My Marionette Lover novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Thirty Strings

On Friday I carried the Prince into Redfern Hall in both arms.

His head was glued, and the crack ran down his painted face in a thin dark line.

Arlen walked beside me in a black suit, with Brad a step behind.

Birdie had stayed home to be sick with nerves.

"Remember the plan," Arlen said, low.

"I remember."

"Imogen takes her aside at nine. Brad makes a scene about the bar tab. We go up."

"You said it three times in the car."

"I'll say it again at the stairs."

The Trustees' Reception was the dinner a second time, with more candles and fewer smiles.

Augusta sat in a high-backed chair by the fireplace, receiving people.

She looked at the Prince in my arms and her pale eyes narrowed.

"You rebuilt him," she said.

"I did."

"Your grandmother would be so pleased."

I held the Prince tighter.

She turned her head and smiled at Imogen, who stood beside her chair in a cream dress.

The grey thread on Imogen's wrist drew tight.

Imogen bent and murmured something in Augusta's ear.

Augusta frowned, and rose, and went with her to the far window.

Brad dropped a tray of glasses in the middle of the floor.

"Sorry!" he roared. "I'm so sorry! That was a very expensive tray!"

The whole room turned.

Arlen took my elbow, and we slipped through the door behind the staircase.

The back stairs were narrow and wooden and smelled of floor wax.

We climbed in the dark, with the Prince tucked against my chest.

Arlen's black thread hummed in the dark beside me, tight as a wire.

On the fourth floor we came to a door with a brass lock.

Imogen had slipped Arlen the key at the bottom of her glass of champagne.

It turned with a click.

"After you," Arlen said.

I stepped into the cabinet.

It was a small round room, with a single window, high up, and a floor of black and white tile.

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