Apologies for not updating yesterday, sharing a computer you know, but I digress…Chapter eight! Read on.

Chapter 8

It had been about a week and a half since the Goddess had arrived at Chrestomanci Castle. She had her own room now, not as big as any of the other children's (it was just a spare), but comfortable. And then Chrestomanci called her to his office.

"Do you think he knows?" she asked Cat anxiously.

Cat shook his head, but it was uneasy.

"Perhaps we should come with you." Janet suggested.

"Good idea." The Goddess replied, nervously.

-----

Julia knocked on the door for them, since the others (except Rodger, who was with Conrad at that point) were all hanging back, looking nervous.

"Who is it?"

"It's us, Dad!"

"Come in."

The four children entered the room and took a seat.

Chrestomanci raised an eyebrow. "I thought I called for Kitty, not all of you."

Cat shrugged. "Have you seen us apart since I disappeared, except at lessons?"

Chrestomanci had to admit he hadn't. "Anyway, Kitty, I have called you here for a reason. I'll ask you again, who cares for you?"

The Goddess was ready for this. "Myself, sir." She replied calmly.

"Well, as I'm sure you've realised, I am very interested in your magic." Chrestomanci went on. "And, if as you say, you have nowhere else to go…"

"What are you saying?" demanded the Goddess. She wasn't a person who liked to, as they say, beat around the bush.

"What we're saying, love," Millie, who the children hadn't previously noticed was in the room, said. "Is that you may stay here for as long as you like, and that Christopher and I will be willing to become your legal guardians."

"What?" the Goddess exclaimed. "What, really? Gosh, you darlings!"

Chrestomanci had an odd look on his face, as if he was having a weird sort of de ja vu.

The Goddess turned to Cat, Janet and Julia, beaming. They were all grinning back at her. She calmed herself down. "What I meant to say is…Well, what do you three think?" she said in an 'I'm-trying-to-be-very-calm-about-this' voice.

"I dunno." Cat answered, casually leaning back on his chair.

Janet shrugged.

Julia said, "I don't really know either."

Then all three laughed as the Goddess said "Oh, alright then, if you insist. I suppose you couldn't do without me, could you?"

Chrestomanci smiled at her. "No, I suppose we couldn't. Now, Michael has been talking with me, and he says that it isn't really a good idea for you to be taking magic with him anymore."

The Goddess looked ready to protest, when he said "Let me finish. From now on, you will be taking lessons with me, along with Cat."

Cat looked from Chrestomanci to the Goddess. "Way to make me feel…normal." He sighed.

"Ah, Cat, you'll never be normal." The Goddess replied.

"Tell me about it." Janet grinned.

The door opened, and Mary walked in. "Letter for you, sir." She said, dropping a fat envelope on Chrestomanci's desk.

"Thank you…Magda." Chrestomanci replied.

"Mary." hissed Millie into her husband's ear.

"Yes, Mary, of course." He amended hastily.

The maid curtseyed and left.

"There's one for you, Cat." Chrestomanci said mildly, taking the smaller of the two pieces of paper out of the fat envelope. "Why don't you go down to the playroom and read it? Oh, and if you see Conrad, send him up here."

Cat nodded, and the four children stood and left the room. They met Rodger and Conrad on the stairs. "We were just looking for you!" all six of them said simultaneously, and then laughed.

Cat said to Conrad, "Chrestomanci wants to see you."

Conrad nodded. "Sorry, Rodger, I've been summoned." he laughed. "See you later." He said to them all, and then headed up the stairs.

"Tell me all." Rodger and Julia demanded of each other.

"You go first." They both said.

Janet stopped them. "Why don't you go first, Rodger? Our news is considerably bigger."

Rodger did as he was told.

The other three tried their best not to say anything, or laugh.

-----

In the playroom, Rodger was still going on about the Goddess' news. "No way!" he said again.

"Yes way, Rodger, do shut up." The Goddess replied irritably. "I want to hear Cat's letter."

Rodger stuck his tongue out at her, but looked at Cat to read it.

Cat opened it up. "It's from Tonino!" he said.

"Tonino?" the Goddess asked.

"Eh…Italian boy. He was here for a while last year. I'll explain later." Cat said, and then read out the letter, impressed by how few spelling and grammar mistakes there were.

"Dear Cat, Julia, Janet, Rodger,

How are you? Things are very good here. My sister, Rosa, she just had baby, so it is rather loud too! Anyway, my mother hears that her old friend be staying at Castle, and invite you all to stay here…"

"Italy!" Julia exclaimed "Do you think Daddy will…"

"Shut up and let him finish" Rodger barked.

"…in the Casa Montana for a few weeks. My brother, Paolo, he want to meet you all very much, and so does Angelica. I tell you about her in last letter, no? Hopefully I see you in a few days.

Tonino."

The children sat, looking at each other for a second.

The Goddess was first to speak. "Is it warm in Italy? I don't know how you put up with the weather here…"

-----

"What can I do for you, oh great Lord Christopher?" Conrad asked opening the door with a flourish.

"Fancy a trip to Italy, Grant?" Chrestomanci asked.

"Italy?" Conrad asked cautiously. "What're you on about, Smith?"

"Don't call me that!"

"Don't call me Grant then."

They stared at each other for a second.

"Yes, Italy. Caprona to be exact." Chrestomanci replied eventually. "Elizabeth is dying to see you."

"Oh! Elizabeth?" Conrad beamed. "It has been a while. Not since your wedding…and she always had a thing for me."

"Dream on, Conrad." Millie laughed.

"Oh, shut it you. You fancied me something awful and all. You just settled for him because you felt sorry for him."

Chrestomanci looked rather annoyed by this. "What the devil so you mean by that?"

"Come on, Christopher, you didn't even technically leave your bed to meet her." Conrad laughed.

Millie laughed too.

"Alright, stop it." Chrestomanci said, irritated. "Conrad, just settle for the fact that all the young ladies had a thing for me, not you."

"Two words, Christopher. Fay Marley." Conrad retorted.

"Alright, alright" Millie cut in hastily. "Conrad, go and tell the children to pack their things, please."

"What am I, a servant?" Conrad replied indignantly, but did as he was asked.

There was silence in the study for a while, before…

"I did feel sorry for you, you know."

"Oh do be quiet, Millie"

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Oh and special hugs for Flavius and the-rainbow-dreamer for reviewing faithfully. And Lup, for commenting on my Gaia.