Lily

35

Aunt Clara came into the owl room and interrupted me midway through Purcell’s Prelude in G minor. She ordered me to pack a bag because we were going on a road trip. It was about time Violet and I saw a little of the world, she said—and if I hadn’t been so worried about my sister, I might have laughed at that, since we had both traveled a lot with Mama and Papa before and had visited most of the continents in the world. I didn’t think Aunt Clara had been to even half of the countries we had.

“What are you complaining about?” she snapped at me. “You always wanted me to ‘bring you along’ on my travels.”

I lowered Gertrud and pointed at Aunt Clara with the bow. “It’s not the right time. Violet is still sick.” And it was all her fault, too, even though she wouldn’t admit it. Violet had been as pale as a sheet when she came back home from that stupid séance on the hill, and her belly had been full of tadpoles again. Some of them were red and angry, and others the azure blue of regret. I had worked very hard to get them all off her, while Violet had whimpered on the pillow. I was still so furious with Aunt Clara that I could hardly speak—and now she wanted to go on vacation?

“Nonsense.” Aunt Clara waved a hand full of turquoise flames in the air, which was very worrying to me, because it meant that she was excited—and it never ended well for us when Aunt Clara was excited. “A little fresh air and something new to look at will do her wonders. I admit that the séance with Mrs. Arthur perhaps was a little much when she wasn’t feeling her best, but she is young and will recuperate in no time—”

“You don’t know that!” I told her. “None of us do.” How could she be so blind?

Aunt Clara rolled her eyes. “Stop being so dramatic, Lily. She is sitting up in bed now, isn’t she? She is talking? Laughing? Violet will be just fine. You can trust me, you know. I used to be a nurse—”

“To old ladies,” I protested. “And Violet isn’t normal sick, she is ghost sick, and none of us know how that works.” Against my will, I felt tears pressing behind my eyes. I wouldn’t cry in front of Aunt Clara, though. I didn’t want her to see me weak, since she’d only find a way to use it against me.

“Well, if she doesn’t perk up, we’ll just go back home again.” She sounded unconcerned. “Be happy, Lily! You’ll finally get to ‘see something other than Crescent Hill.’ ”

It was true what she had said about Violet sitting up in bed, and she ate well, too: mostly soft rolls and soup that Dina carried up on a tray. But even though it had been four days since we picked off all the new tadpoles, she was still pale and very, very tired. She fell asleep all the time, even when we were talking—and now Aunt Clara wanted us to leave early the next day to go sightseeing? It didn’t seem safe at all.

As soon as the door to Aunt Clara’s room clicked shut, I ran to the kitchen and told Dina what had happened. She looked very concerned as she wiped her hands on the orange apron, but she couldn’t really help me.

“I will tell Mrs. Woods what I think, of course, but to be honest, I don’t think it will make a difference. She will do as she pleases, you know that, and even lie to get her way.”

Dina had been just as disappointed as me that the call with Mr. Skye hadn’t gone as we had hoped. After Aunt Clara and Violet had left for the séance with Mrs. Arthur, I had rushed to the phone and dialed his number.

“Mr. Skye.” I had spoken so fast that I almost stumbled on the words. It was as if a part of me had worried that Aunt Clara would suddenly show up and put a bony hand on my shoulder. “This is Lily Webb, Mr. Skye, and I desperately need your help! Aunt Clara has taken Violet—she is using her, Mr. Skye!”

“Wait, Lily, calm down,” his smooth voice had sounded on the other end. “Where has Mrs. Woods taken Violet?”

“She has taken her to be a medium for a rich lady…She thinks that Violet has powers, you see, that she can talk to the dead—”

“She does what now?” Mr. Skye sounded both amused and alarmed. “Where are you now, Lily?”

“I’m at Crescent Hill, but Violet is not. Aunt Clara has taken her to speak to the de—”

“Hmm.” Mr. Skye had sounded a little strange on the other end. “You know, Lily, I did receive a phone call from your aunt earlier today.”

“You did?” My heart had started thumping hard and fast in my chest.

