Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Storne Hope

Miranda straightened her bonnet's lovely lavender ribbons and sat forward, her mother's eye on each child's face. "All of you listen to me. Lily is a stranger to the neighborhood. She doesn't have friends yet. You will be kind. Understood?"

There were nods and a "Yes, ma'am," from Brady.

Pip said, "Is she pretty like P.C.?"

This won him an approving nod from P.C., and Pip's proud papa wondered if a five-year-old little boy could possibly have that much guile. Grayson said, "Yes, she is. Ah, here they are, waiting for us."

Max and Lily stood on the ancient deep stone steps, Max holding her hand. Grayson had assured Max Prithius was a night demon. He wouldn't come today, not with a crowd of people, not in the bright daylight. All would be just fine. This was to be a day of fun for the children, Lily making new friends.

Tonight, though, Prithius would come, and they'd be ready for him.

After everyone was introduced, Grayson watched the children eye each other, and then slowly but surely, each began to talk, then they were talking over each other, some laughter, until Pip said in his clear child's voice, "Lily, drop your cloak so maybe this bad demon Prithius will come and we will all pound him into the ground."

Grayson felt the spit dry in his mouth. How had Pip known about cloaking and Prithius? Then he remembered—he'd written it all down, then read it aloud, refining his plans as he spoke. He didn't doubt Pip had eavesdropped.

P.C. and Brady, even Lily, surrounded Pip, to his great delight, demanding to know what he meant by Lily dropping her cloak, and who was this Prithius, some silly French name? But it didn't sound French, so maybe Russian? The three adults listened unmoving as Pip told P.C. and Brady what was happening, and amazingly he was relatively cogent. P.C. and Brady appeared to understand. The adults were holding their breath, dreading the worst, but like children with little experience with violence or mayhem, they took it in stride. As for Lily, she was studying each of them, watching their faces as Pip spoke.

When he finished, Lily said to Pip, "You're smart."

"Papa tells me I'm smarter than a groundhog in a field of daisies."

Even though it didn't make sense, Lily patted his shoulder. "You're smarter than any groundhog."

Max said, a dark brow arched up, "You're right, Lily. Grayson, you have a very precocious son."

Grayson said, "He also has big ears and never passes up a chance to eavesdrop."

Max looked tired and worried, but more, he looked angry, ready to kill, truth be told. He'd watched Lily speak to the other children, always ready to grab her up if Prithius suddenly appeared.

Flowers, Max's ancient butler with snow-white hair, a lovely highlight with his beautiful white teeth, called them into the massive entry hall of Storne Hope. As he ceremoniously led them all into the drawing room, P.C. whispered to her mother, "Mama, Lily is very pretty, and I am hopeful she will make a good friend for me if she doesn't flirt with Brady." She turned to Brady. "You will not forsake me for her, will you?"

Brady, no fool, said quickly, "She looks scared. You ain't—aren't—ever scared, P.C. After she teaches us about this cloaking business, you can teach her how to make frogs hop and braid her hair like you do."

This met with P.C.'s approval. She walked to Lily, took her hand, and the two of them skipped ahead into the drawing room. Miranda said to Max, "She is a precious little girl. Neither you nor Grayson will let anything happen to her. Grayson assures me the demon won't come until it is dark."

Max nodded. "Please call me Max. Lily also told me he was a night demon and abhors the daylight. I pray they are right."

Miranda nodded, gave him her hand. "And I am Miranda, Miranda Wolffe."

Max took her hand, lightly squeezed her fingers. He said, "My life has changed more in the past two weeks than in all my years on earth. Now I am the protector to a little girl who is also a witch. And I know I'd protect her with my life from a demon, an actual demon that shouldn't even exist outside your novels, Grayson. I know this is but another encounter for you, but for me? It fair to curdles my brain. I am profoundly grateful you're here, or I don't know what would have happened. To me. To Lily."

Miranda said, "I was like you before I met Grayson, Max. Then, much to my surprise, he and I once battled a demon."

Max's right eyebrow went straight up. "When this is over, I want to hear about this demon from ancient Egypt."

Flowers cleared his throat, stepped away, and gave them a sweeping gesture into the amazing drawing room. Grayson immediately looked at the fresco. The man and woman were walking next to a lake, smiling at each other, all was serene, no violence. He drew a deep breath and prayed. He wondered if the resident ghost, Lady Hilda, was about. Probably. If Prithius came tonight, what would she do?

Flowers herded the children to the far end of the drawing room to old chairs and sofas set in front of a mammoth fireplace. The adults heard snippets of conversation, Lily telling them what happened in London, only a trace of fear in her young voice. He was aware Max was listening as well. He saw Lily look up every few minutes and meet Max's eyes. The bond between them was obvious, and they'd only known each other two weeks. She had indeed changed his life, set Max on a new path.

A maid appeared in the doorway carrying a huge tray. Flowers gestured for her to take the tea and biscuits to the children.

There was a huge meow from the doorway, followed by a large orange cat, tail high and twitching, strolling into the drawing room. He paused, stared around at all the strangers in his house, then padded to Max and jumped up onto his lap. Max automatically began stroking his broad back. The purring volume was amazing. "This fine fellow is Clotis. He hated the trip from London, even though Lily nearly petted his fur off him the entire trip to keep him calm, but now he rules the house and appears quite pleased with Storne Hope. Ah, here is Flowers back with provisions for us."

Grayson scarce had the cup of tea to his mouth when the demon came.