Death and Transfiguration

Chapter 14

"Mattie!" Gertie exclaimed. "It's so good to see you! How have you been?"

"I've been well," I said as I stepped away from my sister.

"What happened to your dress?" Gertie asked.

"I snagged it while I was...uhh...running errands," I said, but I could tell that Gertie didn't quite believe me.

Before I could say anything else, Moreau climbed upstairs, carrying his violin case. When he reached the top of the staircase, he noticed Gertie and I standing in front of the door to his room.

"Hello there," he said to both of us.

"Mr. Moreau!" Gertie exclaimed. "I just got your letter - are you really going to audition for the Opera de Nantes?"

"Indeed I am," Moreau said.

I looked at both of them, shocked. I wasn't sure how they even knew each other, much less how Moreau trusted my sister enough to tell her something that he'd never even mentioned to me. I paused for a moment before speaking, hoping that one of them would give me an explanation, but both of them remained completely silent.

"I didn't know you two were friends," I finally said.

"I've known Mr. Moreau for a while," Gertie said. "It's just such a funny coincidence that you two live next door to each other."

"Your sister's a wonderful neighbor, Gertie," Moreau said. "She doesn't even complain when I stay up half the night practicing."

"You've got to learn how to take care of yourself better, but at least you're not staying up all night anymore," Gertie said.

"Sleep is for the weak."

"Actually, sleep is one of life's greatest blessings."

"How am I supposed to get anything done if I sleep my life away?"

"One of the professors at Cambridge hasn't gotten up before noon in decades, and I'll have you know that he is an esteemed expert in his field. If he can do it, you can too, Mr. Moreau."

I started to walk away, feeling like a hanger-on in this conversation, but Moreau called me back. "Where are you going, Miss Brackenborough?" he asked.

"I was going to work on my composition," I said.

"Which one?" Moreau asked.

"The string quartet."

"I thought you stopped working on the string quartet."

"I...I came up with some new ideas, and I want to...I want to write them down," I stammered.

"You know, I should finish unpacking," Gertie said. "Mattie, do you want to meet up for breakfast tomorrow?"

"That sounds great," I said.

"I can't wait to catch up," Gertie said. "There's so much I want to tell you. Like did I ever tell you about the time someone almost set the medical school building on fire?"

I rolled my eyes and said, "Yes, Gertie. You've told that story a million times."

"Okay, but it's a really good story, isn't it?" I shrugged, and Gertie said, "Well, I suppose we'll talk about it tomorrow. Where should we meet?"

"How about Café de la Paix?" I suggested. "They have great coffee."

"Sounds lovely. Mr. Moreau, would you like to come too?"

"I'd love to, but I have to catch the train to Nantes early tomorrow morning."

"That's a shame," Gertie said. "Anyways, I'll see you both of you later."