Sabrina overhears

Sabrina walked hushed hallways and passed sleeping doorways. Other hotels shone all night with their golden windows like glittering eyes watching the moon sink in the sky, but not the Empress, it would be unbecoming of such a grand old lady.

Sabrina crept down the stairs making no more noise than the cellar mice that pitter pattered under the pipes. Sabrina just wanted to gather a few linens for Miss Grace and all the other hotel staff had retired for the night. As she was about to round the final corner to the laundry she heard male voices and stopped.

Who would be down here so late? The doors were locked, the delivery men wouldn't be in for hours yet, Sabrina crept forward and peeked around the doorframe. She saw two figures standing in the darkened hallway, the glow from the ends of their lit cigarettes casting a small glow on their faces, allowing Sabrina to see that the two men were none other than Charlie, the man Miss Grace traveled with, and the other the whole of England would recognize, Prince Edward!!

Charlie seemed worked up and was speaking rapidly in raised voice..

"...yes, that same little thing I was messing around with when Daisy STABBED me, I think she's RIGHT HERE in London! And I think that little brat is with her! I intend to find them." Charlie took a deep breath after this rant and waited for the Prince's response.

"Gees Binx, I know you like 'em young but even you, what would you do with that Buchanan kid?" the Prince chuckled and took a drag of his cigarette.

Sabrina was confused, Binx? She had heard everyone call this man Charlie. perhaps this was a nickname? She mentally filed this information away, she felt that. somehow, it would be important.

"No David, I'll tell you what I'm going to to do, I"LL TELL YOU! I'm going to drag that little Buchanan all the way back to New York, and I'm going to parade her around in front of the police and the MEDIA and all those upper crusty society snobs and I'll be the hero of the YEAR. I'll be the dashing front page star that rescued the darling kidnapped tiny heiress while her wayward mother wasted time mired in scandal. And then you watch, all those trust fund hypocrites will welcome me back with glittering arms. The best clubs and finest restaurants, I'll never pay for another thing."

There was a long silence after this as the men pondered this expose. Sabrina could smell the tendrils of smoke creeping down the hall towards her. Finally the Prince spoke,

"What about that girl you brought with you?" another small pause

"Grace? She's a reporter, I couldn't bring her back to New York, she would try to steal my glory" Binx/Charlie said this like it just an off thought, as thought Grace could be tossed aside. Sabrina covered her mouth, poor Miss Grace! Sarbina started to realize these were dangerous men and she couldn't be caught listening! She pressed herself to the wall and started to move away.

The Prince tossed his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it beneath his well polished shoe and asked casually,

"Could I have her?" Sabrina paused with her foot on the bottom step of the staircase, she MUST hear the answer to such a request!! The silence was deafening, even the mice seemed to stop their midnight waltzing. Binx/Charlie flicked his cigarette off into the darkness with a small sprinkle of ashes,

"Sure, you always took good care of your girls. She's nice enough, I don't wish anything bad for her."

Although the last of Binx's words trailed off as Sabrina flew up the staircase, she heard every last syllable and recited them exactly to Miss Grace when she reached the Penthouse.

***PLEASE SEE BLYTHE QUAKE STREAM FOR MORE STORIES ON DAISY, DAVID AND BINX***

Done