Arrested

Mr. and Mrs. Dett had already left. Amosta stood at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor, holding the brand-new set of pajamas Mrs. Dett had just given him. Beside him stood a silent Amelia.

Amosta could tell that Amelia's gaze held a trace of scrutiny. That was hardly strange—Mr. and Mrs. Dett's excessive enthusiasm had ultimately aroused some suspicion in her. But he believed that Amelia probably had not guessed the truth.

This was not something one could figure out with intelligence and imagination alone. Sure enough—

"My parents really like you—"

Amelia tried to ease the awkwardness and find a suitable excuse for her parents' abrupt, discourteous behavior.

"Um, I think it's because you're a wizard from London, and they spent most of their lives in that city. Uh, your name also makes them feel close to you."

"That makes sense."

Amosta nodded. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"Then, could I trouble you to show me to the guest room?"

Amelia looked somewhat surprised, as if she had not expected Amosta to truly agree to stay the night. But once she recovered, she immediately nodded in embarrassment.

"Oh, um, of course."

The two went up the stairs to the second-floor hallway. Two bedrooms stood on the same side facing the road, while the bathroom and laundry room were across from them.

After switching on the hallway light, Amelia pointed to the bedroom at the end of the corridor.

"That's the guest room. Also, if you need to take a bath—"

Amelia turned and pointed at the dark room behind her, its door half-open.

"There's—there's—a bathtub here. You can use it."

Amosta did his best not to make the atmosphere any stranger. He nodded stiffly again and said calmly,

"Thank you. Is there anything