Witches Incorporated Part 10

"Her Royal Highness?" Permelia said in a strangled voice. "Princess Melissande?"

"Well, yes," said Melissande. "I'm afraid so."

"I see," said Permelia faintly. "Of course. Well. Do forgive me, it appears I-I didn't recognise you without your bustle."

"Oh, Your Highness!" cried Eudora, s.n.a.t.c.hing up Melissande's hand and hanging onto it like a life preserver. "Oh, please, please, you have to help us! Please. It's ever so important! In fact it's a matter of life and death!'

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Life and death?" said Melissande, discreetly attempting to retrieve her hand from Eudora Telford's fervent clutches. "Really? How very alarming. Well, of course we'll help you, if we can. And for a very reasonable fee."

"Oh thank you, thank you," the woman said, breathless all over again. "I knew we were right to come to you, I knew-"

"Eudora Telford," said her disapproving friend. "Do stop fawning. It's most unattractive in a woman of your age. Especially as you and the princess have not been formally introduced."

Eudora Telford blushed bright red. "Oh-oh, how awful of me!" she choked. "How embarra.s.sing. Such a social solecism. I'm quite beyond the pale."

Finally released from the poor woman's desperate adoration, Melissande cleared her throat, uncomfortable. "Oh no, truly, it's-"

"Eudora being Eudora," said Permelia Wycliffe bitingly. "Alas." Lips pinched in additional, silent criticism, she advanced like a wars.h.i.+p under full sail. "Allow me to introduce myself, Your Highness. Miss Permelia Wycliffe. Of the Ravenscroft Wycliffes. Not to be confused with the Lormley Wycliffes, who now find themselves genealogically extinct." There was no "alas" this time. The addendum And serve them right wasn't spoken aloud but nevertheless, the words hovered in the air.

Melissande looked at Permelia Wycliffe's gloved and outstretched hand.

I could be wrong, but I thought I was the one meant to make the first move. And isn't she supposed to be curtseying or something? I am a princess, after all...

Except Ottosland had long since shrugged off the oppressive shackles of monarchy-Monk's words, not hers-and now took a positive delight in putting visiting royalty in its place. Although apparently no-one had thought to mention that to Eudora Telford. Banished to the back seat of this encounter, she was bobbing up and down like a cork in a stream.

The part of Melissande that was related to Lional p.r.i.c.kled in the face of Permelia Wycliffe's overbearing condescension. But with penury looming this was no time to indulge offended feelings.

"Miss Wycliffe, it's a pleasure," she said, decorously shaking the woman's hand.

"Likewise," said Permelia Wycliffe. "Doubtless you have heard of my brother, Mister Ambrose Wycliffe. He heads the Wycliffe family firm. The Wycliffe Airs.h.i.+p Company, established fifty-two years ago by my distinguished, world-famous late father Mister Orville Wycliffe." Her disciplined eyebrows lifted, inviting a response.

"The Wycliffe Airs.h.i.+p Company," Melissande murmured, playing for time. No, she'd never heard of it. Her acquaintance with airs.h.i.+ps was severely limited, since New Ottosland had never gone in for newfangled contraptions. Installing their own portal had practically caused a revolution. "Ah-"

"Her Highness hasn't long been among us in Ottosland, Permelia," said Eudora, as her daunting companion's thin face froze with disapproval. "And when at home in New Ottosland she travels by royal carriage, of course. But now that she's here among us, living incognito-so romantic!-doubtless she wishes to maintain her anonymity, which she couldn't do if she travelled with the best of the best on a Wycliffe airs.h.i.+p."

"Ah," said Permelia Wycliffe, barely thawing. "Incognito. Yes. Although there is the matter of that photograph in the Times..."

"A mistake," said Melissande grimly. "Believe me."

"Incognito," Permelia Wycliffe repeated. "I see. Doubtless that accounts for Your Highness's... unorthodox... attire. Unless... perhaps you dress yourself in the costume of your native land? New Ottosland is a colony, after all. I believe colonials can be... eccentric."

On her ram skull, Reg was wheezing with half-strangled laughter. And Bibbie was clearly biting the insides of her cheeks. They were far too easily amused, both of them.

Melissande fought to keep her expression welcoming. Eccentric? Trousers aren't eccentric, you silly woman. Eccentric is my brother turning himself into a dragon.

"Actually, I prefer the term 'practical'. You should give trousers a try, Miss Wycliffe. They might give you a whole new outlook on life."

Permelia Wycliffe's haughty expression congealed. "Indeed. What a quaint suggestion."

"Oh yes, that's our Mel," said Bibbie cheerfully. "Quaint as anything."

