Theodosia & the Eyes of Horus Read Online Free PDF

apologetic. "Everyone's preoccupied with the exhibit just now, Miss Theo. And you're supposed to be down in the long-term storage. No one will miss you for hours."
    Well, he had that part right. I'd be lucky if they remembered me when it was time to go home. "But what about you? Aren't you supposed to be visiting the draper's?"
    Stilton looked a bit smug. "I took care of that on my way home last night."
    "Oh. But I already gave Trawley his magical favor. What does he want with me now?"
    A hatchet-faced man stepped out of the hallway behind Stilton. "I thought you said she was coming?"
    Stilton flinched at the sound of Basil Whiting's voice. Sent reinforcements, had they? This didn't look good.
    "S-she is. In just a moment," Stilton said. "Aren't you, Miss Theo?" His weak tea-colored eyes pleaded with me.
    Since Trawley had sent his second in command as backup, it was clear I had no choice. "Of course, Stilton. I'd love to." If he caught my sarcasm, he made no sign.
    "Very well, miss. This way." He motioned toward the east
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    entrance. With a sigh, I headed down the corridor. "I thought you scorpions were supposed to serve me," I muttered, feeling quite put out.
    "We're to see to your safety, miss," Whiting said, falling into step behind me.
    "Yes, but that's not quite the same thing, is it?"
    He looked over my head at Stilton as if to say You deal with her. Stilton shrugged. Or twitched. I couldn't be sure which.
    Once we were outside, he opened the carriage door for me, then followed me inside it. Much to my relief, Whiting joined Ned Gerton up on the driver's box. Stilton cleared his throat and held up a black silk blindfold.
    I stared at it with distaste. "Is that really necessary?"
    "The supreme master says so, miss. I'm just following orders."
    "Like nice little sheep," I murmured.
    "What was that?" he asked, a startled look on his face.
    "I think I'll have a nice little sleep. On the ride over," I added. "Do wake me when we're there." I wedged myself in the farthest corner, leaned my head back, and closed my eyes. There. Stilton would have to manhandle me to get that wretched blindfold on. Let's see if he would go that far.
    I waited, nerves on edge, but after a long tense moment, I heard him sigh and settle back into his seat. Excellent.
    Fifteen minutes later, I felt the carriage draw to a stop.
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    "Please, miss," Stilton whispered. "You must let me put the blindfold on now or we'll both be in trouble."
    I opened my eyes. "Very well." I had, after all, won a small victory. It would be easy to allow him to save face.
    He slipped the blindfold on and tied it very gently, making sure not to get my hair tangled up in the knot. "Do you have sisters, Stilton?"
    "Why, yes, miss. How'd you know?" There was a touch of awe in his voice, as if he thought I'd divined it somehow. I hated to lose that advantage by explaining that only a man with sisters would be so good at dealing with hair, so I simply said, "Just a lucky hunch."
    There was a low whistle from outside the carriage. "All right then, the coast is clear," Stilton said. I heard him open the door; he took my hand and carefully led me down the steps. We shuffled along until he told me to stop. He knocked out the signal on the door, which opened immediately. '"E's waiting in the chamber. Right impatient, 'e is. Wants to know wot took you so long."
    "The girl resisted at first," Basil Whiting said from just behind us.
    "I thought Tefen here said he could control 'er," the unidentified porter said.
    "I can." Stilton sounded a bit testy as he guided me through the doorway.
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    Once again I was led down a dark and twisting corridor before we came to a stop. The silk was removed from my eyes and I found myself in the familiar dark chamber, lit only with black candles in sconces against the wall. Half a dozen cloaked, hooded figures knelt before me. Only Aloysius Trawley remained standing, his eyes glittering, black and wild in the dim light. It was quite unsettling really,