Where would he hear such things? Then again, not everyone had the aversion to airships her mother did. Someone could have run into him at a party in Boston- or even while he was traveling on business. It wasn't as if all of Los Angeles society didn't know of their situation.

Noli set the tray on the low table. "I ... I'll leave so you may talk."

Her mother's hand caught her. She looked into Noli's eyes. They said stay. Noli nodded and took a seat on the uncomfortable rose-covered settee, since her grandfather and mother occupied the two matching chairs. Everything in the room smelled faintly of disuse.

Mama, ever the lady, poured the tea. In the lamplight she looked older, rings around her usually jolly eyes, the faint wrinkles on her pale skin more p.r.o.nounced, though she still looked beautiful. Like a fine lady. Yet tonight, even her chestnut waves looked duller in its simple coif.

"Is it that dreadful for a woman to have her own business?" Her mother handed grandfather a cup of tea.

"You're a lady, not a woman. Also, owning it is one thing, actually engaging in the trade is something else." He went to add sugar to his tea and frowned.

"I'm sorry, we're out of white sugar," Noli muttered. "Yes, I opened a shop. But it's doing well." Her mother added milk and sugar to her own tea. Noli gripped her dainty cup, not adding either.

Grandfather's dark eyebrows rose, his hair the same color as her mother's, with only a touch of gray, which added elegance. "Well? Eady, if your shop was doing well you wouldn't be answering your own door in the dark and have no white sugar. How are you handling callers? Isn't Noli of that age?"

Her mother's cheeks pinked in two near-perfect circles, like on the doll Jeff had won her.

"We're doing the best we can, and Noli's going out into society and such. Yesterday she attended a tea." She looked to Noli. "Was Missy Sa.s.safras there? You really do need to get her recipe for scones. Food is the way to a man's heart, you know."

What was it with Missy Sa.s.safras and her ridiculously superior scones? Noli would rather dine with the high queen of the Otherworld than engage in willing conversation with that social-climbing dollymop.

"I thought Jeff was supporting you?" Grandfather prodded. "That's what you tell me every time I offer a.s.sistance."

"Mama's saving it for my dowry and the season," Noli half-lied as she clutched her tea. "We're planning on hiring a housekeeper. We just haven't yet. Good help truly is hard to find."

His eyes narrowed with an intensity that made her squirm. "Girls, don't lie to me."

"I'm sorry, Papa." Mama drooped over her teacup. "We tried the best we could. I ... I wanted to do things myself, and well, I kept hoping ... " Her eyes drifted to the photograph of Noli's father hanging on the blue striped walls.

"I'm shocked, utterly and totally shocked-that not only would you hide this from me, and outright lie, but that you would allow yourself to live like this. You are a Montgomery, Eady. Have you no pride?" Grandfather clucked his tongue in disappointment and even Noli's cheeks burned with shame.

Ironically pride was why her mother had hidden this from him.

"And what of your daughter? If all of Los Angeles society knows your plight, how do you expect her to marry befitting her station?" He gave her mother a look that had her writhing in her chair. His expression softened. "Oh, I see. That was why you mentioned coming to visit. Your mother would invite Noli to stay, she would accept, all would be well, and no one would be the wiser. Clever, clever girl." He patted Mama on the knee. "You and I are far too much alike. But truly, I don't appreciate you keeping things from me."

"I ... I'm sorry, Papa," she sniffed, pulling out a lacy handkerchief and dabbing her eyes.

"Pack your bags, we're leaving in the morning." He sipped his tea and Noli could see that he tried to not make a face as he swallowed. It wasn't very good tea, cheap and watered down.

"Papa, if I leave then Henry won't know where to find me when he returns." Her mother's knuckles whitened as she clutched the delicate teacup so tightly Noli feared it might break.

"Eady ... " Grandfather gave Mama a gentle look. "It's been nearly seven years. It's time."

Tears streamed down her mother's face. "No, Henry's coming back. He is."

"He'll look for you in Boston, Mama," Noli soothed, remembering Jeff's words and trying to be helpful. "It's his home, too."

"Noli, dear, is there any food in this place or do I need to get takeaway?" Grandfather asked. "I could take you out. How long has it been since you've had a nice supper?"