Melissande shot her a quelling look, then returned her attention to Permelia. "And your charming a.s.sociate, Miss Wycliffe? Since we seem to be making our formal introductions?"

"Yes. Of course," said Permelia Wycliffe, reluctantly co-operative. "This is Miss Eudora Telford. My secretary."

"And bosom friend," Eudora Telford added, bobbing up and down some more. "Such an honour. Such a pleasure. So regal. So distinguished."

"Regal and distinguished, exactly!" said Bibbie, outrageously beaming. "That's our Princess Melissande to a T. Just like her brother King Rupert the First! Of course you must've heard of him." She s.n.a.t.c.hed the Times from Melissande's hand and waved the front page under Permelia Wycliffe's nose. "He's regal and distinguished, too. And handsome. Don't you agree he's a handsome king?"

"Oh yes," breathed Eudora, before Permelia could speak. "Terribly handsome and distinguished! A positive jewel of a monarch. I've read all about him in the Times and the Ladies' Almanac."

Melissande frowned. While she unashamedly adored Rupert, only a woman with a bag over her head could honestly call him handsome. So this appeared to be yet another case of unrequited adoration from afar. Poor Rupert. Ever since ascending New Ottosland's throne he'd been inundated by pa.s.sionate expressions of affection from all over the world. It seemed a crown was the most potent yet indiscriminate aphrodisiac ever discovered.

"I'm sure he'd be moved by such beautiful compliments, Miss Telford," she said. "Now, you mentioned something about a matter of life and death...?"

Eudora rallied. "Oh yes, Your Highness. Of course. Please, do forgive me. Such a rattletrap, I am, and a regular fusty gossip. So sorry. So very sorry."

Really, she was the most horribly damp woman. Perhaps it wasn't surprising that overbearing Permelia Wycliffe squashed her at every opportunity. Perhaps it was even understandable. Anyone spending any length of time in Eudora Telford's company must surely end up wringing wet.

"Oh, there's no need to apologise, Miss Telford. I appreciate it's not always easy to discuss personal problems."

"We have not come here to discuss Eudora's personal problems," said Permelia. "We have come in response to a disgraceful situation in the Guild. A situation that must be remedied before untold damage is done to the sterling international reputation I have worked so long and hard to build."

Guild? International reputation? What was the dreadful woman going on about? But before she could betray her woeful ignorance Bibbie stepped forward, her expression suspiciously earnest.

"Then you must tell us all about it, Miss Wycliffe," she said, her voice hushed. "We can't have trouble in Ottosland's world famous Baking and Pastry Guild. Indeed, Witches Inc. is honoured that its president would bring the Guild's problems to us."

Baking and Pastry Guild? President? What? How did Bibbie know that? Melissande looked at Reg, who seemed just as surprised, then back at Permelia Wycliffe. The woman was perilously close to letting her jaw drop in shock.

"So you are familiar with the Baking and Pastry Guild, Miss Markham?" she said, eyebrows raised disbelievingly. "I must confess to some surprise. I don't believe we've had the pleasure of seeing you at one of our... at our... at... oh." She cleared her throat. "Markham? Surely you're not-am I correct in surmising-do you mean to tell me that you are-"

"Yes, Miss Wycliffe," said Bibbie, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I am related to Antigone Markham. She was my great-aunt, as a matter of fact."

"Indeed," said Permelia, her nostrils pinching as she plumbed new depths of disapproval. Beside her, Eudora Telford was making little squeaking sounds. "And how can it be that you have failed to follow in her ill.u.s.trious footsteps? Surely the great-niece of Antigone Markham is sensible of her obligations to the n.o.blest calling to which any woman of breeding may aspire!"

"Oh I am, I am," said Bibbie, adopting an air of martyred tragedy. She'd even managed to put a sob in her voice. "And it's because I am sensible to them that you've not seen me in your hallowed Guild's halls, Miss Wycliffe. Alas, I am bereft of Aunt Antigone's talent for shortcrust. I felt I would've been betraying her if I'd asked you to overlook my lack of apt.i.tude just because of my familial connections." Another small, artistic sob. "Please, Miss Wycliffe. Don't ask me to explain further. As I'm sure you can imagine, it's a painful subject."

Permelia Wycliffe was transformed into a monument to sympathy. "Poor child. You have my sincere condolences and my heartfelt admiration. That you would so revere your great-aunt's legacy as to not sully the memory of her magnificence-I am speechless with approbation."

