742
Evening, Backlund.
Audrey returned home just in time to see her mother, Madam Caitlyn, talking to her personal maid, Annie.
"Yes, Miss has been reading and resting in her room all afternoon."
Annie curtsied to the countess and prepared to knock on the door to summon "Miss Audrey."
Thinking of how it was actually Susie inside the room, occasionally saying a few words and asking for some snacks, Audrey could not help feeling a little guilty. She lifted her skirt, cast Psychological Invisibility on herself, and tiptoed around her mother and Annie. Pushing the door open just wide enough for one person, she slipped inside.
She had barely closed the door when Annie knocked softly twice and called, "Miss, Madam would like you to come over."
"All right, I'll change first."
Susie, who had been lying on the floor reading a book, raised her head. She used her front paws to laboriously move the book in front of her over to Audrey's desk, a trace of humanlike anxiety appearing on her face.
Audrey could not help smiling at the sight. She had returned just in time, though she rather wanted to see whether Susie would use their contingency plan-they had discussed what to do if her parents suddenly wanted to see her, or a friend came to talk without an appointment-but since Audrey was back, Susie had no need to resort to hypnotizing everyone.
She dispelled her Psychological Invisibility, seeming to sprout suddenly from the floor.
Susie's front paws twitched. Only after seeing who it was did she breathe a sigh of relief. Giving Audrey a reproachful look, she straightened the book. "You scared me to death, Audrey. Thank goodness you're back. The countess wants to see you."
"Yes, I heard. Thank you, Susie."
Audrey removed the cloak she