The Dolls(82)

The mothers exchange looks. “He’s not alone,” Chloe’s mother says. “Oscar and Patrick are with him.”

“Besides, it’s certainly not your job to feel such concern for him. Quite the opposite,” Peregrine’s mother says. “Now, on to the more pressing matter at hand. Main de Lumière. Eveny, what did you find out?”

As I tell them about the conversation with Aloysius Vauclain, everyone in the room stands completely still. There’s a collective gasp when I tell them how easily he admitted to Main de Lumière’s involvement in Glory’s murder, and another gasp when I say that he disavowed any Main de Lumière involvement in my mother’s death.

“We need to figure out who the Main de Lumière operative in Carrefour is,” I conclude. “If we find out who killed Glory, we can protect ourselves.”

“You know,” says Arelia, “the only new people in town in years have been Eveny herself and her aunt.”

I open my mouth to defend Aunt Bea, but Peregrine’s mother beats me to it. “Arelia, I don’t care for Bea Cheval either,” she says stiffly. “But to accuse her of being affiliated with Main de Lumière is taking things too far.”

“And how do we know it wasn’t you?” I hear myself say to Arelia. I hadn’t meant to confront her, but her blind accusation of my aunt makes me furious.

“Eveny,” Peregrine says in a warning tone.

“No,” I say, turning to her. “Glory said she was meeting Arelia only hours before she died.” I look back at Arelia. “Do you have an alibi for the night she was killed?”

I expect Arelia to have a retort ready, but instead, her face crumples, and she looks away. It’s Margaux who steps forward and says, “She was with me. I swear it on our sosyete.”

“Well, there you have it,” Chloe’s mother says, clapping her hands together enthusiastically. “I take it that will be the end of that discussion.” She turns to me and adds in a lower voice, “In Carrefour, the women of the sosyetes stick together. They don’t accuse each other of things.”

I’m being chastised. I don’t have a response, but I shoot a suspicious look at Arelia, who’s glowering at me now.

Peregrine takes a step forward. “I say we hold a ceremony tomorrow night to cast as many protective charms over our sosyetes as we can.”

“I think we should stop practicing zandara for now, at least until the big Mardi Gras ceremony,” I say immediately.

“This again?” Peregrine asks.

“I’m just suggesting we stop until we figure out what the situation is and who’s after us,” I say. “We’re a target as long as we keep practicing magic.”

“You’re assuming that this Vauclain person was being truthful with you about their motives,” Peregrine says.

“I don’t think he would have bothered lying if he thought he was about to kill me,” I point out.

“I agree with Eveny,” Chloe says. “It doesn’t mean we won’t be ready if there’s an attack. But there’s not much we can do without knowing the identity of the traitor.”

“But we can’t just stop doing zandara,” Margaux protests. “That’s who we are.”

“Which is all well and good until another one of us winds up six feet under,” Peregrine’s mother says sharply.

“I agree,” Chloe’s mother says. “For now.”

“There we have it,” Peregrine’s mother says crisply. “This means that for the next few days at least, no zandara in Carrefour. We must avoid calling attention to ourselves until we know what we’re facing.”

“But Mom—” Peregrine begins to protest.

Her mother cuts her off sharply. “That means you girls.”

“So what now?” asks Arelia.

“Now,” says Peregrine’s mother, “we attempt to make contact with a few sosyetes we trust in other parts of the country.”

“And in the meantime,” adds Chloe’s mother, “we lie low and keep our eyes open for signs that something’s not right.”

“But—” Peregrine begins.

Her mother interrupts again. “This isn’t open for discussion.”

Peregrine seethes in silence as the meeting draws to a close.


After I say my good-byes, I head out the front door, thoroughly exhausted. I’m worried about the walk home, but Peregrine’s mother hands me a sachet of protective herbs and promises that she’ll cast a charm so that she’ll know if I’m in any danger. “Besides, you’ll be fine,” she says. “Caleb and the boys are taking care of things.”