As nice as a good meal sounded, she couldn't stomach the thought of putting on a fine dress and going out to places where people like her grandfather dined and making nice with all the fake people and gossips.

"There are a few places open this time of the evening for takeaway. I'll help Mama pack." It might be beneficial for her mother to return to Boston, to not have to worry so much.

"You should go pack your own things." He smiled at her fondly. "If you forget anything, all you'll have to do is smile and your grandmamma will buy you whatever you wish."

Noli nearly dropped her teacup in her lap. "I'm going as well? But I don't want to go to Boston."

"Papa, we're fine, truly," her mother insisted.

"Balderdash. We are going to Boston tomorrow, all three of us. Noli, I can't leave you here unchaperoned. This is not up for negotiation." He held up a hand. "I'll come up with a suitable story-no one needs to know about your situation."

Mama sniffed into her crumpled handkerchief. "I've worked so hard."

"Sometimes hard work and good intentions aren't enough," he soothed. "It is better for everyone this way, truly." Grandfather stood. "Now, I am going to find something edible. You girls best get to packing."

Mama appeared in the doorway of Noli's room, a dark green dress in her arms. A dress meant for a Christmas ball V was supposed to accompany her to.

"Noli, pack this dress. It's unfinished, but it will be gorgeous when I'm done."

"I'm not going to Boston." Noli flopped onto her bed, the room only illuminated by the single candle lamp on her desk. "You said we didn't have to go." It came out more pout than intelligent argument as she stared up at the ceiling.

Her mother laid the dress on the back of the desk chair and sat down on the bed. "I ... I know. But what do you expect me to do, refuse?"

"Yes. You're a grown and married woman. Tell Grandfather we're staying here." She put her head on her mother's knee. Part of her wanted to believe that Boston wouldn't be so dreadful. Soon the holidays would be upon them with parties and b.a.l.l.s, then the season. Grandmother would certainly make sure her entry into society was wellappointed; perhaps she'd even throw Noli a ball of her very own.

No. Noli shoved the thoughts of parties and gowns aside. There's more to life than b.a.l.l.s.

Like what? the sprite argued. I want a ball.

"Noli, are you well?" Mama's brows furrowed. "You have that look on your face. I ... " Her mother eased Noli off her and stood, going to the trunk at the foot of the bed, which had barely been unpacked. It had finally returned from her misadventures at Findlay House.

Her mother opened the trunk, making three efficient piles on the bed.

Instead of helping, Noli lay on the bed, staring. Unless physically forced, she would not go to Boston. The possibility of that scenario did exist. Many women needed to be sedated for airship travel-her mother included.

"As much as I adore your random bouts of ladylikeness and how you've grown out of your awkward phase, you ... " Her mother added a ball gown to a pile as her lips pursed in a way which meant she was forming her words carefully. "You haven't been quite right since Findlay. There, I've said it." The piles grew as she sorted with rapidfire quickness. "I know you're upset about V, and I'm not saying that we should to go to Boston to find someone else for you, I'm saying that we should go to Boston for a fresh start. This isn't a new idea; we've spoken about this before. It might be good for both of us to begin anew." She turned to Noli's wardrobe, adding clothing to one of the piles.

Wait, could her mother wish to go back? Noli knew she'd been missing Boston lately, but hadn't given much thought how their situation might wear on her mother. How she might wish to return home to Boston, permanently, but hadn't wanted to give up on both her shop and Father. That, to her mother, this surprise visit might be a blessing in disguise.

Noli eyed Mama, who didn't appear to be too upset by the whole situation, despite her small protests in the parlor. "True, a fresh start may not be a bad thing, but you know Grandmamma, she'll have me married off by Christmas." Mama piled shoes in the bottom of the now-empty trunk. "She isn't that quick-it would take her at least to the end of the season. We'll tell her that the matchmaking needs wait."

"What if ... " If Noli didn't speak now, she'd wake up in her grandfather's house in Boston, her social calendar for the next year full.

"What is it?" Her mother filled the trunk with the contents of her wardrobe and dresser-nightdresses, gloves, corsets, petticoats, handbags ...

