The Wizard of Seattle Read Online Free PDF

from becoming ill in the coming week.
    Healing was by no means Serena’s strong suit. In fact, it had only recently been introduced into her potpourri of skills, and she had mastered just the rudiments. So the practice couldn’t hurt, she thought.
    By eleven-thirty that evening Serena had consumed three glasses of champagne and had bestowed a number of “gifts.” She was standing alone near the bar, and was just about to send another little present winging across the room when a hand closed gently but firmly around her upraised wrist.
    “No, Serena.”
    The hand, large and long-fingered, was a powerful hand, a beautiful hand, and quite distinct. She would have known it anywhere.
    She lifted her gaze to the man’s face, making her eyes wide and guileless. “No?”
    “No.” His voice was deep, calm, resonant. A voice that made people sit up straighter and listen to whatever he had to say. “I believe you’ve done quite enough for one night.”
    “I didn’t do anything
major
, Richard,” she protested.
    Richard Merlin shook his head slightly, his lean, broodingly handsome face holding a touch of wryness. “No, of course not. You never do. They’re playing a waltz, Serena. Dance with me.”
    Her wrist still held captive, Serena followed him out onto the dance floor, a bit amused that he hadn’t waited for her response. But then, why would he? He hadn’t asked—he’d commanded. As usual. Given their relationship, it wasn’t surprising, but Serena bore the seemingly high-handed attitude only because she knewvery well Richard intended no domination of her personality when he commanded.
    Both skilled and graceful, they danced well together and made a striking couple. It was rare they appeared as a couple at any social function; both usually brought dates to this kind of event. In fact, their public relationship as uncle and niece was so solid, few had ever questioned it—and those few were merely vaguely skeptical without being truly suspicious.
    “I really didn’t do anything significant,” Serena insisted as they danced.
    “Serena, how many times must I tell you that
everything
is significant? Every action, no matter how minor, could have unimaginable consequences.” The statement held the sound of a litany, often repeated, patient and unwavering.
    She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right, I know. Because the powerless people might notice, and they’d probably see us as a threat to them. And then it’d be the Salem witch hunts all over again, except that they’d use psychologists and scientists to try to dissect and denounce us instead of priests with dunking stools, thumbscrews, and the rack.”
    He looked down at her for several beats, then said, “How much have you had to drink?”
    “More than usual,” she admitted cheerfully. “Seth wanted to celebrate, and he kept filling my champagne glass. I could hardly say no.”
    Merlin nodded. “Now I understand why you were dancing with Jeremy Kane earlier—to find out about the grant. I gather it will be awarded to Seth?”
    “Yes, isn’t it great?”
    “He deserves it. But did you have to pick a man like Kane from whom to get the information, Serena?”
    “There was nobody else here who’s on the committee,” she explained ingenuously.
    Merlin’s mouth twitched slightly, but his expression remained forbidding. “It’s never wise to tempt the fates, and ensnaring a newspaper reporter, even a drunk, is asking for trouble. How did you do it?”
    She answered readily. “He said he’d typed up therough draft of an announcement about the grant and left it at his apartment, so I just sent for it to come to his pocket.”
    “And did you also send it back where it came from?”
    Serena shook her head guiltily. “No, I … I forgot. I was so excited about Seth winning….” She turned her head to search the room. “But I left him at his table, so—”
    “He’s gone.” Merlin sighed. “Guests who pass out at these functions are usually