Page 25 of Harmonic Pleasure (Mysterious Arts #6)
“Thank you for the time, on no notice. I was in Trellech for some other business.” Vega considered her options.
Electra’s line, Vivian’s line, they had their own particular magic and customs. Just as Alcyone’s line did.
Most of the time, it wasn’t necessary for them to mesh and harmonise as precisely, but they knew enough of each other to avoid the most unfortunate dissonances.
Probably. Then it came out of her, with no control. “Does Farran know? About you?”
It was embarrassing, that lack of control. The older woman smiled, then stood, going to a shelf and pulling out a small bound volume. “I think you might reasonably call me Vivian, Magistra Beaumont.”
“Vega, please.” Vega took a breath, then managed to focus on Vivian’s face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt that out.”
“I suggested, some weeks back, that Farran might reasonably do some research about you. He has said nothing one way or the other about what he might have found.” Vivian lifted a finger.
“The common names in your line— he knows the ones in Electra’s line, now.
He has been at gatherings at our estates, along with his uncle.
Farran is a thoughtful young man, with good manners, especially around the aunts. ”
“Ah.” Vega had to smile at that. “I have found him polite, considerate, and quite skilled. Though I admit, I don’t know enough about his work to measure it. But he seems, am I right, to have a particular knack for materia?”
“He does. It got him into trouble, his first apprenticeship. Unbalancing the work. Philemon has done a wonderful job of building his confidence and trusting his intuition and sense of a piece. And then, of course, using that to back up his initial impressions with proper authoritative resources and testing. He has a good eye, aesthetically. He’s done some work with other Cousins.
” She didn’t say who, but of course Vega didn’t expect confidences here.
Not of the professional sort. Vivian leaned back, considering Vega.
“Are you inquiring in a more general sense? I take an interest in his well-being.”
“His uncle, he mentioned. Farran speaks quite warmly of him.” Vega almost went on, but she wanted to see if there was any reaction to that.
“They’ve only had each other as family for some years. Well, and their housekeeper.” Vivian glanced toward the bookshelves, a few photographs there. “Are you interested on a personal level?”
Put like that, that bluntly, Vega could only nod.
“A curiosity, at least. I— we did some exploration, Saturday. And it was, you must have an idea. A life which has many pleasures in it, my own skills. But it was an afternoon that was just enjoyable, on every level I can think of, except perhaps other people’s inability to pick up after themselves.
I enjoyed talking to him, I enjoyed learning what he knew.
I enjoyed being with him. And I keep coming back to that. ”
It earned her a warmer smile, so perhaps being forthcoming had been a good choice.
“For all Cadmus is something of a hermit, he and Farran are quite warm to those they welcome closer. Their residents. Me, for some years now. Others, on occasion.” Vivian tapped one finger on the desk in front of her.
“If you are asking if you should tell Farran of your background, I cannot make that choice for you. I did not handle matters well when Cadmus learned it, though I had my reasons. I do not think Farran would take it poorly, shall we say? His work has given him an excellent framework for understanding that different families have their own customs and priorities. He would take lying to him directly badly, but he understands the art of not saying all the truth and he doesn’t begrudge it. ”
That was extremely helpful information, and an even more useful way of putting it. “I appreciate that. I am— I am inclined to find a time to say something, when we have space and privacy enough. I don’t know when that will be.”
“Not a conversation for a nightclub, no, I expect.” There was a knock on the door, and Vivian looked up. “A moment. Yes, Eleanor?” The door opened, and Eleanor put her head into the room.
“Beg pardon, Vivian, but there’s a note about that matter. Marked with some urgency.” She waited, half in the door.
“Ah, I beg pardon, Vega, but I need to see to this. Come by and talk again, if you’d like. Or write in the journals, if you need a bit of advice. Or want to let me know something relevant?” Vega could interpret that. If Farran might turn up needing a shoulder or a bit of family.
Vega nodded. “You’ve been generous with both your time and your expertise.
I appreciate it no end.” She added, almost at the last moment, “I’m guessing you and Master Michaels are not the sort to want to come to London.
But I’d be glad to arrange a table and supper for you, if you wished to. While I’m singing there, of course.”
It made Vivian laugh. “Oh, the idea. It amuses. I suspect not, but I will ask Cadmus rather than brushing it off. A good afternoon to you, then, and I’m glad I could be of some clarification.”
Half a minute later, Vega found herself back outside, and the only thing she could think of to do was go back to London and her notes.