On her ram skull, Reg was back to chortling like a kettle. Eudora Telford seemed close to tears of wors.h.i.+pful joy. With nothing useful to contribute, Melissande warily let Bibbie have the floor. Tiny alarm bells were ringing in the back of her mind. Monk's sister might have Permelia Wycliffe eating from the palm of her hand now... but in her experience, the Permelias of the world were fickle in their approval. One injudiciously uttered sentiment, one expressed opinion that deviated from the acceptable, and the air would swiftly freeze solid again.

And then of course I'll be the one picking up the agency's pieces.

She tried to semaph.o.r.e as much to Bibbie with her eyebrows, but Bibbie was resolutely paying no attention.

"Thank you, Miss Wycliffe," she said, one hand pressed to her heart. "I can't begin to tell you how that makes me feel."

"You see, Permelia?" quavered Eudora Telford. "It was meant that we should come here for a.s.sistance. Her Royal Highness and sainted Antigone Markham's great-niece will save the day!"

"Yes indeed," said Bibbie robustly. "There's nothing we'd like better. Isn't that right, Miss Cadwallader?"

Willing Reg to stop snickering, Melissande crossed her fingers behind her back. "Absolutely, Miss Markham. Saving the day is what we live for."

"So, Miss Wycliffe-forgive me, Madam President," said Bibbie. "How exactly does the day need saving? What is it you'd like Witches Inc. to do for the Guild?"

Permelia Wycliffe lifted her chin as though she'd just received a challenge. "Miss Markham, you can unmask a villain!"

"Happy to," said Bibbie. "Does this villain have a name?"

"Millicent Grimwade," said Permelia, through tightly pinched lips. "The most sly, underhanded, dishonest, deceitful and third-rate cook the Guild has ever known!"

"Really?" said Bibbie. "She's that bad? Then-if I might be so bold as to ask-how is it she was admitted to the ranks of the ill.u.s.trious sisterhood?"

Two bright spots of colour burned hotly in Permelia Wycliffe's thin cheeks. "Allow me to a.s.sure you, Miss Markham, that had I been Guild President when her application was submitted she would have been summarily refused the honour! Unfortunately my predecessor lacked the ac.u.men essential to the august position of Guild President."

"It's an absolute tragedy, Miss Markham," added Eudora Telford, when it appeared Permelia Wycliffe was momentarily overcome. "Because Millicent's been cheating. Brazenly cheating. And if we don't put a stop to it she'll win this year's Golden Whisk uncontested."

"The honour of the Guild is at stake," said a recovered Permelia, eyes glittering. "It is unthinkable that the likes of Millicent Grimwade should receive our highest accolade."

"It certainly is," said Eudora, choking with emotion. "Why, Permelia's won the Whisk for the last sixteen years, ever since she became our president. Everybody knows she's the best cook in the Guild. Why, her Chocolate Rum Tart is renowned throughout Ottosland. When it failed to win its division in this year's first county fair, well, we knew something dreadful was going on. And it's still going on, because Permelia's been defeated by Millicent at every county fair this year. It's-it's unheard of!"

Melissande exchanged a glance with Reg, who rolled her eyes, then cleared her throat. Time for her to rejoin the conversation before Bibbie enthusiastically committed them to a case they couldn't possibly solve. To a case that wasn't even a case, but simply a matter of sour grapes.

"Ah... that sounds very... disheartening, Miss Wycliffe," she said with care. "But I'm obliged to point out to you that any understandable disappointment over your recent defeats isn't proof of illegal behaviour. How is it you're so sure that Millicent Grimwade is cheating? I mean, do you have any proof?"

Permelia Wycliffe looked at her as though she were an idiot. "Of course I have proof," she said, witheringly. "The proof is that I've yet to win a single baking contest. You may rest a.s.sured, Miss Cadwallader, that Millicent Grimwade is using some kind of thaumaturgical charm to influence the judges or enhance the quality of her cakes or something equally nefarious. It's the only explanation for her unprecedented success."

Melissande stared. The only explanation? Was Permelia Wycliffe serious?

The woman is obsessed. Most likely delusional. And when we can't prove there's been cheating of any kind by this Millicent Grimwade-because who would cheat at baking cakes? The idea's ridiculous!-this appalling Wycliffe woman is going to sue us for inadequate representation. Or at the very least tell every one she meets not to touch Witches Incorporated with a forty-foot barge pole. And then we really will go out of business.

No matter how long it took she was going to find that wretched photographer from the Times, and when she found him she was going to stuff Monk's sprite down the front of his unmentionables.

Strangely, Bibbie didn't seem at all disconcerted or disbelieving. Instead she was frowning. "I must apologise for my colleague, Miss Wycliffe. Not being of the Guild, she doesn't understand. It goes without saying that if you're convinced Millicent Grimwade is cheating then she is. After all, they don't appoint just anybody as president of the Guild, do they?"

