8
Fina yelped. She wouldn’t have said she had yelled or screamed, but the yelp was loud enough to cause a commotion in Ruby’s room. The door rattled. “Feens, are you hurt? Can you let me in?”
“Ah, no, I’m fine. But there’s a snake in my room.”
The doorknob stopped rattling.
“A snake? Is it poisonous?”
“How should I know? I’m not going to look. And I won’t whack up the courage to do so. I’ll remain on the bed.”
“I’ll find someone – maybe Snave – to fetch the snake. Stay put.”
But Ruby didn’t need to find anyone, because a knock came at the door.
“Miss Aubrey-Havelock. Has something disturbed you? May I be of service?”
“Yes, something has disturbed me, Snave. A blasted snake.”
Pause. Fina swore she could hear him licking his lips.
“I see, miss. Am I correct in assuming the snake c
