Page 13 of Live To Tell

“Stop pushing me,” snaps Violet. “Or you'll regret the decision.”

“You'd attack a staff member? I thought you wanted to remain at Thornwood.”

“I'm not leaving this room for you to take the tiara!” she snaps again.

“And I'm not leaving here until you do. If you go now, I won't report you.”

“Why not?” Violet replies.

Mrs. Eldridge’s brow tugs. “You want me to report you?”

“No. Because I bet you're not supposed to be here. I don't believe Mrs. Lorcan would tell you the tiara is in here, because she told me nobody knows where she placed it apart from her. I'll report you if the tiara is missing tomorrow.” Violet jabs a finger at her. “I'm onto you, Mrs. Eldridge.”

Sighing, I take Violet's hand and squeeze. “Random accusations never help, Violet.”

“This woman knows what the tiara is and wants to steal it!”

The more agitated Violet becomes, the less likely I can keep her mouth or attitude in check. “I'd rather nobody knew I'd snuck in here, Violet,” I tell her. “Let’s go before Mrs. Eldridge changes her mind.”

“I have no intention of taking the tiara,” says Mrs. Eldridge. “I protect artifacts and have respect for them; I have no desire to possess a dangerous one. If the tiara is missing tomorrow, there'll be one culprit. You.”

“Violet doesn't have the item,” I say. “And we're leaving now.” No response from the light of my life. “Violet?”

“This is wrong!” says Violet tersely and walks towards where Mrs. Eldridge still stands in the doorway. “Mark my words, I will bring you to justice if you steal the tiara.”

“Dear me, such melodrama. Justice for what?”

“The murder.” Violet reins back in her control and watches for Mrs. Eldridge's reaction.

“Sienna isn't dead, you silly girl.”

Uh oh. Violet's pissed energy spikes at the woman's continuing condescension, but at least Violet has the sense and self-control not to divulge anything else about the tiara and her suspicions.

Straightening her shoulders, Violet edges by the librarian. “Well, Dorian will no doubt arrive to retrieve this tomorrow.”

“Interesting. You'd risk stealing the tiara if you think your father’s coming to collect it?” she replies.

I give Mrs. Eldridge a tight smile, the stone and bottle in my pockets weighing heavier as she looks at me. “Violet's concerned, that's all. We'll leave now.”

“Concerned? There are many words I'd use to describe the girl, and that isn't the one I'd pick.”

“Good grief,” mutters Violet as I maneuver her towards the doorway.

“Go before she changes her mind,” I repeat.

“Of course, she won't change her mind,” says Violet. “The woman isn't supposed to be sneaking around down here either.”

Throwing an unimpressed look over her shoulder, Violet stalks away towards the stone steps.

We might not have the tiara, but I have something Violet will be extremely interested in. And something else I’m unsure why I took.

Chapter 6

VIOLET

I sit on Rowan's bed and unscrew the lid from the small plastic bottle, then sniff. Unmistakably the aniseed scent that I could barely stomach the first few times I took this potion. “You found the bottle on a shelf in the artifacts room?”

He nods. I take a sip.

---