#CHAPTERS 176: Trance

Sarah POV Grace was performing scales, and Chloe was working in the playroom on her wood carving from what she had dubbed “the perfect bit of teak.” Zane was in his study conferring with his legislative board on over the internet. I was in my study, the French doors open to a lovely day. I swear, the hedges for the maze had grown by half a foot since I first came here, and when I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, I could make myself believe I smelled the roses in the far-away garden. The first round of curricula revisions for public schools was nearing completion, and I was reading through some of the inevitable complaints when a new email from Lainey came in. Ted was close to completing her setup for Project Lieutenants, which meant we were a day or two from launch. It was oddly quiet, and I realized Grace had stopped her scales. In another minute, she began a song I recognized from The Mikado. The sun, whose rays Are all ablaze With ever-living glory, Grace