CHAPTER 23
Rory was shaken awake.
“Ow!” she protested, still befuddled with sleep.
“What did you and Longinus do to me last night?”
Cruikshank’s eyes blazed with fury. Rory’s sleepiness evaporated and she scrambled up.
“Oh, what? What d’you mean —”
“Don’t lie to me! You put something in my coffee — don’t try and deny it. And some of my spider’s joints are wet. You took it out, didn’t you? You took it out after I specifically told you not to!”
“Actually, I’ve got to go,” said Rory, backing away. “I need to go see Lady Martha, and, er, Mizria for my fitting, you know for…” Rory’s voice faltered at Cruikshank’s expression.
“At least have the decency to admit what you did,” Cruikshank growled.
Rory glanced over her shoulder at the front door. It seemed very far away, and Cruikshank wa
