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their coats. She
poured a glass of milk for Alice and set out a bowl of apples while she
prepared a hot meal for her two new household members.
    "You just sit there and let me take care of you. It’s good
to have someone under my wing again." Delores was happy to be serving. "Mr.
Northcliffe doesn’t keep me busy enough in this great old house. I haven’t felt
much needed since the mistress died."
    "Mrs. Dixon," a deep male voice called from the
corridor. "Was that Mrs. Tremaine knocking? She’s supposed to be arriving
tonight."
    "Oh dear," Sabrina said looking from her daughter
to Delores. "He doesn’t know about Alice."
    Delores froze and looked directly at Alice. "Run and
hide missy, before the master sees you."

 
    Chapter Three
     
     
     
    The candles flickered gently, stirred to action by the
slow movements of Madame Lou as she walked about the room, chanting in a
singsong voice. The tarot cards sat on the table, still wrapped in their
customary black silk. Sometimes she didn’t need to use them because the spirits
spoke to her directly. They were telling her that things were going along well
and her guidance was greatly appreciated. It would be needed again, however,
but she would have to be patient. And soon, she would need to reveal herself.
Madame Lou protested. After all, she had worked long and hard to conceal her
identity and true gifts. But the spirits were insistent in this matter.
Swirling in a wide circle, scarves and bells followed in her wake creating a
musical vision of color and glitter, Madame Lou would indeed give in to the
wishes of the dead.
     
     
    Alice was gone like a shot. Delores appeared as calm as if
she hadn’t just participated in a conspiracy to deceive her employer. Coolly,
she picked up the half- finished glass of milk and the apple core and tucked
them neatly beneath a dish towel.
    "Ah, Mrs. Tremaine," Ford said coming into the
kitchen. "You’ve arrived, and met our cook. Mrs. Dixon, so nice of you to
be present to welcome our new addition in out of the cold. I hope everything
will be to your satisfaction, Mrs. Tremaine?"
    "Yes, thank you, Mr. Northcliffe." Sabrina said
almost choking on her apple. She felt the hot guilt of deception creeping up
her throat. She could barely look at the man, let alone meet his eyes. "Delores
has been very kind. She is going to fix us—me a plate before I go to find my
room."
    "Rooms," Ford corrected, looking around as if he’d
lost something. "Mrs. Dixon, have you seen Mr. Roland? I told him earlier
today to prepare the yellow suite for Mrs. Tremaine."
    "Mr. Roland said everything was all ready,"
Delores responded. "I’ll show Mrs. Tremaine to her suite once I get a hot
meal in her. She’s skin and bones, Mr. Northcliffe, and you know I can’t have
that in this house." She gave him a keen look that seemed to make the man
squirm. "Speaking of which—did you eat that supper I sent to the laboratory?"
    "Well, I, uh…" Ford pulled at his starched collar,
unnecessarily clearing his throat. "I managed a few bites. It was cold by
the time I got around to lifting the lid."
    "Lordy be, Mr. Northcliffe. You got to keep up your strength
if you want to finish your research." Delores tutted under her breath as
she busied herself with preparing the food. "I’m going to fix you another
plate right now and send it up to your rooms. I’ll have Mr. Roland bring it up
straight away. Now shoo. Me and Mrs. Tremaine need to talk about how I like my
kitchen run."
    "Thank you Mrs. Dixon." Ford appeared relieved to
have things taken care of. "Welcome, Mrs. Tremaine. I hope that you’ll
find your rooms comfortable. Goodnight ladies."
    When his footsteps had faded completely, Sabrina finally let
out the breath she had been holding. "That was too close," she
muttered, angry at herself for being scared.
    "Can I come out now?" Alice whispered from the
doorway.
    "Come here child," Delores said, holding out the
glass of milk to her new charge. "You sit yourself right