The Blood Spell (Ravenspire, #4)(30)

Throwing a simple white muslin dress over her head, she shoved her feet into a pair of shoes, ran a damp cloth over her face, and rushed for the stairs as the sound of Grand-mère’s wrath grew louder.

“This is preposterous, Nell, and you know it,” Grand-mère snapped.

Nell. Blue grabbed the railing and began her descent. What was the magistrate doing here? Had they found the killer?

Nell’s voice was a quiet murmur, quickly cut off by a vicious curse from Grand-mère.

“Over my dead body. The four of you can get right out of this house. Immediately.”

Blue reached the bottom of the stairs and hurried toward the sitting room near the front of the house.

“I’m sorry, Destri.” Nell’s voice was soft but firm as she spoke to Grand-mère. “It’s an official document. My hands are tied.”

“Well, mine aren’t.” Grand-mère reached for her sleeve as Blue rushed into the room and grabbed her arm, stopping her before she could pull the hazel-wood wand free.

“It’s all right, Grand-mère. Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out together,” Blue said as calmly as she could, a feat made difficult by the fact that it wasn’t just Nell standing in her sitting room. Dinah Chauveau, head of the Chauveau family, sat on her little couch, flanked by two girls around Blue’s age who looked remarkably like Dinah. Same pale-as-milk skin, sharp cheekbones, and long dark hair. The youngest had a smattering of freckles across her nose and gave Blue a sympathetic look. The oldest appeared bored.

Why would Lady Chauveau be in her sitting room? Was this another attempt to see if Blue and Papa had reported the fake gold? Or had she somehow found out about Blue’s magic? The thought sent a shiver of fear through Blue, and she clenched her fists to keep her hands from trembling.

“What are you doing here?” Blue asked before remembering that manners dictated that she greet them and say something pleasant first.

Manners be hung. This was her sitting room, and they were upsetting Grand-mère. And besides, the worry churning through her made it hard to speak gently.

“They were just leaving,” Grand-mère said firmly.

Nell sighed, and there was regret on her face as she lifted a piece of parchment she held in her hands. “Blue, this is a document signed and sealed by a solicitor in the Chauveau quarter and by both the magistrate in that quarter and in ours.”

Blue frowned. “You’re the magistrate in our quarter.”

“I am now, but this document was signed sixteen years ago. It bears the signature of the previous magistrate.”

“I bet my life that signature isn’t real.” Grand-mère moved as if to take the parchment from Nell, but the woman lifted it out of reach.

“I realize this is difficult, but I’ve already spent a great deal of time this morning comparing signatures and ascertaining the validity of this document. I’m sorry, but this is now binding.”

Grand-mère stared her down for a moment and then extended her glare to the Chauveaus.

“What does it say?” Blue asked, her voice smaller than she intended. She’d never seen Grand-mère this upset. What could’ve been signed sixteen years ago that would cause problems now?

Nell cleared her throat and gave Blue a swift pitying look before saying, “It’s an agreement between your mother and Dinah Chauveau giving Dinah full custody of you, your property, and your shop until you come of age, should both your parents die before your eighteenth birthday.”

Blue opened her mouth. Shut it. Tried to corral her racing thoughts, but nothing made sense.

She didn’t even know Dinah Chauveau. Papa had never mentioned her. Why would her mother sign custody of her daughter over to the head of the Chauveau family instead of to Grand-mère?

“That doesn’t make sense,” she finally said. “Grand-mère can take care of me.”

“Exactly what I’ve been saying.” Grand-mère stabbed a finger at the Chauveaus and then at the front door. “On your way, the lot of you. Blue is none of your concern.”

“Oh, I couldn’t bear to dishonor my good friend’s wishes,” Dinah said, her tone soft. “I’m sure she wanted Blue to have a mother and sisters if the unthinkable happened. We’ll move in to the farmhouse so that she doesn’t have to lose her home as well as her father in the same week.”

Her daughters flinched at that, though the youngest kept her eyes trained on the scarred wooden floor that hadn’t seen a broom since the night Papa died.

“I’m afraid there isn’t room for all of you here,” Grand-mère said. “And I’m sure a lady such as yourself wouldn’t be satisfied with such a simple house. You just stay in your fancy mansion in your quarter, and if you’re really that concerned, I’ll send you reports each week on how Blue is doing. I’m sure you’re very worried about a girl you’ve never bothered speaking to.”

Something flashed in Dinah’s eyes, so fast Blue almost missed it, and then the woman stood in a smooth, elegant motion. “I am Blue’s new guardian. I am responsible for the farmhouse and the shop. I take my responsibility seriously. My girls recently lost their father to a violent crime as well. A change of scenery would do them good. We can all grieve together.”