his life's work. Still, I do enjoy the times we have together.”
I cast a sidelong smile at Asher. He lifted his shoulders in a tiny shrug. It was rather sweet, his attention to his mother. I opened my mouth to reply to Vera, but Flaire's voice, amplified by the enormous brass trumpet into which he spoke, attracted the attention of the party. He stood on a podium in the centre of the room, and he looked arresting there, exhilarated, above the crowd as though there were nowhere else in the world he was meant to be.
“Welcome all of you to the Cirque du Flaire, a Dazzling Spectacle of Delectation, Stimulation and Stupefaction Amidst the Clouds and Among the Firmament!” It sounded impressive from his lips, and the crowd trilled their appreciation, though they had likely seen the words dozens of times, emblazoned across the city. “If you'll all join me in the dining room, we will be serving dinner before the main event. Feast, enjoy yourselves, and I will see you at the show.” With that, Flaire bent in a deep, graceful bow and disappeared in a puff of sunny yellow smoke.
Applause broke out among the crowd, but Flaire was no longer there to appreciate it. I rolled my eyes, but I could not prevent the smile turning up my lips. The man certainly had a flair for the dramatic. “Well, on that, I must find my young wards.”
“Asher!”
“Ah. But they have found us,” Asher replied, turning to Xander and Juliana, who had made their way to us through the crowd. The two young people looked quite astonished to see him.
“What are you doing here, Agent Key?” Juliana asked. “Did Astrid invite you along, as well?”
Asher smiled. “Indeed, she did not. It was a happy coincidence that brought us together this evening, as it happens.”
“Ah.” My two young wards glanced at each other, and I was certain a look of smug amusement passed between them. I lifted a suspicious eyebrow.
“Don't be impolite, darling,” Vera scolded her son.
“Yes, of course, Mother. Sorry. This is Juliana Coffin and Alexander Knightly. Juliana, Xander, this is my mother, Vera Key.”
Xander blinked in surprise. “Your mother?”
Vera lifted an eyebrow. Her expression was arch. “Honestly, is there something wrong these days with spending time with your mother, young man?”
Xander's ears turned pink. “No! No. Of course not. It is very nice, I'm sure. I was simply surprised, as I had not realised Asher was capable of taking leisure time.”
“Both Xander and I would be happy to spend time with our mothers,” Juliana said in a slightly softer voice than usual. “If we had the chance. They have both passed, you see.”
“Oh, you poor dears.” Vera threaded an arm through Juliana's to lead her to the dining room. “Come. You simply must join us for dinner.”
Asher slowed to allow his mother to lead my two wards towards the dining room. I could hear her telling Xander and Juliana about a most amusing incident in which a six-year-old Asher was caught by the local constabulary attempting to apprehend a young pickpocket he'd witnessed relieve a man of his purse in the market. The young pickpocket, by Vera's telling, had put up quite a fight, but the intractable young Asher had leapt upon the young thief's back until the policeman had arrived. The policeman, believing the young vigilante to be fighting, had taken him home by the ear and given him a very stern talking-to.
“All right, Astrid. Let me have it.”
“I'm sure I haven't any idea what you mean.”
He looked as though he did not quite believe me. “Since my father fell ill, my mother hasn't had many opportunities to take leisure.”
“I find it most endearing that you're spending your evening with her.”
He lifted an eyebrow. His mouth turned up at the corners in amusement. “Do you?”
“I miss my mother. I would have enjoyed taking in a circus with her.” I smiled at him. “So how have you been, Ash?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Much the same.”
“Ah. Traversing the globe, capturing dangerous villains and the like?”
“That does sound about right. And what of you? Have you taken any interesting cases since we thwarted that assassination plot in Prague?”
“One or two.”
“Do you intend to tell me on what you are currently working?” I waited until we were seated beside Xander and Juliana, who were so thoroughly engaged with Asher's mother that they hardly noticed us join them at the large, round, polished wood table. I smiled at Asher, who folded his red and white striped cloth napkin meticulously over his knees before giving me an expectant look. “I wondered when you might ask. You are always simply bursting with curiosity about my work. I have had time to consider the matter.”
