Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis Page B

footsteps retreat down the hallway, then another door open. Angeline’s and Elissa’s voices mingled for a moment in easy communion. Then the sound cut off with the snick of Elissa’s bedroom door closing, shutting the two of them in cozily alone, together. As usual.
    I snatched up the reticule and flung it against the door with all my strength. Beads showered off it in all directions.
    “Devil take her,” I whispered. “Devil, devil, devil!”
    I jumped off the bed and paced around the tiny room. It wasn’t big enough for proper pacing. There was barely any floor space outside the bed. I stalked to the broad windows and stared outside. Grantham Abbey rose up before me, massive and powerful even in its ruined state. My eyes traced the high, empty window arches, outlining the blue sky. My breath slowly began to even itself out.
    I wondered what Angeline and Elissa were talking about right now.
    I set my teeth together with a snap. It didn’t matter what they were talking about. It didn’t even matter what they thought of me. I didn’t care.
    But I had to get out of this room, into somewhere I could run. And there was only one place I could do that without being sighed at and lectured half to death.
    I slid back onto the bed. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the golden mirror. It burned against my skin with familiar heat.
    If Angeline had found it …
    Wait. I jumped off the bed and hurried to the door. I didn’t want any more nosy visitors while I was gone. I locked the door and set the little key safely on my bedside table.
    There. Angeline and Elissa would have to stay right out of it. I was the only one in the world who knew where I was going, and my sisters had nothing to say in the matter.
    I sat back on the bed, breathing easier this time. Mama , I thought, and closed my eyes as I clicked the mirror open.
    Heat swept through my chest. A hot wind seized me and flung me inside out.
    When I opened my eyes, I was sitting in Mama’s Golden Hall. My head didn’t hurt. I hadn’t hit anything on the way. I laughed out loud with sheer delight.
    I was getting better at this, and wouldn’t Angeline be shocked to hear it!
    I stood up and stretched luxuriously as I stared at the vast hall around me. I’d been scared and overwhelmed last time, but I’d also been right about one thing: It was a perfect space to explore. I couldn’t wait to see what lay beyond it.
    I had at least three hours before anyone would expect to see me. I could do anything I wanted.
    I started across the empty golden room. There had to be doors hidden somewhere along these smooth, shining walls, I was certain of it. And I was determined to find out where every one of them led.
    The only warning I had was a soft popping sound behind me.
    I spun around, lifting my fists to the boxing position Charles had taught me.
    “Oh, I do hope you won’t choose to hit me, my dear,” Mr. Gregson said. He straightened the glittering spectacles on his nose as he smiled at me. “I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you again.”

Eight
    “How—?” my voice came out as a croak. I swallowed and started again with more force. “You were supposed to be occupied with the house party!”
    “I was,” said Mr. Gregson. “But I left a warning signal in place to alert me as soon as you returned here. It was a very sensible precaution. After all, I couldn’t waste my time waiting here for you to come back, could I? I would never get anything else done.” He shrugged. “You showed remarkable restraint, though. I must admit that I did not expect you to wait so long.”
    “I’m not a complete fool,” I said. Inside my head, though, I could hear both my sisters’ voices in unison: Kat, you little fool! I’d known better than to come back at all, hadn’t I? I’d sworn not to. But here I was again, and no one even knew where to look for me if I didn’t escape.
    I wasn’t about to reveal my fear, though. Instead I looked pointedly past Mr. Gregson’s