Grimoires and Where to Find Them Raconteur, Honor (read along books TXT) 📖

Clint was amenable to this and immediately hopped up, getting situated and purring at her again as Lady Radman’s fingers stroked the top of his head.

They fell to discussing things, such as what Clint did with a detective. Clint liked to tell all and sundry that he was a field cat. Tasha and Phil seemed content to let him explain, instead finding comfortable perches on our respective laps.

Mildred came back in with the requested items. I accepted both from her, and under Lady Radman’s direction, opened the portfolio to reveal bills of sale or transfer of property notices for each volume. It was incredibly helpful because they had not only names but also addresses for each owner.

Jamie looked over my shoulder and gave a low whistle. “Perfect. Exactly the info we need right now. Thank you, Lady Radman.”

“I want this dastard caught,” she assured her flatly. “And I’ll aid you in whatever way I can to make sure that happens. You may take the portfolio with you, if it will help.”

“If you don’t mind. I don’t want to try and copy important things here and now, only to find that I need more info later. I promise you, we’ll hand it back as soon as we’re done with it.”

Lady Radman encouraged her with a wave. “That’s fine, take it. The diary I wish to keep here, you understand.”

I did, and fully supported this. With one caveat. “Allow me to put a ward up around your safe, just in case. I do not wish to take chances.”

“Oh, that’s kind of you, Dr. Davenforth. Please do. I’m not spry enough to fend off an attacker anymore, sadly.” A glint sparkled in her eye. “Although it might be fun to try.”

This woman must have been a firecracker in her youth. I could see why she and my mother had gotten along.

Looking down at the Felix in her lap, she added thoughtfully, “With Clint’s help, I bet we could drive off a thief.”

Clint perked up immediately, whiskers twitching. “Sounds fun!”

Oh, for the love of magic. These two were incorrigible.

We spoke with Elfrida Bramwell after visiting with Lady Radman, but she hadn’t much more to add to the case, unfortunately. That put us wrapping up interviews a little past sunset. As riveting as the case might be, we stopped investigating after that. It was one of the harder things to learn about being a detective—when to stop and rest. Detectives could run themselves ragged, running around at all hours trying to solve a case. And the hours were strange, granted. But learning how to pace yourself was vital, or you burned out. I was fortunate in this because Jamie was experienced enough to know how to pace herself. I simply followed her lead.

Since my sweetheart was once again translating something for Ellie Warner, I invited Seaton over to my flat for some magical tinkering. Jamie was right in that we often came up with excellent solutions while working together, and truthfully, I didn’t know what else to try at this point. I needed some outside perspective.

Seaton came right at seven o’clock, oddly punctual considering he hadn’t been sure what time he’d be able to arrive. He swept in like a storm, as usual, all energy and motion, although he looked a bit tired. The makeup around his eyes was smeared and his tie loose around his throat, indicating he’d been tugging at it.

Still, he greeted me warmly. “Davenforth, I must say, excellent timing. It’s all been political shenanigans at the palace recently. I could do with a breather.”

Ah, that explained his fatigue. People could be exhausting.

“I’m happy to have you. I honestly don’t know what else to try.”

He set the light coat aside, making himself comfortable and dropping straight into his favorite chair in front of my coffee table.

“Tea?”

“Bless you, yes. I could use a sugar hit. I haven’t had a chance to look much at what Jamie’s family sent over.” His eyes roved over the electronics displayed on the table. For this, I had pulled out a Kindle and her laptop. “Odd-looking things, aren’t they? So shiny and metallic.”

“I thought so, as well, the first time I looked at them. I’ve learned how to use them some under Jamie’s tutelage, but it’s been a struggle. I can’t read the screens or the menus.”

That formidable intellect snapped to awareness in Seaton’s eyes. The challenge had been presented. “No translation spells work, you said. At all?”

“None at all.”

I poured us both a healthy cup of tea and brought them over, handing him his cup and saucer. He accepted it with a murmur of thanks. I took a seat on the sofa, getting situated. This would take a while, after all.

“I have found a workaround of sorts, at least for the audio on the laptop. I’ve placed a translation charm over the speakers—those little grills there on the side—so I can understand what’s being said. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to watch any of the movies Jamie’s shown me recently.”

Seaton took a sip of his tea, staring hard at the inert electronics lying so innocent and docile against the wood surface. “But you can’t attach a spell directly to them?”

“Not in any way, shape, or fashion. And it’s driving myself and Ellie Warner mad.”

“Oh, I bet it is. She especially has been salivating over the idea of new tech.” A naughty smirk graced Seaton’s mouth. “It’s funny seeing her riled up about it.”

“Funny for you, perhaps. Jamie’s spending half her evenings right now with Warner, trying to give her enough information to go on.”

Seaton hooted with laughter. “I can practically hear the jealousy.”

“I am not jealous.” I might have been a touch jealous. Really, who could blame me?

“We’ll fix it so you can go back to spending all your time with your lover.” Seaton’s smirk was outrageous now.

I regarded him with a bland expression and drawled, “I’d appreciate it.”

“So, that’s still going well, then? The