Page 43 of Failure to Match

“Minerva did say that she required him to at least cooperate,” I said.

“Oh, that won’t matter,” Mabel insisted.

“You don’t know him very well yet, Miss Paquin, but believe you me, that boy issharp.”

“We taught him better than to lie, but he’ll speak in partial truths is what it is.”

“Give you just enough to satisfy your requirements, but leave out the parts that actually matter.”

I crossed my arms, leaning back again. “Okay. And how do you propose I get the information I need if he’s not going to give it to me?”

Molly sat up a little straighter. “Well, that’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

“We can’t give you the information outright, as that would be a breach of trust, but…”

“But we can guide you,” Molly finished. “Can’t we, Mabel?”

“I don’t see why not.”

I narrowed my eyes at their careful tone. “Guide me how, exactly?”

If the whole twin communication thing wasn’t just a myth, they were doing it right now with all the looks they were exchanging.

“Like, for example,” Mabel eventually said. “When Molly needed an excuse to visit you without raising any suspicion, she told me she was taking tea to the library. I believed her as that’s not an uncommon task at this hour. Or the next several.”

Ah.

I see.

“It’s where certain young masters go if they’ve had a particularly unpleasant day.”

“Or if they simply can’t sleep.”

“I got it, thank you,” I said when Molly opened her mouth, presumably to drop more hints.

“Good,” Molly said.

“Good,” Mabel agreed.

“Then our work here is done, isn’t it? We’re all in agreement.”

I hesitated. “I’m not sure if… I mean, it’s lovely that you’re both trying to help, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

They could give me all the correct information, and I could do my best to utilize it, but still. There was no guarantee it would work.

“Well, we won’t know unless we try, will we?” Molly said quietly.

“And either way, we appreciate you hearing us out, dear,” Mabel said as they both stood. “Enjoy the rest of the pastries. We’ll pick up the trays in the morning.”

“Wait.”

They both stopped, looking up at me with identically curious expressions.

“What was the other thing?” I asked Molly. “You said you needed two favors.”

According to the tick of Mabel’s brows, she didn’t know either.

Color bloomed across Molly’s cheeks, and she looked down, fixing her apron. “Yes, right, well. I was just going to say… I know you may not be too fond of him, and I can’t blame you for it, but…” Her words trailed off as she met my gaze. “He could really use a friend, you know. Someone closer to his own age. Someone not on his payroll.”

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