Daisy rubbed at her freckled nose. “Huh. That’s not very exciting, is it?”
“I told you.”
“But the girl?”
“What about her?”
“She met with this man? With no one else present? What do you make of it?” Daisy’s wide blue eyes were staring down at him, and he wished he had the energy to spin a tale like Gareth, to somehow make demon hunting sound like an adventure, rather than duty.
“You already know what I think, Daisy.”
“Aw, come on,” she said. “I don’t think you’ve used your quota of insults for today.”
He sighed in relief when the gas lamps were extinguished, a signal that it was time for everyone to turn in, and for Daisy to return to her own bunk. “I think she’s a silly, spoiled fool.”
Chapter 6
Aurelie
Everard’s proposal kept Aurelie tossing and turning until well past midnight. She’d raced through dinner so she could get back to her lab and study his notes, but though she hated to admit it, she’d been confused from the moment she sat down.
Everard was asking her to build a door. Not just a regular, run-of-the-mill door, of course. It was intricately constructed, with rather large dimensions. Not exactly something she could hide beneath a sheet or in a cupboard in her laboratory.
The door itself consisted of thirty-six interconnected metal plates. There was no description of how she was to assemble them, just a note that he would provide the plates and that she should not use any other metal in the construction. It seemed to Aurelie that it was more an engineering project than an actual invention, which on its own would be a challenge. But it was the note about the runes that would need to be inscribed in the metal that troubled her most of all.
Aurelie’s interest in invention had never extended to the mystical; she was a woman of science, not arcane magic. Why Mr. Everard should think she had any knowledge of runes was beyond her. And not only had he grossly overestimated her capabilities, he’d offered her something far more dangerous than he’d hinted at.
Magic produced demons of a different sort altogether. The kind of demons that slaughtered entire villages. The kind of demons thatcouldn’t be contained by salt or killed with anything as innocuous as an iron blade. Everard had said that if Aureliecouldcomplete this project, she’d be ushering in a world where invention was welcomed. What did that mean? Was he referring to the demonic curse in some way? She wasn’t sure how demons entered her world, but she was certain they didn’t knock politely on a door and wipe their feet on a welcome mat. And if this door wasn’t for letting demonsintoWisteria, was it possible that it was for getting themout?
If so, the implications were enormous.
They could also cost Aurelie her life.
Now, in the warm light of morning, as Aurelie half climbed, half rolled off her sofa, she felt no closer to an answer than she had last night. On the one hand, it was as if the universe had heard her plea for an opportunity to prove herself and answered with a resoundingyes. Here was her chance to prove herself capable of something truly great.
But even ifshe was able to understand Everard’s blueprint and could find somewhere to build it, she’d still need a plan for dealing with the demon it created immediately and efficiently.
Besides, there were still so many other questions left unanswered. She couldn’t fathom how a conversation with Mr. Morel could have led Everard to the conclusion she was the person for this job. And whowasEverard? How had he come by this project, and what did he stand to gain from it? And what, if anything, would he lose if Aurelie failed? Because the stakes were clear for her, but far less so for him.
Then again, if she turned Everard down? He’d find someone else to make the door, surely. She couldn’t be the only inventor in all of Wisteria. And the idea of another person building somethinggreat because she was too afraid was almost as upsetting as the prospect of death.
She splashed some cold water onto her face, put on one of her school dresses, fed Mephisto, and headed to the cottage for breakfast, Florian’s book tucked under her arm with Everard’s letter hidden inside. She ended up staying far longer than she’d intended, poring over Everard’s proposal and the puzzle of the interlocking plates, when her uncle’s maid cleared her throat.
“Begging your pardon, miss, but I believe you need to get ready for your dinner with Mr. Viridian.”
Aurelie groaned. “Did you have to remind me, Bonnie? I’m studying.”
“I’m sorry, miss, but your uncle gave strict orders.”
“I know, I know.” Aurelie sighed. “It’s not your fault, Bonnie. I’m going.”
“Do you need help dressing?” she asked, in a tone that heavily implied Aurelie did.
“I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself.”
“But your hair...”
“I’ll do my hair. I promise.”