The Witch's Thief by Tricia Schneider Page A

wish to be sent packing.
    As these thoughts and more tumbled through Julia’s passion-sated, sleep-fogged brain, Marianne followed her, waving her arms in wild demonstration as Julia crept across the floor, picking up the pieces of her clothes.
    “How could you say this is none of my business. You are my sister! He is… Basil Merriweather ! Julia, how could you let this happen? This wasn’t supposed to happen. You’re placing yourself in a precarious situation as it is! Fornicating with your old beau is going to complicate things further. Did you not think on that? Did you not take one moment to think what this will do to him when he finds out?”
    Julia’s brow furrowed, and she flashed her sister a dark glance. “He will not find out.”
    Marianne stopped her tirade.
    “You will not tell him?”
    “I cannot. You know I cannot.”
    “There are ways besides speech,” Marianne said. “Perhaps he might help us.”
    Julia shook her head fiercely. “He cannot help us. I do not wish to involve him.”
    “He knows where to find it, Julia. He can help us.”
    But, Julia shook her head again, refusing to even consider the thought. She bit her lip to hold back any shouting that might burst from her lips as she told her sister there was no way for Basil to help her.
    She did not wish to wake him, however, so she quietly finished gathering her clothes. She made a quick effort to re-attach them to her body in some semblance of her former appearance.
    With one last glance at Basil, who continued to sleep soundly, snoring ever so softly, Julia waved for Marianne to follow her. She and her sister quit the room.
    ****
    The corridor outside Basil’s bedchamber proved no better for conversation, so Julia instructed her sister to maintain silence as they hurried from his room to Julia’s chamber. They said not a word until Julia closed her bedroom door.
    After the click confirmed they had privacy once again, Marianne continued on with her tirade, and Julia continued to gainsay her.
    “The spell, Julia,” Marianne said. “Did you find it yet?”
    She shook her head as she sat on the edge of her mattress and stared at the floor. Her stockings hung askew, and her boots were on the wrong feet.
    “I found the secret compartment over the fireplace in the drawing room,” Julia said. “The books were stashed neatly inside. There were six of them, but the seventh is missing.”
    “How do you know there’s a seventh?”
    “ He told me.”
    Julia did not need to voice his name since Marianne knew only too well of whom she spoke.
    “Where is the seventh grimoire?”
    Julia lifted her gaze to stare pointedly at her sister. “I’ve searched the library and all the rooms where books are placed. It cannot be out in the open. There must be another secret compartment, but I cannot think of where it might be. I’ve searched and searched. Have you found anything?”
    Marianne shook her head. “It does not help when I cannot touch anything.”
    Julia sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. “It must be here somewhere.”
    “We’re running out of time,” Marianne said in an oddly timid voice. “Perhaps if we ask Basil…”
    Her back stiffened. “I told you, no.”
    “Still, he, of all people, would know where to look. He’d know what to do especially when dealing with Drake.”
    Shivers slid down her spine at the mention of his name. “I told you not to speak his name. I do not like the sound of it. The mere mention makes me feel as though he is watching us.”
    Marianne let out a sad sigh, though she did glance around the room as if he might appear at any moment.
    “Julia, we need help.”
    But, Julia turned a deaf ear to her sister as she stood and paced the carpeted floor. She needed a plan, something that would help her and save her sister.
    ****
    Julia stood in front of the full-length mirror, holding a tiny mound of bluish powder in her palm. She studied her reflection, staring into the tired eyes of a woman who was out