I pushed myself forward on Christian's legs, bristling at the way she told him what he could do. "If Christian wants to—"
"He doesn't want to, though, do you, Christian?" Joy said, her eyebrows wiggling meaningfully.
Raphael groaned and pulled her back from where she had been leaning forward. "No. I absolutely forbid it. One was enough. No more. We're going to have a quiet life from now on."
"Of course we are," Joy said, absently patting Raphael's leg.
I looked at Roxy. She grinned at me. I looked at Christian. He looked thoughtful. Noelle just looked confused. I knew how she felt; I was as confused as she was.
Is it so that all women are born matchmakers? Christian said into my mind.
I looked again at Noelle, an idea dawning in my mind, a slow smile curving my lips. "I'm afraid Joy is right, Noelle. Christian is going to be very busy for a long while. But I'm sure any of his friends, his Moravian friends, would be happy to help you with your book." I turned to look at Christian. "Didn't you tell me that Sebastian had gone to track down the other Trust houses and check them for victims? That means he'll be in the country for a bit."
"Allegra…"
I ignored the warning note in Christian's voice and smiled again at Noelle. Roxy and Joy smiled with me. She backed up a step under the onslaught of so much smile wattage.
"I'm sure he'd be delighted to talk to you when he returns."
"Erm… yes, that's a possibility. Well, it's been lovely, but I must be on my way. Mummy has been called to a terrible Hecatoncheires outburst, and I promised I'd help her."
"Hecatoncheires?" Roxy asked. "What's that?"
"A nasty little monster with fifty heads and one hundred hands. Ta, everyone! Oh, Allie." Noelle stopped at the door and turned back toward me, reaching into her pocket. "Before I forget, I found these as well. I thought you might want them back."
Six filthy, stained, dust-, dirt-, and plaster-laden bobbles glowed softly in her hand.
"The ghosts!" I leaped up from Christian's lap, scooping the bobbles gently into my hand. "They bobbled themselves! They're all here!"
Noelle smiled. "I told you they would be helpful."
"And smart." Roxy nodded.
I set the bobbles carefully in a blue-and-green Venetian glass bowl and called the names one after another. "Esme, Antonio, Jem, Alis, Honoria, Mr. Woogums, I Summon you."
They all appeared, all their dear forms, even the petulant little Honoria looking relatively pleased at being called forth. Jem, the possessor of the sat-upon bobble, was a bit worse for wear, but at least he could talk again.
"Borrowed a tongue," he told me. I didn't want to know where he borrowed it from, so I just thanked him for his help, and told him how happy I was to see him again.
"I was never in my life so frightened; you simply have no idea what it is to throw oneself willy-nilly at a demon lord!" Esme told Roxy. "I was vicious, though; I truly was. I berated him soundly for his cruel actions, and then I lectured him—yes, I did!—about the state he'd let his hair and fingernails get into. 'Just because one is an inhabitant of hell does not mean one has to let oneself go,' I said to him. Well, that gave him something to think about, as you might well imagine!"
Antonio watched with sad puppy eyes as Christian, who had been listening to Jem tell how he had Asmodeus in a headlock, followed by a mangier move, strolled over to me and slid his arm around my waist. "You 'ave given yourself to him, corazón. I was sure you would save yourself for me. We would 'ave found a way to be together."
"I gave my heart to Christian before I Summoned you, Antonio. You knew there could never be anything between us."
Antonio's lower lip pouted for a moment, then sucked itself back in as he straightened up and smoothed down his doublet. "You will have girl children. Lots of girl children. One of them will grow up and see me and know that she is mine, yes?"
Christian started to protest, but I stopped him. "I'm sure any daughters we have would be smitten with you, but you can't mean to stay here, Antonio. I'm positive I can Release you; it's just a matter of having the time to figure out the proper quantities of ginseng. Now that the threat of Asmodeus is taken care of, I can devote myself to working out the problems so I can Release you." I waved a hand to include the other ghosts. "Release all of you."
"No! Oh, my dear, you wouldn't do that to me! To us!"
"I will never leave you, corazón! You may grow tired of the dead one, and wish me to comfort you."
"Don't want t'be Released. I want t'see who'll be left on Survivor."
Alis said something incomprehensible. Esme nodded. "She's absolutely right."
Mr. Woogums piddled on the carpet.
Christian sighed in my ear. I am adding to my list the condition that future Beloveds not have any ghosts attached to them.
I stepped firmly on his foot and looked at Honoria. "Well? You've heard the others; they refuse to go on. Do you want me to Release you or not?"
She looked around the room, skipping over Roxy, Joy, and Raphael, frowning at Antonio, ignoring Alis and Jem, wrinkling her nose at the ghostly puddle of cat piddle, finally settling her gaze on Esme. "I want to stay with Esme. I want to watch more Buffy."
"Buffy?" Christian asked, stiffening.
I smiled at everyone. "Well, I guess that's settled, then. I'm sure you'll all find Christian's castle in the Moravian highlands more than roomy enough."
"Buffy as in, the vampire slayer?"
Roxy snickered.
"Christian says the castle is haunted, so perhaps we'll get to meet some new friends!" I added cheerfully.
"The one who slays vampires? That Buffy?'
Raphael got to his feet and pulled Joy to hers. "I believe this is our cue to leave. Come along Roxy; I'll help you pack."
She trailed Joy and Raphael out the door, pausing to pat Christian on the shoulder. "I'm sure she's too young yet to learn how to focus her energy. I mean, it must take a great amount of concentration for a ghost to be able to wield a hammer and stake, don't you think?"
I pushed her out the door and closed it, then opened it and stuck my head out, saying, "Thank you all for everything!" before closing it behind me again.
Antonio eyed Christian's chest, his fingers stroking his beard. "A 'ammer and stake. Why 'ave I never thought of that?"
"I will be happy to give you something to think about," Christian warned as he started toward Antonio, who promptly drew out his sword. Alis wandered over to her favorite vase and started yelling at it. Esme held Mr. Woogums above the puddle he'd left, and scolded him. Honoria and Jem squabbled over who got control of the TV remote.
I sighed happily and leaned back against the door, my eyes catching Christian's as he withstood Antonio's rapier attack.
We will have them forever, you know, Beloved. So long as we live, so shall they exist.
I know. But somehow, with you standing next to me, I think I can bear just about anything.
Antonio lunged with a particularly cruel thrust to Christian's heart.
He sighed in my head as he waved Antonio's image away. I would not tolerate this for any other woman, malý váleèník. Only for my Beloved will I sacrifice my peace.
I laughed and stepped forward into his waiting arms. "We really are going to have to work on this arrogant attitude of yours."