Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

boo to a goose if it was crapping on her boot. A shy, retiring creature, Aunt Grace, immersed in a remembered past when things were simpler. Gregor had to bully and intimidate her just to get her to turn up at Court. But of late dear Grace has emerged into the limelight with a vengeance, becoming a major social figure. Something’s finally kicked her awake, and I want to know what.”
    “But… isn’t this change a good thing?” said Flynn. “Aren’t you pleased she’s come out of her shell?”
    “She’s still a Shreck,” said Toby. “And we never do anything without at least one ulterior motive.”
    “Oh, yeah,” said Flynn. “Then what’s yours for this visit?” Toby smiled. “My cousin Clarissa. She’s been staying with Grace ever since the Deathstalker freed her from her servitude as one of Lionstone’s maids. A pretty young thing, very sweet. I thought I might see how she was getting along.” “You old softy,” said Flynn. “Wait a minute. I thought she was your sister?” “Half sister and cousin,” said Toby, shrugging easily. “It’s that kind of Family.”
    It wasn’t far to Grace Shreck’s town house; she lived in the same salubrious area as Gutman. Private security systems monitored the streets, keeping an electronic eye on anyone who looked as though they didn’t belong there. Flynn on his own would have been immediately stopped, but everybody knew Toby Shreck. The Shreck town house had been in the Family for generations, and looked it. The old stone walls were discolored by age and pollution, and the once impeccable gardens had been left to run wild.
    Long-established mats of ivy crawled across the frontispiece of the house, left alone out of a sense of tradition, and a sneaking suspicion that the ivy was the only thing holding some of the stonework together.
    The windows were one-way only, showing blank, uncaring eyes to the outside world. And Toby knew for a fact that there were hidden guns all over to discourage unwanted visitors. This was a Shreck establishment, after all. Once the house had been home and sanctuary to the majority of the Shreck, but with the building of the pastel towers, it had declined into just a town house, somewhere to stay for short periods for those of the Family who were currently out of favor. Now the great four-winged mansion was home to Grace alone, plus a small army of servants. Grace was a great believer in keeping up appearances. “Most of the rooms are empty now,” said Toby as he and Flynn waited more or less patiently outside the main drawing room. The butler had just gone in to announce them, and was apparently taking his time. Toby wouldn’t have thought there was that much to announce. But he couldn’t just barge in as he had with Gutman. This was Family. “Bit of a waste, really. Given its location, we could sell this place for a tidy sum, but Grace won’t give it up for as long as she lives. It’s her home.”
    “And very impressive it is,” said Flynn. “If I’d known we were coming somewhere this posh, I’d have nipped home to change into my best frock and real diamonds. A girl likes to look her best.”
    “Don’t even mention that in front of Grace,” Toby said firmly. “She’s a bit old-fashioned, and easily shocked. If we’re going to get anything out of her, I need her to be relaxed and at her ease.”
    “That’s a bit cold-blooded, isn’t it? I mean, she’s your aunt.” Toby grinned. “But we’re both Shrecks.
    Don’t let your guard down in there, Flynn. She could tear you apart if the mood took her.” The butler, in formal frock coat and powdered wig, returned at last to usher them into the main drawing room. It was big enough to land a ship’s pinnace in, and crowded with antique furniture and priceless works of art of the kind normally only seen in museums. Huge Family portraits covered the walls, generations of Shrecks in a variety of styles, with the same frowning faces and identical cold eyes.
    It made Gutman’s place look positively rustic.
    “Wow,” said Finlay quietly. “How the other one percent lives. I never knew you and your Family were this rich, boss.”
    “We’re not,” said Toby just as quietly. “We just used to be. There are individual pieces here that could pay off the Family’s debts for a decade, but Grace won’t part with any of them. As long as she can still surround herself with all this stuff, she can still convince herself that Clan Shreck is still what it used