“Yes, Lily, I did. She told me that you have had some…difficulties since your parents’ passing—which is understandable and perfectly normal—but she did express some concerns about you hurting yourself or others, and asked for extra funds to get you proper help—”

“No!” I shouted into the receiver. “That’s not how it is, Mr. Skye! There’s nothing wrong with me. It’s Aunt Clara who is taking Violet to visit this lady so she can talk to her dead—”

“Mrs. Woods also told me that you had called the local sheriff to accuse her of murder. You know, Lily, if you are unhappy at your aunt’s house, you may not be any happier anywhere else, and maybe you should try to give your aunt the benefit of the doubt. She is doing the best she can for you, and though no one can ever replace Ben and Amanda, God rest their souls, she is the closest family you’ve got now—”

“It’s not like that!” I cried into the receiver, although I had already known by then that it wouldn’t help. Aunt Clara had gotten to him first.

“Listen, Lily, why don’t you ask Mrs. Woods to give me a call? I’m sure we can clear all this up…And maybe you should talk to a professional, Lily. Maybe you would feel better if they prescribed some medication—”

I had hung up on him then. There was no point, and Dina had been right all along: We were all alone in this, which made it even scarier to be going on a trip with her.

“What if Violet gets worse on the road?” I thought out loud.

“Oh, Lily.” Dina came to give me a hug. “This séance business is just awful,” she tutted. “And with Violet being so young…” She sighed and let me go. “Maybe if I called someone and told them I was concerned—but I would have to leave the ghosts out of it, and that would make things harder. Worst-case scenario, your aunt would find a way to sweet-talk whoever came to check up on you, and then I would get fired, and I would very much like to still be here when you get back, Lily.” She looked at me with serious eyes. “I know I haven’t done much to help you, but it’s not for lack of wanting, and I do think it would be worse for you to be here alone, without an ally in the kitchen. That’s why I haven’t resigned, even if I should, now that I know what happened to Cecilia.” She smiled weakly and handed me a linen napkin from a folded stack on the counter so I could wipe my eyes.

“But why does she want us to go all of a sudden?” I clutched the napkin in my hand, just in case I had to dry more tears.

Dina sighed again and sat down by the kitchen table, facing me. “I gave up trying to understand that woman a long time ago. She has her reasons, I suppose. The timing is horrific, though, with Violet being so unwell.” She shook her head. “I worry that Mrs. Woods is up to something, but I just don’t know what to do about it. She is your guardian, after all.”

“I don’t even know where we are going,” I complained.

“If only we could prove her crimes, the rest would be easy. If you do have to go, you should use the opportunity, Lily. Keep your eyes and ears open, and maybe she’ll say something that we can use. Perhaps there’s some kind of proof somewhere that we haven’t thought of yet.” She seemed unconvinced, though, and pink flames of fear had sprung up on her skin.

“Maybe she’s going to kill us,” I muttered. “Maybe she wants to dump us somewhere far from home.” Just the thought of it made my heart race.

Dina took the question seriously and thought about it for a while. “I don’t think she will—not as long as the ghosts are around. Just this morning, she saw Ellie Anderson in the silver candelabra in the dining room and it made her livid. Mrs. Woods doesn’t want to live like this. She will do whatever it takes to get rid of them, and Violet is the only one who can.” We hadn’t told Dina that Violet didn’t know how; that secret seemed safer kept just between us. “I also think she is after your money,” Dina continued. “And if you are dead, there will be no more of that.”

Although I knew she said it to comfort me, it was still not a great thing to hear. I had been thinking for a while that Aunt Clara only wanted us because of the checks from Mr. Skye, but it still hurt to hear it said out loud.

Dina must have seen how I felt. “I know it’s hard,” she said in a softer voice. “But those two things—Violet’s abilities and the money—they are power, Lily. You have something Mrs. Woods wants, and it’s important that you remember that. She won’t let Violet get seriously ill or die, because she needs something from her. That’s your safety.”

“What about me?” I asked in a thin voice.

“If you died, the stipend would be cut in half, and Mrs. Woods needs the money. I have seen the bills come flooding in from jewelers and whatnot. I suppose she is expanding her collection of gemstones. Mrs. Woods needs you, too, alive and well,” she assured me, but it only helped a little.

“I wish we could stay here with you instead.” I felt heartbroken as I stood there before her.

“Yes.” Dina’s skin flared with pink. “So do I, but maybe it won’t be for long. Maybe she’ll grow tired after a night or two on the road.”

“I hope so,” I said, but I didn’t feel it.