Sunlight slanted through the high windows of the library. The building was old and grand, the ceilings arched with ornate plasterwork. Heavy wooden bookcases lined the walls and spilled further out into neatly organised mazes around the cavernous room. Tables...

“Sophia!” I yelled for the zillionth time. “We’re late.”I stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting less than patiently. I could hear her rummaging around up there. I’d told her in no uncertain terms that we absolutely needed to...