Read Online Tremble in the Dark: A Gwen Farris Novel by P. S. Power - Free Book Online Page B

but even Ethyl just sat there, her mouth alternating between a
smile and terror. Then a happy expression with raised eyebrows, and another
horrified expression.
    Robert
just shut down totally, clearly being more focused on the news about death
curses and more Westmorland style training.
    "That's
not a good thing, a death curse. The woman is in custody, of course? That sort
of thing can't be allowed. How confident are you and Miss Westmorland that you
can break this? Tricky things, curses. I accidently cursed a boy at school when
I was ten. He was a bully and deserved what he got, since it was only that he
learn better manners or not be able to move, but I was caned daily for a whole
month. I nearly died just from that." He didn't seem happy in his youthful
remembrance, but went on. "To do that as an adult is attempted murder
however. We can't allow that to stand."
    Both
the others looked at her, worried again, but she wrinkled her nose and forced a
smile.
    "Beth
seems to think that I can do it and be at work first thing in the morning. I'll
probably end up sleeping on the train though. The part that you should be
focusing on is the marriage thing, I think. If I can hold on to it this
time." She wondered about that, but Ethyl smiled now, clearly looking
happy for her.
    "We
should have him over soon then. To dinner perhaps?"
    "I
invited him to that party? As my date, given everything. I'll need to send a
proper invitation, or at least get you to do it for me, if I'm out of reach. He
already said that he'd be coming however, even if I can't be there. No one
wants to miss one of your parties after all. Not among the people that
count." She was flat out lying there, but Ethyl gave her a rather vicious
look that seemed thrilled to hear about it.
    "I
was rather cruel in my low thoughts about the boy before, I see. He's clearly a genius. I'll make certain to send the invitation promptly." Then she
stood up, as if going to set that all up immediately. That wasn't the case
however, and she simply stood there, waiting next to Gwen.
    For
her part she nodded, as if she had some clue what was going on.
    "Well,
no dinner for me . I bet I won't want it. I don't know how many are
coming, but we might want to have some refreshments ready, if people are going
to be up all night?"
    Then
she left the room, since saying that was probably more than enough for it to
really happen. It meant that she had some time, it seemed, which she spent
charging crystal packs. The ones in the teletransport spheres weren't big
really, so only took about ten minutes for each one. Since no one came to find
her yet, she just sat and did them all, then went to change clothing. She
didn't want to risk ruining Katherine's dress or anything.
    "Like
you're really worried about my dress? They're going to torture us again, aren't
they?" The words came out of her own mouth, and Gwen frowned, seizing
control immediately. There wasn't a huge fight or anything, but that was the
first time that Katherine had managed something like that without outside help
or goading.
    Then,
maybe the threat of that much pain counted that way?
    "Don't do that."
    She
said it just in time for Beth to come walking into the room, with Manly
Westmorland behind her, and for some reason, Peter, though he was hanging back.
He looked at the spheres, and she understood his part at least. He was there to
get everything returned to its place. The things were hard to make and a single
trip using one would have cost about several hundred mets, if she hadn't
charged them herself. It was why they had trains and airships too. Most people
went their whole lives without ever even seeing one of the devices. They
weren't things you just left laying around, in other words. She pointed to
them, where they were on the low table near the chair she was on.
    "Already
charged." Then she sighed and looked at first Beth, and then Peter. Not
Manly in particular, which was a little mean of her, but that was because the
last