Noli drew her knees to her chest. "It's not that I don't wish to get married, because I do ... eventually. But my dream is to attend the university and become a botanist. Not all men oppose women being educated. V and I talked about going to the university together. There are coeducational ones and some where the men's and women's universities are next to each other."

"You what?" It didn't come out harshly, but more surprised, as Mama held up one of Noli's gowns, frowned, and placed it in a different pile on the bed. "When did you decide that?"

"When I was seven and father brought me to that lecture at the botanical gardens." Noli smiled, remembering that day and how grownup she felt to go with him. "I get good marks in my science cla.s.ses. My botany teacher even offered to write me a letter. He thinks I could get a scholarship." Of course, he also mentioned she'd have a better chance if she excelled in all her cla.s.ses, not only the ones she liked.

Her mother nodded, examining a walking dress, then folding it and putting it in the trunk. "I remember you and your father discussing those plans in great depths when you were small, but I didn't realize that was what you still wanted."

Because her mother disapproved so heavily of higher education that after their father disappeared Noli stopped talking about it. To everyone. Only recently with V's support had she talked to a few of her teachers about the possibility of attending a university next year. At this point Noli wasn't picky, nearly any university that offered botany would do. V had his sights set on a good school, Ivy League even.

"I ... I didn't know." Mama held up a dress from one of the piles then put it in the trunk. "I suppose we could look into it, but to what end? It's not as if a degree in botany will help you find a husband or manage a household. Can one even be a botanist and have a family?"

Noli glowered as her mother continued to stuff her trunk with finery. "I should think so."

Taking the unfinished dress, her mother laid it on top of the packed trunk and closed the lid. "There, all packed. Let me gather a few hats." She looked at Noli and sighed. "Noli, if it's that important to you, we'll consider it. However, I'm not guaranteeing it will happen. A term or two would be better than none at all." Her mother opened and closed hat boxes, placing a few on top of the trunk. "Maybe you'll meet someone of interest."

A term or two? She didn't want to go for a little while or to meet a husband or any of that poppyc.o.c.k. That's exactly what would happen if she went to Boston; if she even managed to convince them to permit her attend in the first place.

"I don't want to go." Noli scowled. She'd promised V she wouldn't let them marry her off. If she wasn't here when he returned, he'd know where to look. Perhaps she'd leave him a note in the tree house. Yes, that's what she'd do.

"Don't be difficult." Her mother's tired eyes met hers. "Please. Just come without being argumentative and we'll figure it all out." Mama sat down on the bed and wrapped her arms around Noli. "I love you so much, this is all for the best. Truly."

"I love you, too, Mama." She hugged her back. Her mother had the best of intentions, but the pressure to marry would be stifling. Not, that it seemed, she had any choice. Like it or not, she was going to Boston.

Noli crept into the dark backyard in her only nightdress, a note clutched in her hand. The cool fall night air made her shiver as her bare feet padded across the cold dirt and gra.s.s. V's house was dark and odds were he and James had already left on their quest. She had full faith that they would accomplish the task. Those two could do anything.

Scrambling up tree, like she had a million times, she put the letter to V in the hidey-hole they had for that very purpose. It told V where she was, so he wouldn't worry. As she climbed down, she heard a soft whir behind her.

"Noli, why are you in the backyard in your nightdress? It's a little late to be out, isn't it?" Jeff whispered, landing his hoverboard in the backyard, dressed exactly as he had been earlier.

"Oh, I was leaving a note for V."

Jeff smirked, raking a hand through his short, dark curls. Her eyes welled with tears as she thought of how much had happened since her brother had dropped her off earlier today.

"What's wrong?" He climbed off the hoverboard and pulled her to him.

She softy, and quickly, told him everythingV ending their courtship, Grandfather arriving, and them departing for Boston in the morning.

"I don't want to go to Boston," Noli hiccupped.

"Then don't." He cupped her cold face with his warm hand. "Come with me. Work on the ship as our engineer, save money for university, and become a botanist. Let Mother go. She'll be taken care of and neither one of us will have to worry about her anymore."

Noli gazed at her dark house, even in the moonlight she could see how worn it was compared to the others on the block. If their mother were taken care of and happy then leaving wouldn't be so bad. As much as she didn't wish to become an air pirate, her desire to go to Boston was a thousand times less.

