“Assist me with what, precisely?” Sabine asked as they all made their way upstairs.
None of them answered.
“Did you check the amphora?” Sabine asked.
“Yes, it is right where I left it,” Agnes said.
And immediately she felt the fool for even asking. Of course Agnes had taken proper measures to ensure the safety of the elixir.
“He’s the one with the map,” Lydia said, her arms crossed over her chest. “The one Madigan told you about?”
“Yes,” Sabine said. They all followed her into her room. She sat on her bed, hoping they’d get the hint that she was ready to sleep. She didn’t want to fend off their questions.
“Younger and more handsome than I’d have thought,” Agnes said.
“Indeed.” Lydia nodded, her lips pursed.
Calliope nodded enthusiastically.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Sabine said.
“And I suppose you didn’t notice how firm his body looked,” Agnes said.
“Agnes, truly!” Lydia chided.
“What?” Agnes tossed her arms up. “I’m old, not blind.”
Sabine ignored them both.
“He came into the shop this morning,” Calliope said. She eyed her sisters with a wide grin.
Sabine shot her a warning look.
“And you didn’t tell us,” Agnes said. She tsked her tongue. “Keeping secrets from your aunts.”
Sabine knew Agnes was teasing her. She’d been the very same aunt who had encouraged Sabine to have a part of her life she kept to herself. Still, Lydia was standing right there, and she would expect an answer. “There was no need to,” Sabine said.
“What did he want?” Lydia asked.
“He wanted to know why I wanted his map.” Sabine shrugged. “How I’d found out about it. Questions any person would have if a woman showed up out of nowhere offering you a wager for your prized possession.”
“What did you tell him?” Agnes asked.
Sabine took a deep breath. “I lied. I told him I was a collector.”
“He doesn’t believe you,” Calliope said with a shake of her head.
“That I realize,” Sabine said.
“And we still need that map,” Lydia said. “Desperately,” she added.
“I’ll think of something.” Sabine eyed her aunts. She had to. And she wanted to accomplish the task without too much of their assistance. They needed to be able to rely on her.
“And what of the other men?” Agnes asked. “What did they want?”
Sabine ran a brush through her hair. “I don’t know.”
“They had to be after the elixir,” Agnes said.