[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Trust members. We will, of course, collect your things from your acquaintance's home and bring them to
your new rooms. Ah, Eduardo, there you are.
Miss Telford and I were just having a discussion about the future."
"Indeed? I gather the confusion over the missing ghosts has been cleared up?" He smiled a white, toothy
smile at me, full of false bonhomie and dark thoughts behind his gray eyes.
I smiled back, hoping his phony white teeth rotted from his head. He knew full well that the question of
the ghosts hadn't been settled. "Why, yes, I believe it has. You might try finding a psychic who has a little
more delicate touch, as you and Mr. Rick didn't seem to be able to feel the ghosts."
It was a dig, and it scored points, but oh, how I was to pay for my folly.
"And as for your accommodations, Mrs. White, I much appreciate the offer, but I'm quite comfortable
where I am. Young love and all that," I simpered.
"I am afraid I must be quite insistent on this point," Guarda said in a tone of voice that brooked no
further discussion. "We have only your best interests at heart, of course."
I have never been one to take orders. Not since my rebirth into a self-aware, confident woman, that is. I
made a faux moue of regret. "Alas, I must be just as insistent. I am certain that such a situation would not
at all suit me, perhaps even going so far as to stifle my abilities, leaving me unable to practice those very
arts that you would find so attractive."
Subtly would never be said to be my middle name.
Guarda and Eduardo exchanged glances. A little ripple of power in the room raised goose bumps on my
arms. I started to get a bit worried that they might be serious in their attempt to keep me under their
control, into the belly of their ARMPIT house and away from Christian. I figured it was time to focus
their attention on something else. Perhaps if I appeared to rethink my objections and seemed amiable, I
would have an opportunity to escape without damaging our tenuous relationship, a relationship I needed
if I were to figure out where Christian's friend was being held. Then again, perhaps Guarda was too smart
to be fooled by a sudden about-face.
"Well," I said with a little laugh that sounded forced even to my ears, "let us not get our knickers in a
twist, as the English say. I'm sure we can work something out regarding the accommodations. I am very
cognizant of the importance of the Trust; perhaps if you told me more about its day-to-day workings,
how many members there are, what research projects you have under way, what locations you use, et
cetera, I might be more willing to give up an extremely interesting companion for a solitary bed in your
town house."
Guarda sent a glance fraught with significance to Eduardo. I cursed the fact that I hadn't a shred of
mind-reading ability in my body, and chastised myself soundly for being so quick to dismiss Christian's
objections to my meeting Guarda alone.
"Yes, of course," she said, steepling her fingers as Eduardo perched on the edge of her desk. She didn't
look too convinced by my performance, but was obviously going to give me the benefit of the doubt.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"The Trust is, as you know, made up of several influential and important people who have a profound
interest in paranormal research. Our headquarters are here, inLondon , where we have the town house
and a research facility, in addition to three other houses in various locations around theU.K. , where we
spend time conducting experiments into a variety of related paranormal fields. Our primary focus is, of
course, spirits and spirit activities."
Three houses, hmm? I put on my best tourist face. "That sounds fascinating, especially the part about the
houses. I assume the houses are active, yes? I love active sites. I'm dying to visit theTowerofLondon , but
I bet you guys have been all over that. Where exactly are these houses? I haven't had much of a chance
to seeEngland , really, other than at night, and generally my touristing is limited to sites with known
phenomena."
Eduardo gave me his phony smile again. "One of our houses is a converted abbey just outside ofLondon
. The second is a house in an area inScotland that has seen several bloody battles; the third is a small
cottage inCornwall that has tremendous activities around the solstices. We believe there is some druid
influence there."
"Druids, really, how very fascinating.What exactly are you doing with the spirits that your Trust members
Summon?" I turned back to look at Guarda and prayed my tone sounded chatty and not in the least
prying. "You mentioned that you wish to keep the ghosts available for research for a little time before
Releasing them what sorts of research are you conducting?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]