For those who didn't get it in the last chapter: The White Goddess is another name for Opium.

OW29

I was out of breath when I entered the front door. Bessie howled, which earned her an equally loud and irritating "Hush, you little beast!" from Meg. Once I unleashed the dog I walked to my room, changed shirts, and swiftly prepared to walk to Julia's house and question her in regard to her uncle's strange behavior.

Truthfully,I had not expected to see the old fool ever again. I hadn't given him much thought in the past week since there were greater concerns than an ancient shut-in surrounded by his altars and relics.

However, Testan would return home and ridicule the musical world with his reviews. It was Anthony Seuratti who concerned me. He would "see to matters". Indeed. I would see him out on his ear if he attempted to persuade Julia not to marry—or to leave Paris.

This evening was damned before it started.

Madeline grunted and groaned on her way up the stairs and I answered the door before she knocked.

"You've the ears of a bat," she said.

"You sound as though the reaper is riding on your shoulders."

She glared at me. "What's the commotion at Madame Seuratti's home?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Meg and Charles are about to leave for dinner at her house. I hadn't realized our house would be empty." She looked somewhat hurt when she spoke.

"Ruby will be here, won't she?"

"Yes." Clearly, it wasn't exactly the company she wished for while her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were out of the house.

"What about Senor Brero? Isn't he coming to supper?"

She shrugged, pouting rather childishly. "He was invited. It doesn't mean he will accept the invitation."

Inwardly I smiled as I was surprised he hadn't arrived already. He had appeared quite entertained by the prospect and I had no doubt he would keep Madeline quite content—especially with the house emptied. I wouldn't be surprised if she sent Ruby home early. A quick glance at my pocket watch proved I had no time in which to wait for him.

"I'll instruct Alexandre to knock before he enters," I said over my shoulder.

"Knock before he enters?" Her voice trailed away once my words registered, and she scoffed. "He is a gentleman. He knows how to respect a woman and worship the—"

"Good night, Madeline," I said as I walked through the kitchen.

Ruby glanced up at me as she put dinner into the oven. "You look quite handsome tonight," she said with a smile. "Brown is a nice color for you, Monsieur."

I tipped my hat at her before I walked out.

It sounded as though the roof would collapse the moment I walked into Julia's kitchen. Alex and Lisette chased each other upstairs, which apparently was irritating Julia to no end. She gave me a razor-sharp glare.

"Lissy," she said through her teeth, then turned to me. "Your candy has resulted in my daughter turned into a hyena. She and the other three have gone mad."

"Three?"

The Vicomte walked into the kitchen and stared at the floor. "I do hope I'm not intruding, but Domini requested a glass of water."

Immediately Julia smiled, albeit weakly. "Yes, of course. Supper is almost prepared if you would be so kind as to call them down."

He nodded, took the glass from Julia, and immediately walked out. It wasn't until I heard him walk upstairs that Julia turned to face me. She stared at my mask a moment but I had no intention of removing it, at least not before so many guests. It didn't matter if I'd met them all previously. It was the multitude which bothered me, not the relations.

"He told his daughters the news," she whispered. "At last."

I merely nodded, as I had already overheard this information from Julia and Hermine's earlier conversation.

Despite knowing he would be here I was no happier to see the Comte in Julia's home. He needed company, yes, but I hoped he would find someone else to provide it. "When did he and his daughters arrive?"

"About twenty minutes after you left."

My jaw tightened. I didn't want him home alone with Julia—and even with the children present I considered it inappropriate.

"He's been watching them play ever since they arrived. This is the first time I think I've seen him since he arrived."

It was hardly consolation, and when I looked at Julia I wondered if her words were meant to lighten the situation.

"The nanny was here briefly but she wasn't feeling well."

"I wonder why," I said under my breath.

"It's been a stressful day." She frowned. "He apparently told them their mother was now in heaven and they were quite pleased with the idea. It sounds as though their mother told them many tales of what it would be like to live with angels."

"Angels?"

"Halos, wings, white gowns. I suppose it sounds quite intriguing to a child."

I maintained a straight face as she gazed at me, and I had a feeling she understood my interest in the comment regarding angels. My musings were cut short, however, by an earthquake of tiny feet and high-pitched squeals.

"This is the result of candy?" I asked Julia.

"It was quite a bit of candy."

"How much did you allow them?"

Judging by the look in her eyes I was quite fortunate she had placed all knives into the sink. Still, she walked up and pinched my hand, a habit of hers I discovered I didn't care for at all.

"You gave Lisette a five-franc note and Alex had twenty. They returned home with enough candy for the rest of the month—which the four of them consumed in approximately fifteen minutes. And don't look at me as though it's my fault. I was in the kitchen."

"Who was looking after them?"

"Lissy and Alex are old enough to know better than to overindulge," she grumbled. "I'll be surprised if they touch their food at all."

With a sigh, she clasped her hands and welcomed them into the dining room. For so much horrendous noise no one would have ever suspected two little girls in matching blue dresses, sweet, worm-eating Lisette dressed in a darker blue, and Alex in his dark gray suit would have been responsible.

Angels, all of them, lacking wings but fluttering nonetheless in sugar-inspired mirth. I wondered if the two little girls understood their relation to Alex—or his relation to me—as they marched into the dining room and ran around the table.

"Now girls," the Comte said sternly.

His words did nothing to stop their horseplay. Indeed, they would have galloped around for an hour if Julia hadn't caught one of them by the arm and told her to sit at once. I'd ever seen Julia act sternly with either Alex or Lisette. The child looked as stunned as I felt, however the point was immediately taken. The girl looked to her father, who nodded for her to obey. She shuffled to her seat and kept her head bowed, awaiting her sister, who was immediately placed beside her. Once Julia turned her back the girls began to whisper.

I glanced at the clock and suppressed a grimace. Id' been in her home no longer than fifteen minutes. The four of them were tiring me and I hadn't done more than enter the kitchen and take my place at the dining room table.

With so much commotion I hadn't a chance to ask Julia about her cousin or her uncle. I didn't know when the opportunity would present itself, though I suspected it wouldn't be until after Anthony arrived. By then my chance would be lost to approach Julia alone and ask her if she'd heard from her uncle.

The doorbell rang and Lisette shot out of her seat and ran to answer it while Julia trotted behind her. A moment later I heard Meg and Charles speaking. I was glad for their company. It felt as though my allies had arrived.