They took a seat at breakfast together.
“Whatever for?” Maeve asked Abraxas, grabbing some toast and jam.
Abraxas shrugged, with his signature mischievous look on his face. “Seems he doesn’t even remember anything about last night. He didn’t even know he was supposed to be dueling.”
Maeve froze. “Mal.”
Abraxas was grinning wickedly.
“You knew!” Laughed Maeve, smacking him on the arm.
“Perhaps.”
Maeve shook her head. “I should have known, honestly.”
She continued spreading jam on her toast as something soared across the hall, snagging her attention. Her father’s hawk swooped down, landing on the table in front of them with violent flair.
“Hello, Rumple,” said Abraxas, feeding the evil-looking bird a bit of sausage.
Maeve grabbed the parchment from Rumple’s leg. “Why didn’t he send it through a desk?” She asked quietly.
Dearest Maeve,
I’m terribly sorry for the delay in my response. We would be thrilled to have Mal for the summer. You mentioned making a day stop before your arrival? I’m sorry I can’t be there to Portal you home first. But I can arrange to have your things picked up in London and brought home. Mal’s as well.
I can’t wait to see you.
Don’t use the desks.
A.S.
Maeve tossed down her toast and shot up from the table.
“What the hell?” Abraxas shouted after her. “Not even a ‘have a lovely day, Abraxas’?”
“No yelling in the hall, Mr. Rosethorn,” said Professor Webelton. “Five merits from Serpentine.”
Mal was not at breakfast in the Dining Hall, but she had a good idea of where he would be. She climbed the stairs to the Library, flying past the Magical Malita stationed at every landing.
Mal was, as she expected, sitting in their favorite reading nook.
“Guess what,” said Maeve, seating herself opposite him.
He scrunched his face at her happy demeanor and waited for her to answer.
“My Father absolutely cannot wait to have you at Sinclair Estates.” She dramatically tossed her hair, flashing him a smile.
Mal again looked incredulous.
Maeve sighed. “You are happy, yes?”
He laughed subtly. “Oh, yes.”
“Good.” Finally satisfied with his response, she pulled out “A Look into the Modern Mind” and began reading where she had left off. “Oh, and I heard Jake Pile can’t remember a thing from yesterday,” said Maeve with a smirk. “In case you were curious.”
“How odd,” said Mal.
Maeve crossed her legs and relaxed into the armchair, reading her book.
