Read Online Born of Illusion by Teri Brown - Free Book Online Page A

me a knowing glance. “So that’s why I got the croissant! No, don’t try to deny it.” He holds up a hand to stop my protest. “I knew a young miss wouldn’t go to all this trouble for an old man like myself. He moved in just before you did, but he pretty much keeps to himself and is gone for a good deal of the day.”
    “Does he go to work?”
    Mr. Darby shrugs. “Not that I know of. He just got out of some fancy school in Europe somewhere.”
    Europe. That explains the letter and his formal way of speaking. “Then where does he go all day?”
    “To the library to study. He says he can’t think with all my racket going on. Now enough questions. If you want more information, you’ll have to ask him yourself.”
    I want to find out more but decide against prying further. Instead, I move to the next topic of interest. “And what would all that noise be? My mother and I have heard you down here banging away.”
    “Ah, wouldn’t you like to know! Tell you what, you tell me what you and your ma do with your late-night company and I’ll tell you what I do that’s so loud.”
    So Cole didn’t tell him about our séance. Mr. Darby’s blue eyes gleam and I can’t help but smile back at him. “You drive a hard bargain, but it’s a deal.”
    He nods and bites into a croissant. “Mmmmm. Would you like one?” he asks, innocence written all over his gnomelike features.
    I glare and the corners of his mouth twitch upward.
    He hands me a croissant. “Thanks,” I say, equally ungrateful, and receive an actual grin as reward. I bite into the buttery, flaky crust and take a sip of tea. The croissants are the best I’ve ever tasted.
    We drink our tea and eat in silence until the last delicious flake is licked from our fingertips.
    “Well, at least you know how to eat well,” he commends. “Most women talk, talk, talk all through the meal while a man is trying to enjoy his food.”
    “Good food deserves concentration,” I answer solemnly.
    He nods. “Very sensible. Now, on to our bargain.”
    “What bargain was that?” I tease.
    “Cheeky girl. You know very well what bargain. Now tell me, and no more of your stalling.”
    “Very well.” I lean forward and drop my voice to a whisper. “We hold séances.”
    He smacks the table with his palms. “No.”
    I nod. “Yes.”
    “I knew it was something like that, the way your mother dresses. So mysterious. A real looker, she is.” He tilts his head to the side. “You’re not so bad looking yourself, though a bit too soon to say for sure.”
    I roll my eyes. “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. Now tell me something. Are those séances of yours for real, or are there tricks involved?”
    My stomach knots and I shake my head, giving him as big a smile as I can muster. “We had a bargain and now it’s your turn.”
    “Well, now, I don’t know . . .”
    “Mr. Darby! Are you saying you won’t keep your word to a lady?”
    “Of course not. I’m not saying that at all. Now you have me all confused. Very well, I’ll tell you.” He draws himself up with pride. “I’m an inventor!”
    I sit back in my chair. That isn’t what I was expecting, but I can tell he’s looking for a reaction, so I clap my hands together and try to look properly surprised. “Really? What do you invent?”
    Mr. Darby smiles smugly. Evidently, my reaction pleased him. “Now that’s for me to know and you to find out.”
    “Can’t you show me one thing?”
    He considers my request for a moment, then gets up from the table. Taking a square metal box out of a cupboard, he unwraps a long cloth cord and plugs the pronged end into an electrical outlet in the wall. He then cuts a slice of bread and bids me to join him. When I do, he spears the piece of bread with a fork and carefully jostles it into the box. Closing the small door on the side, he looks at me expectantly.
    “Er, now what?”
    “Now we wait.” He pauses dramatically. “For the bread to toast and then pop