Page 43 of Harmonic Pleasure (Mysterious Arts #6)

“Yes, Aunt Mera. Mister Vandermeer found us when we were about to go wash up and prepare to come here.” She swallowed hard. “I tried a charm, to deflect his attention, and it went horribly awry.”

Farran, just behind her, went still. She hadn’t explained what she’d tried, they’d not had time or privacy for it. Now, Vega braced herself. “It’s one I’ve done often, there’s no reason it should—” Her voice caught. “Well, there is a reason.”

Aunt Mera inclined her head. “The artefact.”

“It amplifies.” It was incredibly foolish for her to have done any magic with it near her.

Even if it had been wrapped up in silk and whatever other protections Farran had organised.

“I should make a report to the Guard.” She didn’t want to think about what it might do here, in the heart of the family’s magics.

“What happened?” Aunt Helia’s voice was even, deliberately neutral.

Vega explained what she’d done, the casting of the charm, meant just to make him go the other way or have his eyes slide over her.

How instead Vandermeer had been snared up in that particular song.

“It looked like he might have been stripping his clothes off, when we left. He certainly sounded— well, not himself. There was a constable coming, and a couple of bigger men.”

Aunt Helia pursed her lips. “He’s a man with obvious money?

” Vega nodded once. “They’ll stick him in a cell and get a doctor to have a look at him.

Nothing too miserable will happen to him right away, I suspect.

Go take a minute, if you would, write to the Guard and to Vivian.

That first, while we think about the rest of it. ”

Vega knew an order when she heard it. She stood, taking herself off to one of the tables in the back corner and writing a brief note.

Wording it was a bit tricky, but she sent one note to the Guard explaining there had been something odd, possibly needing their attention.

She could give the location and the time and Vandermeer’s name.

The note to Vivian was much more detailed, including the fact Vega thought the artefact had messed with things. She made it clear Vivian could convey what she thought relevant to whomever else might need to know. That was entirely beyond her own personal remit. Vivian could be trusted.

When she came back, Farran was still standing where she’d left him. The aunts had been apparently conversing with him about his general background, his family, and one of his previous visits to Vivian’s family estate.

Aunt Mera picked up as if there had been no interruption. “Now. Where was the artefact, in detail?”

Beside her, Farran cleared his throat. “May I speak, Kyria?” Aunt Mera nodded once.

“First, may Vega have a seat? It has been an exceedingly long day for her. She came straight from her performance last night, without any pause or rest.” Vega had at least managed food and a restorative potion, but she was indeed tired and her feet were complaining.

Someone behind her brought over a chair, one of the reasonably comfortable wooden ones, and Vega thankfully sat down.

Farran took up a spot still behind her to the right.

Now, though, he stood with his hand resting on the wood back by her shoulder. She could just feel his fingers.

Once that was sorted, he began speaking, carefully.

“Anyone familiar with London’s long history understands that there are many spaces below the modern streets.

There are buried rivers, entire sets of tunnels that safeguard silver and gems, archaeological discoveries.

Near to where we were, they discovered forty-some skulls in the 1830s, not near any bodies, all tumbled by the bank of the Walbrook, buried for centuries now.

” He gestured with his other hand. “We used a combination of techniques to see if we could find an item that held the characteristics that Vega had been told.”

That was her part to tell. “In the end, I think Grandmother Alcyone showed us the way. There were certain signs, constellations. It was in something that might have been a temple.” Vega wasn’t entirely sure how to describe the space still.

“The sort of thing that someone of the line would know unerringly, and someone outside it would not.” She gestured at Aunt Helia’s lap.

“I have done as I hoped to do. May I leave it in your care?”

“You may.” Aunt Mera glanced at the torc, then back up. “What of Mister Vandermeer?”

Behind her, Farran spoke, “I am wondering if the methods he is using are entirely, shall we say, aboveboard in Albion. Vivian Porter has contacts within a number of places, and could likely consult appropriately.”

“We’re aware of the range of Vivian’s contacts.

” Aunt Mera’s voice now had a dry amusement to it, which certainly suggested they’d discussed it and recently.

“But she might, yes, act even more swiftly at your request than ours. She’s always had a clearly defined sense of precedence in certain matters. ”

Vega couldn’t help smiling at that. Aunt Mera glanced over at her. “And you, Vega?”

“I’d like to follow up with Vivian, beyond the note I just sent. I’ve two days free— well, tomorrow— before I need to be back at the club. I admit I’d rather Mister Vandermeer not be able to appear to be a bother.”

“There is that.” Aunt Helia nodded. “We shall let you do that, then. We would appreciate a proper report— for provenance reasons, young man— with whatever you feel should be known about the process. The location it was found, properly described. Within the fortnight, if possible, though if you need more time, we will grant you more.”

Farran shifted a little behind her, then he nodded. “Thank you, kyria. Vega, may I escort you home? Or...” He hesitated. “Vivian’s likely at Thebes still. I can check.”

“Thebes, if she’s there, please,” Vega said. She’d been wanting to see the house for ages. “Let me go pack up a few things, just in case I end up somewhere other than my flat tonight.”

That, of course, brought a murmur of amusement from her aunts and uncles, and she didn’t care. Aunt Mera waved a hand. “Off with you. We’ll discuss and let you know if we have further questions.”

Vega took the opportunity and stood, reaching for Farran’s hand.

They made quick work of retrieving a package of his clothes.

And she packed a case with another change and her overnight things for herself, and a book to read.

Not that Thebes wouldn’t have books, Farran had been very clear about that.