Story and art copyright 1999, 2000 by Leigh Kimmel
Although apprehensive about just what Puggy's mysterious dragon might be, Nadine hurries back to her new foster home as soon as school is over. On the way home, she is accosted by a handsome young man who claims to be a reporter investigating the Workhouse. He asks her some questions about just what she saw on the riverbank. Before leaving, he gives her a business card identifying him as "J.R. Mephit".
Nadine arrives and is admitted to the main house by Puggy's elderly housekeeper, Miss Hannah. Puggy comes down from his upstairs studio, wiping paint from his hands with a rag. He then takes Nadine to his dragon's studio over the carriage house that stands between the main house and the one where the kids live.
Not entirely sure what to expect, Nadine is quite relieved to discover that Puggy's dragon is a tall woman who clearly bears a strong affection for the eccentric little artist. Lacey Beauregard is herself an artist, and her thick Southern drawl seems to go with that name much better than Puggy's strong Cockney accent. Even discovering that this woman sports a dragon's wings and tail no longer seems frightening.
However, Lacey does hint at dark secrets and a painful past for Puggy. She warns Nadine never to mention the name of Ruskin under Puggy's roof because of old bad blood between them.
The adventure is only beginning for young Nadine, and she soon finds herself plunging headlong into a maelstrom of adult political intrigue with only her wits and a tenuous friendship with the mysterious Mephit. Somehow she must protect her new friends from Maxwell and the Workhouse while learning Puggy's hidden past.
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All pictures on this page copyright 1999, 2000 by Leigh Kimmel, all rights reserved.
If you are interested in using these images on your webpage or in a publication, or would like to obtain the originals, please contact me.
I am currently accepting commissions for artwork. If your interested in having me do something, please contact me with information on what you want.
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This page last updated March 15, 2000
