Chapter 0241
Elva immediately perked upon seeing him. “Jul–an! Teach me the trick again.”
“She’s been practicing,” I said softly to Julian, like a secret.
“Then maybe you should show me.” Julian withdrew a quarter from his pocket and handed it to Elva.
I let go of her hand so she could move, though I placed my hand on the top of her head instead. I wasn’t
going to let Elva out of my sight tonight, or likely any other night. Not until Jane was caught and the
organization brought down.
“Okay. Watch!” Elva held out the coin like Nicholas had taught her. Then with a flick of her wrist, the coin
clattered down onto the floor. “Oh!” Elva bent and picked it up.
“An excellent attempt!” Julian said and clapped. “You’ll be a little thief–ah, that is, a little magician in
now time.”
I scowled at him for the slip of the tongue.
Elva beamed at the praise. She held out the quarter to give back to him.
“You keep it, Elva. Keep practicing, okay?”
only when I made her
the trick
“Well. Ready for the main
to
benefactor was assigned their own
any overlap. They worked as something like handlers, leading
the correct spots to speak with each other. Then they moved us away when
wanted to be, disarming many of the sterner–faced benefactors with an unexpected joke and an easy smile. Elva won the hearts of the rest. She
with limited success, to
said an older benefactor
and whispered, “See, she’s
my eyes, since I was being
of my hour with Julian, I had one confirmed commitment to my cause,
felt like a
must part.” Julian took my hand, lifted it
knuckles.
But his lips lingered at my skin for a half–second longer than needed. When he pulled away, he didn’t look at me, instead
patted her lightly on the head. “Keep
“Thanks, Jul–an!”
hour I had him, though I knew eventually I would have to go it alone. I didn’t mind all that much. I was determined
could.
from looking across the ballroom, searching for Nicholas. I
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