"Well, not usually," said Eudora Telford loyally. "Although our last president was a sad disappointment. But of course since we've had Permelia at the helm we've surged from strength to strength. Seven times Best Cake in Show at the International Baking Symposium." She beamed at the object of her uncritical adoration. "Which is why this has been so particularly distressing, Miss Markham. It's even been suggested that Permelia is motivated by-by-oh, I can scarcely bring myself to say it." Her eyes brimmed with tears. "By jealousy."

Bibbie patted the silly woman's arm, like someone comforting the bereaved. "Please don't weep, Miss Telford. That would be giving Millicent Grimwade the victory."

"Oh, Miss Markham," whispered Eudora Telford. "You're so wonderfully sympathetic. It really has been awful, you know."

"Eudora, I can imagine," said Bibbie, so earnestly that even Melissande believed her. "The petty tyrannies of the mediocre are endless. But you must buck up, really you must. Witches Inc. is here to help. Now I take it you've approached other thaumaturgical experts regarding this wicked state of affairs?"

"We have," said Permelia Wycliffe mordantly. "We have availed ourselves of the services of several highly recommended witches and wizards, Miss Markham... all to no good purpose. They've come along to this county fair or that one, taken our money and then told us we're imagining things. One wizard even had the effrontery to suggest I stop imbibing so generously of my Rum Tart's prime ingredient!"

"How shocking!" said Bibbie, shooting Melissande and Reg a repressive look. "Please, Miss Wycliffe, allow me to apologise again, this time on behalf of my misguided fellow-thaumaturgical pract.i.tioners. Clearly they have failed to grasp the gravity of your situation. Why, thanks to Millicent Grimwade the Guild's integrity now hangs by the proverbial thread. The l.u.s.tre of the Golden Whisk is about to be irretrievably tarnished!"

Permelia Wycliffe's clasped hands tightened. "The Guild be praised. You really do understand!"

"Of course she does, Permelia," said Eudora Telford, fresh tears trembling on her lashes. "Is she not the great-niece of Antigone Markham?"

"I am," said Bibbie. "And I promise you, in my great-aunt's ill.u.s.trious name, we will unmask this dastardly Millicent Grimwade. The final bake-off's tomorrow, isn't it? In the Town Hall?"

"That's correct," said Permelia Wycliffe. "Commencing at eleven o'clock sharp. I take it we can count on you to be there in time?"

"Have no fear, Miss Wycliffe," said Bibbie grandly. "My colleagues and I will be there in plenty of time to prevent a grave miscarriage of culinary justice... and see that Millicent Grimwade receives her comeuppance."

Incredibly, it seemed that Permelia Wycliffe was on the brink of losing her intimidating composure. "Please, Miss Markham. Call me Permelia."

"Of course, Permelia... if you'll agree to calling me Emmerabiblia."

"It would be an honour," said Permelia Wycliffe, very nearly smiling. She extended her gloved hand. "Until tomorrow, Emmerabiblia."

Bibbie shook the woman's hand. "Until tomorrow, Permelia," she said gravely.

"Come, Eudora," said Permelia Wycliffe. "We still have the bake-off's preparations to oversee."

Eudora bobbed a curtsey to Melissande, and nearly to Bibbie. "Your Highness-Miss Markham-so pleased-so gratified-"

"Come along, Eudora!"

"Coming, Permelia, coming!"

With a last frosty nod at Melissande, and a thoughtful glance at the apparently empty birdcage on the desk, Permelia Wycliffe sailed towards the door with Eudora bobbing in her wake like a dinghy. But at the doorway, she hesitated then turned back. "I'm sorry. Did I hear you say your colleagues-plural-would be at the Town Hall tomorrow?"

Bibbie nodded. "That's right."

Permelia's gaze s.h.i.+fted to Reg. "Do you mean to say you'll be bringing..."

"Reg?" Bibbie grinned cheerfully. "Of course. She feels left out if we don't bring her along. Especially since she's the National Bird of New Ottosland and figures prominently on the kingdom's coat of arms. Doesn't she, Miss Cadwallader?"

Melissande scorched her with a look. "If you say so, Miss Markham."

"I see," said Permelia Wycliffe, after a precarious moment. "Well, I'm sure the great-niece of Antigone Markham knows best."

And on that note, the door closed emphatically behind the two women from the Baking and Pastry Guild.

"Gos.h.!.+" said Bibbie, and sagged on the desk. "Wasn't that a stroke of luck, the president of the Baking and Pastry Guild needing our help! And to think I never thought batty old Great-aunt Antigone would ever come in handy."