She trailed behind him into the brewing room, which had to be the largest in the house if you didn’t count the cellar. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets for ingredients lined two walls. Expansive bookcases rose on either side of the doorway. A sink and stovetop took up the final wall. She glanced at the cooling brew—a dark chocolate color—and then at titles in the bookcases.Magical plants: Efficacy, spell interactions, side effects. The Spellcaster’s Handbook. Centennial of Modern Magic, 1913-2013.
“I’m afraid you can’t legally read most of those books,” Blackwell said, drying his hands.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s such a ridiculous law. What harm could it possibly do if a typic like me looks through a spellbook? And don’ttell me it’s about keeping them out of the hands of the Canadians, Germans and Japanese. Surely most spellbooks don’t delve into anything they don’t already know.”
“True, but that’s not the only reason.” He turned around, leaning against the sink. “Magic isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Someone with insufficient ability to become a practicing wizard might have just enough to be a danger to himself or others if he tries to cast a spell—that’s the official thinking, anyway.”
“You disagree?”
He shrugged. “Hard to know how bad it really could be. Did you watch the wizarding exam for the boys our age in Howard County?”
Not just watched. Participated in. “I saw it,” she said, not trusting herself to look him in the eye.
“What do you recall?”
“Each boy had a five-pound weight he had to lift magically. Some didn’t budge at all”—hers included—“some rocked without making it off the ground, some rose six to twelve inches, and yours—yours went all the way to the auditorium ceiling. Everyone was rated typic except for you.”
She hazarded a glance. He’d raised his eyebrows. “Your memory is impressive.”
“Not really. That’s the sort of thing that sticks with you.”
She held her breath, half-expecting an accusation. She’d given her name as “Benedick Brown,” not realizing the boys would be lined up alphabetically and that would put her next to someone who saw her in school every day.
But he must never have suspected, because he swept on. “Nothing went dangerously awry, if you don’t count one boy who lifted his weight a small amount almost dropping it on his foot. But the law is the law, and that’s one the authorities take dead seriously. Even a minor first offense is a year in jail. So don’t go sneaking my books.”
“All right,” she said, amused by his expression of mock severity. “Are you absolutelysureI can read up on brewing without landing in lockup?”
“Yes, because I’ve got a primer with no spellwords or casting instructions. It focuses entirely on plants, plant theory and plant prep.” He pluckedThe Brewer’s Biblefrom the bookcase and handed it over. “If you ever have any doubt, look for a huge red ‘CLASSIFIED’ stamped on the cover.”
She paged through the book, half-looking at the illustrations and trying to think of a way to steer the conversation to pay.
“Oh—before I forget,” Blackwell said, “bring old clothes with you tomorrow. Brewing is messy work.”
“Bring? Don’t you mean ‘wear’?”
“No, bring. I’ll work a spell into it. Unless you mean to revert back to your original policy of no magic cast on you or your possessions.”
This seemed to be a test. The full force of his attention was on her.
“I’ll make an exception for you,” she said, “since you’re doing so for me.”
His lips quirked. “I’m ignoring the fact that you’re trying to outlaw my profession, you mean?”
“No. Ignoring the fact that I’m not male.”
She’d meant it as a joke, but he winced.
“I ran into Mrs. Price last night,” he said. “She thinks it highly inappropriate that an unmarried woman is working for an unmarried man.”
Beatrix snorted. “I’d have been shocked if she didn’t think that.”
“Not a fan?”
“Lord, no. She’s a perfect example of how some women help perpetuate a system that keeps us from improving our lot.”
He leaned against the brewing table, crossing his arms. “She and your mother always seemed to be on good terms.”
“They needed to be,” she said, shrugging. “They ran the scholarship foundation.”
