“No,” Bentford chuckled. “Unless he dislikes insects. Ianthe has managed to make several appear at once. Yesterday she caused the entire nursery to be filled with grasshoppers.”
“Grasshoppers?” It wasn’t funny, but she found herself wanting to laugh. “Edward has no objection to insects,” she assured him with a chuckle.
Perhaps she hadn’t misjudged Bentford at their first meeting, and he was far more likeable than his mother. Further, she understood his need to protect his nieces, especially after what had happened to Ianthe’s parents, but he also needed to know the truth.
“The fact that you come from a family of witches is not a secret, Lord Bentford.”
Chapter 8
Damon could only stareat Miss Cordelia as the words reverberated in his mind. “Not a secret?” he questioned.
“According to Adam, all of Bocka Morrow is aware so you needn’t hide.”
Bloody hell!
He considered that it was a possibility given how long his family had lived here, and he knew that it was no secret to Lynwood, but the confirmation that their secret wasn’t one at all was unsettling.
Were they even safe here? If an entire village knew, then word could spread and eventually reach a witchfinder, who would no doubt come here directly.
“Do you fear someone will speak out of turn? That someone may tell your secrets?” she questioned with concern.
Of course that was his fear. Had she not been listening when he explained why his brother and sister-in-law had died. “Yes!”
“You needn’t,” she explained calmly.
As Miss Cordelia was not a witch, she wouldn’t worry. Or maybe she didn’t think there was a threat since witches did live in the community that hadn’t been threatened.
How could Miss Cordelia begin to understand? Or maybe she wasn’t as knowledgeable about these matters as she assumed. His entire life had been spent keeping the truth about the female members of his family a secret.
“Who are the other witches in Bocka Morrow?” he asked.
Miss Cordelia smoothed her dress over her legs. “I’m certain your mother can give you their names, but I will not.” She’d not looked at him when she answered, which made Damon wonderifshe truly did know anything.
“Ah, so you don’t know.” Perhaps there was simply an assumption in Bocka Morrow without facts. Even so, it could be dangerous to his family.
“If I were at Nightshade Manor for any purpose other than to be taken to task for spying and for what I witnessed, I wouldn’t even mention the wordwitchin your presence, Lord Bentford.”
Her cool tone nearly matched his mother’s from earlier.
“You should be aware that we do not speak out of turn, especially about something that could be dangerous to the residents of Bocka Morrow,” she added. “I was shocked and scolded Edward yesterday because he knew better than to ever even whisper the wordwitch, yet he had.”
“Not even if asked directly?” They may not claim to gossip but that didn’t mean someone wouldn’t answer if asked if there were any witches about.
“We’d deny the existence,” she answered without hesitation.
“You’d lie?” he asked.
“As a rule, I do not lie.” She sniffed. “However, to protect someone from another who has evil in their heart, I would not hesitate to say whatever is necessary.”
He blinked at her.
“From the time we are old enough to understand, and when children were being scolded for lying, there has always been one exception for all who live in Bocka Morrow. We are never to admit to any magical occurrences, or people who may be magical. Secrets need to remain kept, even if we must tell a falsehood to protect another or explain away something that may be witnessed by an outsider as questionable or unusual.” She smiled. “There have been people who have come here out of curiosity, hoping to see a mermaid, or a ghost, or what have you. We all make light of our reputation until the visitors leave feeling like fools.”
Damon may be able to trust that Miss Cordelia would lie to protect his family, but could he trust that all Bocka Morrow would? He looked to where Edward and Ianthe were walking away from the edge of the cove and up a small hill and toward shade trees. Would Edward? “We are very protective of my nieces.”
“I am trying to assure you that the people of Bocka Morrow are protective as well. I may not have witnessed their power, but my sister would be dead without three witches intervening,” Miss Cordelia explained. “Because of that incident, their names will never pass my lips. Further, if it were anyone else asking, and I’d not witnessed what your mother did, I’d call you daft for thinking witches exist, as would anyone else.”
As much as he hoped it didn’t put his family in danger, Damon decided to accept her word on the matter. For so long as he could remember, Brighid had run the apothecary, though it was owned by Maevis. Both were witches, and they’d lived here longer than he’d been alive without danger.
