buying some weird things,” Felicityadded, notching up the glee with a devilish sparkle in her eyes.
“What kind of weird things?” I asked lightly.
Bo had stopped trying to raid the serving cart and was listening with one ear cocked.
Felicity wrinkled her nose. “Helium balloons. Streamers. Crepe paper. They also ordered an alarming quantity of sausage rolls from the bakery next door. I know because they ran out.”
“They got face paint too,” Rosemary said. She shrugged at our stares. “I was at the florist across the road.”
A murmur went around the table.