Resigned, she nodded, belly clenching at the thought that she'd actually go through with this mad notion. "I need to change my note. Good thing my trunk is already packed."

Jeff's eyebrows rose, goggles still on. "I can't carry you and a trunk on my hoverboard. The weight would crash us immediately"

Her cheeks warmed. "You're right. Could I bring a small valise? I think I can compensate for it balance-wise."

"Pack light." He took out his pocket watch and checked the time. "Be fast."

Scrambling back up the tree, she fixed the note with a stub of pencil she'd stashed in a tin can in the corner. V would find her and they'd take everything from there.

She returned to the house, heart thumping so loud she feared it might wake her mother. Was she truly doing this? Stealing off in the middle of the night with Jeff to go work on an airship? The thought made her so giddy her hands shook.

Pack light. That would be difficult considering she was leaving forever.

Fortunately, she had a solution. Noli lit the candle lamp and dumped the contents of her valise on her bed. She'd packed it for the airship to Boston filled with necessities and amus.e.m.e.nts. The necessities went back in, along with the new copy of Nichomanchan Ethics V had given her, her parents' wedding picture, the botany book from her father, the doll, Charlotte's hair, and the magazine with the pattern.

She opened her trunk and threw some of the dresses into the bag along with other things-nightdresses, shoes, corsets, undergarments, even a few hats, sans boxes. This valise was magic, something she'd gotten in the Otherworld. The small bag could fit more than her trunk and weighed less than her parasol-which also went into the bag along with the precious dresses she'd brought back from the Otherworld and hid. In she tossed her goggles, ap.r.o.n, cap, a couple of books, and work gloves. Things she'd need as a ship's engineer.

Anything else?

Noli scanned the room and added a few more things including her tool-belt, a leather bracelet Charlotte made her, and a small knife from James. Opening her jewelry box she withdrew an old bra.s.s key on a green ribbon. It was the key to the faery garden at Findlay House. She wasn't sure why she took it, but there was magic in that key, she could feel it even if V couldn't. If she didn't take it, she'd probably regret it at some point.

She changed into a blue dress her mother had made out of a sketch from Charlotte. It was Noli's attempt to meld the comfort of her Otherworld dresses with the propriety of mortal fashion. The blue dress hung a little shorter, allowing for freedom movement and preventing the need for a hoop skirt. Trim dangled from the bell sleeves, which could be kilted up to tackle tasks. Trimmed fabric swooped each hip and the waist was cinched with a belt reminiscent of the waist cinchers and corsets worn in the Otherworld outside of clothing, but looked more the belt than the undergarment. Often she used her tool-belt instead.

Taking a sc.r.a.p of paper, she scrawled a quick note to her mother.

Dear Mama, I love you, I love you so much. But I can't go to with you. I'm sorry.

Go to Boston and start over. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.

None of this is your fault. I promise. You're the best mother a girl could want and I hope to see you again someday. Give everyone in Boston my love.

Always, Noli A sense of finality coated her, clinging to her skin, as she clutched her valise and gazed around her room one last time. This was it. Her mother would return to Boston and this would never be home again-not in the way it was.

Wiping a tear from her eye, she blew out the candle lamp, put her good cape around her shoulders, and grabbed some black gloves and dark blue bonnet. Goodbye room.

Noli crept down the hallway, boots in her hand. She paused in front of her mother's closed door. "I love you," she whispered.

Padding down the stairs, she grabbed her tool box and her magnifying goggles from the sewing room and shoved those in her valise. She pulled on her boots and bonnet, tucked the small knife inside her boot, then turned in a circle in the kitchen, taking one last look. Goodbye house. Sniffing, she walked out into the cold night.

Jeff stood outside the back door, stamping his feet and blowing on his hands. "It's about time." He tugged on her cape, the same one she'd worn earlier. "A little fancy for an airship."

"It keeps me warm." Not all places were as temperate as Los Angeles.

They climbed on the hoverboard, Noli adjusting her stance for the weight of the bag, arms wrapped around her brother.

"You're doing the right thing, Noli," he a.s.sured as they rose into the sky.

Goodbye Los Angeles. As bittersweet as this was, excitement built within her. After all, she was running away with an air pirate.

Four.

The Vixen's Revenge.