“Except that the girls might not talk because they’re probably firm believers in lady codes and won’t want to take the risk that Norma Jean will stop speaking to them like she’s done with Coraline and Phoebe.”
“They’re going to have to talk, because I didn’t catch a single glimpse of Norma Jean or Velma when I was dispensing water out on the front lawn.”
“Which means they’ve probably disappeared again.” Annaliese’s shoulders took to sagging just a touch. “It’s probably some type of record that I’ve managed to lose track of your sister and Velma twice in a week’s time.” She gave her temple a rub. “I knew I should have insisted that Drusilla accept my resignation because I’m not up for this co-headmistress business, even though Drusilla was sure I was.” She gave her temple another rub. “At least my sister agreed to that in-depth conversation about my position at the academy once she returns, although given the way today has unfolded, I’m not certain the academy will still be standing when she gets back.”
“It’ll still be standing.”
“Unless your sister helps herself to another one of your inventions that’s capable of taking down a castle when deployed.”
Seth’s lips twitched. “The only thing I’ve invented that might do some actual physical damage would be a cannon that can shoot a cannonball twenty yards farther than normal. I’m fairly sure someone would notice if Norma Jean strolled up to the academy with a cannon in tow.”
“Words of comfort indeed,” Annaliese muttered before she whistled for Harriet, then picked the little monkey up once she scampered to Annaliese’s side, giving her a nose-to-nose rub before she lifted Harriet’s little chin. “Think you might wantto give Seth his billfold back?” she asked, which left Harriet blinking innocent eyes back at her before she unfolded her little monkey paw, revealing his billfold.
“I didn’t even feel her nick that out of my pocket,” Seth said as Annaliese handed him his billfold, which he promptly tucked into a pocket that wasn’t as easily accessible.
“She’s very stealthy,” Annaliese said before she gave Harriet’s head a kiss and headed for the stairs that led to the lake.
After following Annaliese down the stairs, Seth fell into step beside her as they began walking down a dirt path that led to the beach, his pace slowing once they caught sight of Seraphina striding their way, the sleeves of her dress rolled up and water stains marring the front of her skirt.
“None of the soaps Irma and I have tried have done anything to rid the girls of their less-than-pleasant scent,” Seraphina said, coming to a stop beside Annaliese. “I’m off to hunt down some tomatoes to rub on them since Irma recalled an old governess once mentioning that tomatoes worked on people who’ve been sprayed.”
Seth shook his head. “Tomatoes don’t work well, but may I suggest hydrogen peroxide instead, a compound that was created decades ago by a French chemist by the name of Louis Jacque Thenard. I’ve read that it neutralizes skunk scent.”
“Don’t you think that might have been something you told me about when you first arrived at the castle?” Seraphina asked.
“One would have thought hydrogen peroxide would have sprung to mind before now, especially when the fellow I bought a few gallons of skunk essence from recommended I keep some hydrogen peroxide at the ready in case I spilled any of it on me as I was distilling it into vials.”
Seraphina’s busy brows disappeared into her hairline. “Why would you distill skunk essence into vials?”
“Because I’m an idiot who thought arming girls with vialsof skunk essence would be safer than giving them smoke grenades.”
“So this skunk situation is allyourfault?”
“Indeed.”
“Excellent to hear,” Seraphina said as her lips curved. “I now have no reason to feel guilty about being unable to save some poor girls from smelling like skunks as it seems there were no animals involved, merely a questionable Seth invention.”
Annaliese rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure we should refer to them aspoor girlssince we’re relatively sure the girls in the water got in their smelly state because of their plan to skunk up the academy.”
“An unexpected disclosure, and I’m certainly not feeling nearly as sorry for them now,” Seraphina said. “May I assume there were other students besides the ones in the water who were involved as well?”
“We think only Norma Jean and Velma, but those two are nowhere to be found, which is why Seth and I are here to question Mabel and the Zambarello sisters.”
“Then I say there’s no time like the present to get that questioning underway,” Seraphina said before she took hold of Annaliese’s arm and started walking toward the lake.
As they walked, Annaliese filled Seraphina in on what they knew so far, finishing with “But even though I need the girls to confesswhythey did what they did, I think it’s more important for them to tell us where Norma Jean and Velma went, although...” She nodded to Seraphina. “Perhaps it would be best if you did the questioning since you’re a far better disciplinarian than I am, what with how you took all five of the Zambarello sisters out last week and didn’t suffer a single mishap.”
“Penina and Donata Zambarello are currently reeking of skunk, which means they’re not intimidated by me in the least, especially since I had both girls in my class right before lunch and right before they probably deployed eau de skunk everywhere,”Seraphina countered. “Besides that, you’re perfectly capable of dealing with this situation on your own.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Seraphina stopped walking. “Are you, or are you not, the lady who doesn’t shy away from confronting plume hunters and fur traders?”
Annaliese opened her mouth, an argument clearly on the tip of her tongue, but suddenly snapped her mouth shut when her gaze settled on something in the distance. “Surely that jug Mabel’s pouring something out of and onto Penina isn’t the jug of moonshine that Norbert won at the Mead & Vittles last week, is it?”
Seth turned his attention to where Annaliese was staring and found that Irma had waded knee-deep into the water and was nodding at Mabel, who was, indeed, pouring something from a jug over another student’s arm.
“Norbert thought a little moonshine poured over the skin might work to get rid of the stench,” Seraphina said. “But I told Irma to hold off because I’m not sure returning students who reek of moonshine to their parents is going to be well-received. Looks like Irma didn’t hear me when I said that.”
