Page 29 of Air Of Mystery
My jaw dropped in surprise. I’d been trying to get permission to do an investigation without success at the mansion foryears. Yes, I’d been at their annual Halloween Ball, and had stayed overnight at the hotel for Cordelia’s wedding, but I’d been there as an attendee or a guest, not as an investigator.
“Would you allow me to bring all of my equipment along?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said easily.
“And my team George and Larry, they can be there too allowing for a proper investigation?”
“Sounds like fun.” As she spoke Gabriella reached out and pulled Archer away from his twin. “Stop poking at your sister,” she told the boy.
“I’dloveto shoot an episode from the mansion!” I told her immediately.
“Our PR person, Nicole, brought up the idea at our last meeting,” Gabriella explained. “She thought combining the popularity of your YouTube channel with the month of October when our ghost tours are booming would be a perfect way to cross-promote.”
I could see the merit, and I agreed. “Were there any specific dates you had in mind?”
Charlie politely excused himself and went inside the library to return his books. A part of me wondered if he was using the task to avoid hearing about my channel or if he was simply on a schedule...
“Tell you what,” Gabriella said. “Why don’t you come up to the mansion and we’ll sit down with Nicole and Philippe and go over all the particulars?”
I nodded. “Whenever you like.”
Gabriella hooked her arm through mine. “Great. Let’s go right now.”
I had a moment to regret not having the chance to have Amanda help me in my historical research... However, when something this good falls into your lap, you have to roll with it. “I’ll go get my car and follow you up to the mansion,” I told her.
“Can I ride with you, Skye?” Danielle wanted to know.
“If it’s okay with your mom,” I said, and then thought to ask, “Do you need a car seat?”
In return I was given a withering look. “No. I’m not a baby.”
“Hey!” Archer and Celeste objected to that comment in unison.
Gabriella neatly stepped between Danielle and the twins. “So long as she rides in the back seat.”
“Got it,” I said with a nod. “My car is parked right down the street.”
“When you arrive at the mansion head toward the eastern wing and go around to the back, and park by the carriage house,” Gabriella directed as we parted.
Much as her mother had done, Danielle tucked her arm in mine and the two of us started off. She pointed at the hot pink bag that I still carried. “Did you get some soap from my Aunt Camilla?”
“Sure did,” I said as we walked to my car.
The ride up to the mansion was a short one, and Danielle was chattering away about the summer reading program at the library—hence the new book bags.
“What books did you read when you were little?” Danielle asked.
“Nancy Drewmysteries were my favorite,” I told her.
“Did you have any spell books?” she asked next.
“A few,” I answered easily.
“Mamansays I have to wait until I’m thirteen to read her spell books.” Danielle sighed. “I don’t see why I can’t start learning now.”
Knowing the Daughters of Midnight as I did, I was willing to bet that Danielle had already been taught quite a bit.
“Aunt Camilla says my mother needs to loosen up,” Danielle added.
