I leaned forward. “What’s in the bag?”
He chuckled and nudged the canvas forward with his foot. “Who says there’s anything inside for you?”
“Because a Lord has lowly peons to carry their bags for them. And the only peon I see here is you.”
Rowan laughed and clutched his heart in mock pain. “Peons aren’t smart enough to bring great presents. Perhaps there’s only dry dirt and worms in there.”
My eyes narrowed. “Depends on the worms. Earthworms or grubs?”
Rowan grinned and picked up the bag. “Let’s see, shall we?”
I scooted my chair closer and peered down into the bag, but it was too dark to see what was inside.
Rowan reached in and pulled out a rolled-up paper towel. “First is a new hybrid of fruit tree I’ve been working on. The blossoms are larger and the fruit a touch sweeter.”
“Oranges?” I guessed.
“Half,” he agreed. “The other is a lemon.” At my look, he laughed. “But it’s not a Meyer. Those are cross bred with mandarins. This one is bred with a clementine.”
Meyer lemons were delicious, but I never thought they were a one-on-one sub for a true lemon. I reached for the cuttings Rowan held out and unrolled them.
“We can plant them tomorrow if you like.”
“Yes, please. I have a few things in the greenhouse for you.”
His expression lit up. “Excellent!”
We chatted for a little while longer. When Rowan’s hot chocolate was finished, he rose and stretched. “It’s getting late. Caelan will get mad if he catches me here past midnight.”
I clicked my tongue. Rowan winked and set his mug down on the small table. “Meet at seven tomorrow?”
“It’s a date. Caelan will be over later, so don’t be surprised.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll see him before you do, so I’ll let him know I’ll be here.”
I waved as he walked down the steps. “Be careful going home.”
His eyes glowed golden in the darkness. “I’ll do my best.”
As he disappeared into the forest behind my house, I sighed and picked up our mugs. Tomorrow, I planned to visit my mother to see if she could tell me where Tess was. If she could help, I’d grab the banshee tomorrow and be back in time for Rowan’s visit.
Famous last words.
Chapter
Fifteen
Mom was way easier to visit than she used to be, and from the way she waved at me from the top of one of the mounds surrounding her property, she was expecting me to visit.
I put my hands on my hips and peered up at her. “Neit told you?”
Mom nodded and jumped down from her perch, landing gracefully. “I wasn’t sure you’d show up today, but I had a feeling. What he didn’t say was why.” She pulled me in for an embrace, her sweet scent enveloping me.
Mom stepped away and studied me, her azure eyes,myeyes, taking in my face. “You seem worried.” She looped her arm through mine and led me away. “I made some soup. Are you hungry?”
I nodded, surprised by the domesticity. Mom could cook and she had a few times before during my childhood, but she often left it to the household help to feed me, her thoughts usually somewhere else.
She led me inside her dwelling and toward the kitchen. I pulled out a scarred wooden chair and sat down while Mombustled around, filling a glass of lemonade for me before she set a bowl of hot vegetable soup before me.
