"So who is this Wild Edric fellow?" William asked.

Bodicea seemed at last to relax and she joined them. "A local legend," she said. "I'll explain more when you're under way again."

Tamara left Her Majesty speaking with William and hurried to the carriage. Farris assisted Doctor Nichols in climbing the single step into the vehicle and then stepped back. She paused to look at their butler a moment. Farris was pale but raised his chin to let her know that he was all right. A gentleman's gentleman he might be, but Farris was also as stalwart an ally as they'd ever had, and refreshingly lacking the sense of drama that the ghosts seemed to have acquired.