He sighed in a long-suffering sort of way. “And to what conclusion did you come?”
“I am not certain it is appropriate to speak of it in mixed company.”
Asher let out a bark of laughter. It sounded much like his mother's. “If you mean my mother, I assure you she will pry it from you eventually.”
I waved my hand. “I do not speak of your mother. She seems quite clever. I can see from where you get it.”
“Is that an actual compliment, Astrid? I had not realised we'd moved into that stage in our relationship. Shall I reciprocate?” He considered a moment. “Your new hat is...really rather lurid.”
“You are poor at this. Do not become too excited, besides. It was merely an observation. In either case, we cannot be certain not to be overheard. My client is quite fearful for his life. He suspects there was some great degree of danger in enlisting my assistance with his problem.”
“Indeed? Danger? On the ship?”
“He believes so most wholeheartedly.”
He leaned keenly towards me. “I simply must know. I do enjoy a good show, but there is nothing like thwarting a wicked plot.”
I smiled. Indeed, I often felt the same. “My client suspects there is something sinister afoot on the ship. Hypnotism and the like, people disappearing from port to port.”
“Is that so? Is there any evidence of this?”
“Not as such. In fact, it sounds as though perhaps the guest simply snuck off the ship early in order to avoid our client.”
“Ah. I see.”
“He believes most emphatically that something has been done to his sister. He believes she has been altered somehow.”
“Altered? I'm sure I don't know what you mean.”
“Nor do I, truly. He claims she has changed since joining the troupe. She has become more serious and spends less time with her brother, by his account.”
“I see. But is there anything more substantial?”
“I'm afraid there is not. Not at all. I am under the distinct impression that the young funambulist has a particular flair for the dramatic.”
“Ah.” He smiled, but he did not say anything more, for an army of waiters stormed the dining room with trays of plates loaded with steaming meat and potatoes. The aroma was quite magnificent and reminded me that, in our haste to make the port on time, we had neglected our luncheon that afternoon. We waited to continue our conversation until our dinner was before us and our wine had been refilled. “So what is your plan, Astrid?”
I considered this as I sipped the crisp white wine. “I have not formed a plan, as such.”
Asher laughed. “That is much like you.”
“Is it not? I thought I would simply wing it.”
“Much as usual. I would, of course, be happy to offer my assistance in your investigation.” His cobalt eyes glittered as they slid to his mother. “I do love my mother, but she can be an exhausting companion.”
I smiled. “But won't she mind losing you?”
“I am sure she will make do. She is simply delighted to be away from home. I think she would be happy to spend all evening in the lounge, enjoying this rare freedom from responsibility and acquainting herself with anyone who might come too close.”
I laughed. “She is an accommodating women, to be sure. All right then, Ash. I am always happy
to avail myself of your particular expertise. I would like first to get a look at all our players during the show.”
“You mean you would like to get a look at the show.”
“Well, it is, after all, my payment for services rendered. I intend to do my very best for the young man just as soon as I've taken in the full enjoyment the evening offers.”
There was a naughty curve to his lips, but I elected to disregard it.
Our dinner passed companionably, and I enjoyed Vera's many amusing tales of a young Agent Asher Key. She was a wonderfully engaging speaker, and we nearly failed to notice the peculiarly gangly, emaciated man who appeared from behind a shimmering red curtain. He was not a handsome man. His features were worn and rugged. His short, dark hair was swept artlessly back from his face. His white and gold suit looked ill-fitting. It was slightly too short for him; his white socks peeked out from the hem above his shining white shoes.
He address the party in a low, rumbling voice. “If you would all please join me in the arena.” Without further ado, he swept the curtain aside and gestured gracelessly towards it.
“Not much of a speaker, is he?” Asher remarked.
“What a peculiar looking man,” Vera added.
“I do not think speaking is his primary function,” I said, folding my napkin carefully into fours and rising from my seat. “Shall we, then?”
Asher offered an arm to his mother. She waved him off. “I can make my way just fine on my own, young man.”
I smiled as Xander and Juliana moved together towards the arena, speaking softly with their heads together. Vera followed them,