Pearl looked … lifeless, actually. Roderick squinted hard at her, mind unwillingly yanked back to the stiff fur of a taxidermy fox still lurking around at home.

He shuddered.

The crowd was tailing after their father, who was trying to escape. Excellent idea, but there was no clear path.

His mother was … fainting. She looked more lively than Pearl unconscious. Roderick frowned, then got up. Hands clammy, he wiped them off on the sides of his expensive trousers, took a deep breath, and went up to the coffin (which had less people mulling around it).

…

Oh, oh goodness!

Magnus looked better than he ever had in life.