“Well?” asked Mrs. Knox when Charlotte returned. “What did he say?”
The bakery. Charlotte hadn’t even mentioned the bakery. “Oh Gods, I forgot—”
“It’s alright, girl,” said Mrs. Knox, pulling her into a hug. “Are you alright?”
Was she alright?
“I’m great. I’m…wonderful.”
“Oh, I’m happy to hear it. I told you. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Charlotte pulled back from the hug. She took Mrs. Knox’s hand. “I’ll go back there tomorrow and talk to him about the bakery. I’m sure he’ll listen.”
Tomorrow, then. After twenty years apart, twenty lost and lonely years, she’d see him again.
Tomorrow.
Chapter Five
A SMALL GIFT
Alison
Rinka and Idris were late to arrive at Weldan House, but Alison didn’t mind. It gave her some much-needed time with Keir, which had been in short supply since their return from Winwold: there was a flu going around.
“Mr. Parsons is recovering well,” Keir said as he arrived around midday. He dropped his medicine bag to the ground and collapsed into a wingback chair across from Alison by the fire, exhausted. “I was concerned about his cough, but it doesn’t seem to be progressing to pneumonia.”
Alison brushed a strand of his dark hair behind his ear—it was getting long. She kissed him on the forehead. “That’s good to hear.”
“Did Ms. Murray give you your gift?”
“I haven’t seen Ms. Murray today.” The maid was likely busy preparing for Rinka to arrive. Although Rinka wouldn’t be mistaken for a noble on this visit, they would still give her the courtesy of a lady’s maid as an honored guest of Prince Idris.
“Come, it’s in the kitchens.” Keir took Alison by the hand and led her through the long corridors of Weldan House, down the stairs, and into the enormous kitchens in the basement.
“Is that a ‘lectric stove?” asked Alison, walking over to a shining dwarven steel range that was at least twice the size of her little oven back in Arcas Dyrne.
“This is the first room in the house to have the ‘lectrics finished.”
Alison marveled at the new mixers and toasters and two ‘lectric frigerators: no expense had been spared. Not that she expected any less from Lord Ainsley, who thankfully was spending the Solstice at court with the king and would not be arriving back in Wilderise until the ‘lectrics were all finished in the spring.
“Over here,” Keir called from across the room. There on a counter sat a small package wrapped in brown paper with a little red bow tying it together. Behind it sat a mirror.
“It isn’t Solstice yet,” said Alison. “I haven’t even gotten your present.”
“This isn’t your Solstice present. It’s for the wedding.” Keir smiled, kissing Alison’s hand and placing it on the ribbon.
Alison pulled on the red ribbon and opened the paper. Inside was a box:‘Lectric Curlers for the Discerning Young Lady.“Oh!” said Alison. It was a curling iron just like the one she’d used in Winwold. She’d never owned one herself, even when she’d lived with ‘lectrics in Arcas Dyrne. “Aren’t they quite expensive?”
Alison hadn’t become accustomed to having such nice things without needing to worry about the cost. But the first of their cut of the solar generator profits had recently arrived. It was only a month’s worth, and all the costs of production had been taken out, but it was still more than Alison had made at her number-crunching job. A lot more. And Keir had received a share too, and that was on top of his allowance from Weldan House and his earnings as a doctor, though Alison knew he severely undercharged for those services.
“Do you not like it?” asked Keir. “I didn’t know which one to get. I sent a letter to Ceri, and she recommended this one from a catalog she receives. She sent along a copy of it—”
“No, it’s perfect.” Alison kissed him on the cheek. “Can we try it out?”
“Of course,” said Keir, opening the box and plugging the iron into the wall. “That’s what the mirror is here for.”
Alison and Keir waited as the curling iron heated up. It was very exciting to see something buzz to life with ‘lectricity here in Wilderise. “The sun powered that. Isn’t that strange to think of?”
