Keeper of Enchanted Rooms

She folded the chart back together. The exercise had made her more uneasy, not less. As though seeing Silas Hogwood’s name written on parchment made him more real. She returned the files to the box and the box to the shelf, straightened her spine to the point of pain, and marched on her way. If she feigned confidence long enough, she’d embody it. Eventually.

Upstairs, she thanked Mr. Gifford and started for the doors, and just as she was on the cusp of escape, she heard Mr. Clarke call out, “Miss Larkin!”

She politely turned about near the tree statue, in a sliver of shade cast by its coppery leaves. “Mr. Clarke. I found just what I needed. Thank you for your service.”

Mr. Clarke reached up to tip his hat toward her, only to discover he wasn’t wearing one. “Not a problem at all! I am, of course, still hoping you’ll be using our other services.”

Hulda touched cool fingers to the back of her neck and ensured her features were well schooled. “You’re a very forward person.”

He chuckled. “In this line of work, you have to be. I’ve got more able men than women, Miss Larkin. You could have your pick.”

A flush crept up her neck despite her efforts. “I do believe marriage is a mutual endeavor.”

“Of course, of course. But this is for the betterment of society. You seem a very capable woman. I can think of two . . . maybe three who might be suited to your lifestyle, if you’d give them a chance. Well, I suppose it depends on your age preference.”

The blush crept over her jaw, but she prided herself on the smoothness of her voice. “That is a bit personal.”

“Think about it, Miss Larkin,” he pleaded. “I myself don’t have a lick of magic in me, but I wish I did. You love yours, do you not?”

The question made her pause. So direct and unexpected. “I . . . do, yes. It’s proven very helpful to me.” It’s what had tipped her off about Silas Hogwood, among many other things.

“Would you not want your children to have that same gift? Or even more of it?” He rubbed his hands together. “Think of how much more we could do if we had more magically capable persons in this country. We’d have more kinetic trams and sustainable energy, healthier crops, better futures, calmer minds, stronger—”

“You’ve made your point,” Hulda assured him. “I will . . . think on it.”

Mr. Clarke nodded. “Send me word, and I’ll give you information on those beaus I mentioned.”

The word beaus had her stomach tightening. “Thank you, Mr. Clarke.”

He shook her hand again, and she headed back to the refuge of the street. She would head for the post office. She needed to look up some names and addresses, and while she was there, she’d send inquiries to a few constabularies and the warden at Lancaster Castle, the prison where Silas Hogwood was held. With luck, she’d receive confirmation from the warden that Silas Hogwood was still safely behind bars. That all of this worry was, again, the workings of an overthinking mind.

That, and she needed to order at least one new dress.

Glancing up to ensure the road was safe to cross, she thought she saw Mr. Fletcher Portendorfer turning the corner, but he was gone so quickly she couldn’t be sure.

Chapter 18

September 18, 1846, Blaugdone Island, Rhode Island

When Hulda returned, Merritt sulkily approached her with a small wheel in his hands.

She paused in the reception hall, an extra bag slung over her shoulder. “What is this?”

Merritt sniffed. He’d had a few hours to come to terms with the transformation, which had led him from wild anger to sadness. Beth and Baptiste were both keeping their distance. “This is my manuscript. Look what the place has done to it!”

Setting her bags down, Hulda took the wheel from him and tilted it toward one of the candles Beth had lit. The sun hadn’t quite set, though it was nearly there. “Interesting.”

“Interesting!” Merritt grabbed fistfuls of his hair. “That is a month’s worth of work!”

She handed the wheel back. “I’m very sorry for it. Hopefully the house changes its mind about it.”

He thought his knees might give way. “Can’t you fix it? Bully the house like you did before?” He eyed her bags and straightened, a glimmer of excitement bursting in his middle. “Did you find it?”

Hulda didn’t look happy when she nodded. “I did. I believe the wizard to be Dorcas Catherine Mansel.” She reached for the new bag, briefly explaining the logic among the siblings, most of which Merritt followed. “I brought everything we’ll need for the exorcism. If you would assist me with the salt.”

“Salt?” Merritt peered into the bag as she fished out a hefty package from it. “What about holy water?”

“It isn’t that sort of exorcism, Mr. Fernsby, but I do need the foundation encircled by salt. Best do it now while there’s still light.”

“And my manuscript?”

She glanced at the wheel. “I’m sure a little goading will do the trick.”