Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths by Holly Bell (good book recommendations TXT) 📗

be welcome somehow. And besides, it’ll be tea-time soon.’

Alone and back on their own plane of existence, Perran, pouring milk into his tea, turned to his wife.

‘What do you think? Will a wand and Tempest be enough? Here’s the butter,’ he added, seeing her looking for it.

‘Ah. Thank you. Hopefully the Oracle will know power when she sees it. I noticed, my dear, that you didn’t give our Amanda any reassurances that she’d come out of there alive. More toast?’

‘In a situation like this, love, there are no certainties. She’s a dangerous … whatever-she-is. Yes, please.’

‘Still,’ Senara concluded briskly, handing her husband the plate of golden-brown slices, ‘there’s nothing we can do. She’ll either join us here or she won’t. We tried fretting the last time there was a crisis and much good it did us. We’ll just have to hope that it all turns out as Ammee would wish. There’s always a chance. As long as it doesn’t become a head-to-head. As long as Ammee doesn’t upset her … Yes, well… This greengage jam is splendid.’

Perran smiled at her. ‘You’re right. Let’s hope for the best. So is the gooseberry.’

‘More tea?’

***

With an hour and a half to pass, Trelawney returned to his mother’s house and quickly gathered what he needed. This consisted of trousers, shirt and waistcoat that he was willing to sacrifice to any possible wear and tear they might suffer on the mission.

There was time remaining for a quick consultation. Thomas made a call and travelled the short distance north of Crouch End to Muswell Hill.

‘No time for tea, I’m afraid.’

‘I quite understand,’ smiled Amelia, shepherding him into her comfortable sitting-room.

‘You know what Amanda intends to do?’ Thomas asked her. She sailed in behind him, wafting a vintage long, dark peach velvet dress that set off her chestnut bob.

‘I had a hint from the crystal, before you came.’ Amelia nodded to the large globe on the table, whose intricate silver and gold depths she had glass-blown some years before. ‘I thought something was up.’

Briefly, Thomas explained the plan.

‘Any advice?’

‘Are you happy for me to play wardrobe mistress?’

‘Yes, Aunt. I’d very much appreciate it.’

‘Follow me then.’ Once in her bedroom, Amelia sat at her dressing-table and rooted in the second drawer down, with occasional mutterings of, ‘I know I have them somewhere …. Ah! Here.’ She went to Thomas and showed him three thumb-rings, the only ornaments for her slender fingers that might to fit him.

‘Really, Aunt? This is not my style.’

‘Yes, I know, dear,’ replied Amelia, patting his cheek and putting the jewellery on his hand. ‘You only sport the occasional ring or tiepin. But this is business, is it not, Thomas?’

‘True. I am going undercover.’

Amelia was now quickly parting the long garments in her floor-to-ceiling wardrobe.

‘Yes, this will do very nicely.’

She whirled out an ankle-length, indigo cloak and threw it around his shoulders.

Trelawney, catching sight of himself in her long pier glass, exclaimed,

‘Good grief!’

‘The rich have long dressed their servants opulently to indicate their own status. In other words, you’re making Amanda look good.’

That weighed with Thomas, as Amelia knew that it would. Sure enough, he replied,

‘Understood.’

They returned to the sitting-room and sat at the round lace-covered table where the crystal ball sat on its delicate silver stand.

‘Now, Thomas. Demeanour. Once inside the hall, you stand at the back, head up, but not looking at the Oracle. You stand proudly, dignified, and you say nothing. Whatever happens, you do not take part in the discussion. Your job is to get Amanda safely out of there, when it’s all over.’

‘Safely? There will be danger?’

‘Possibly. I have looked but …’ Amelia peered into the glass globe. ‘Hmm, hard to see. The glass is clouded. But hopefully, it will just be a matter of getting her back up the stairs. And Jonathan Sheppard too, of course.’

‘How can I ensure his security? I can hardly grab him and haul him out of there. After all, won’t he be see-through and ghost-like?’

‘Probably not. He could be as solid as Senara and Perran.’

Trelawney moved uncomfortably in his chair.

‘I’ve never actually touched either of them.’

Amelia laughed.

‘Oh, but you could, Thomas. And I promise they won’t feel all slimy like ectoplasm.’

He grinned.

‘Maybe one day. So, will I be able to make physical contact with, say, Jonathan’s arm?’

‘Possibly. These are extraordinary conditions, Thomas. It is hard to say. Anything else?’

‘What language is the Oracle going to use. Any ideas?’

‘Let me look … hmm …’ Strange symbols appeared and floated within the crystal, but Amelia understood their meaning. ‘Possibly … very early British or Cornish.’

‘Will Miss Cadabra be able to understand that?’

‘Oh, if I’m not mistaken, the Oracle will make sure Amanda can understand just enough, while putting her in her place by making it difficult.’

‘Ok. Thank you, Aunt. That’s all. I’d best get going,’ said Trelawney standing up and putting on his coat

Amelia packed the cloak into a tote bag, then rose and took his hands,

‘I’ll be watching as much as I can. Take care, Thomas. Take care of Amanda.’

He nodded and replied solemnly,

‘Always.’

Chapter 33

Beginners, Places Please

‘You see, Jonathan,’ Amanda began. The two of them sat in the loaned relative seclusion of the Situation Room, in a corner of the library. ‘The police wouldn’t be able to accept as a resolution to the case that a priestess from the past shook the ground and made a shelf fall, which killed Samantha.’

‘No, I do see that,’ agreed Jonathan reasonably.

‘And the inspector hasn’t made any progress by other means to find the murderer. Because this is a high-level case, Samantha’s parents and their connections right at the top are pressing for an arrest. Now.’ Amanda turned her head meaningfully in the direction of the library counter.

Jonathan looked anxious.

‘Not …?

‘Yes. You and I have an alibi, but Mrs Pagely doesn’t and she is the only other person, apart from us two, who definitely had access to the key to the stacks. It means she had opportunity.’

‘But the shelves … so heavy.’

‘She isn’t