Secrets of the Dragon Tomb Read Online Free Page A

and Mama. “My opinion…?”
    â€œI believe they must be natural,” Olivia said. Unusually for her, she was ignoring Mama’s furious glare. “Surely no technology, no matter how advanced, could create such miracles.”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake, be quiet, Olivia!” Mama exploded. “No one wants to hear your opinion.”
    Olivia hunched over her plate. I opened my mouth, but before I could think what to say, Freddie interrupted.
    â€œOh, I say! I would hardly say that.”
    This defense only made Olivia huddle closer to her plate.
    Mama reached over the table and patted Freddie’s hand. “You are very gallant, Frederick, but it is not necessary. We have all quite come to terms with the knowledge that Jane has inherited all the beauty and grace in this family. In fact, Jane is quite the most beautiful young lady on Mars, as I am sure you must admit.”
    Freddie cleared his throat awkwardly. “Ah. Well.”
    Next to me, Olivia’s cheeks reddened again.
    Mama smiled like a hungry serpent-shark. “Now, Jane. Tell Frederick about the ball at Hardhaven Court last season. That gown you wore was the envy of the other ladies.” She glanced at Freddie. “I chose the silk myself. I have impeccable taste. In fact, Jane reminds me of myself at that age. They called me the Crystal Rose of Tharsis, you know. Every young gentleman admired me.” She sighed. “I was to travel to all the great cities of Earth and Mars. I would have set fashions and presided over the most elegant of salons.” She sighed again.
    I met Olivia’s glance. We all knew how the story ended. Mama’s father had gambled away everything. Mama had been left with nothing, and her admirers had slipped away as quickly as mist over the desert.
    I cleared my throat. For the first time since the meal had begun, there was a break in the conversation, and Freddie couldn’t escape my question.
    â€œFreddie—” I started, but too late.
    Mama’s eyes flashed. “And as for you, Edward!”
    â€œMe?” What had I done?
    â€œWhy didn’t you invite your friends to stay for the summer? When Frederick was a boy, he frequently visited families of higher social standing. I remember Arabella boasting about it.” She sniffed. “Why can’t you be more like your cousin? How can you expect Parthenia to marry well if you don’t bring your friends home to meet her?”
    That wasn’t fair! I’d been invited to stay with Viscount Harrison. Mama would have swooned if she’d known. And I’d wanted to! I’d come back because this family would fall to pieces without me.
    Across the table, Putty choked on a spoonful of fire-beans. “I’m nine years old,” she spluttered. “And I’m not going to marry anyone!”
    Mama ignored her. “She can hardly be expected to attract a husband by herself, running around like a street urchin. Attend, Edward! Frederick is the perfect image of a young gentleman. You would never catch your cousin having a career or”—she shuddered—“doing anything useful .”
    â€œGood Lord, no!” Freddie said.
    With a sigh, I turned back to my dinner.
    â€œNow,” Mama said, “we will have no more talk of dragon paths, dragon tombs, or Hugo’s wretched inventions at this table. We shall confine our discussion to the weather, fashion, and the social calendar.”
    I slumped down. That was that. There was no way I could ask Freddie again at dinner. But when the meal was over, the ladies would retire, and Mama would expect Papa, Freddie, and me to remain. I would get another chance, and Freddie would have nowhere to run.

 
    3
    The Perils of Stickleberry Juice
    Finally, Mama stood, and my sisters followed her out of the room. Papa wiped his forehead with a napkin and looked awkwardly around.
    â€œWell,” he said, to no one in particular, and