“I love you, too, Lady Woodrake.”
Aster squeals at the use of her new title, and she runs back to her new husband’s side as they follow the officiant. The rest of the guests are ushered inside the manor and seated at a comically large dining table that is covered with the largest breakfast spread that the world has ever seen. August and Frankie sit directly across from Lottie and Marigold as they all begin eating.
“That was a beautiful ceremony,” Lottie says. It comes as a bit of a shock; Lottie usually relies on August to make small talk and pleasantries.
“It truly was,” August says in response, happy to run with the conversation that his best friend started.
Frankie leans over to August. “It makes me wonder what our wedding will look like one day.”
August cannot help but smile, while Lottie and Marigold look completely stunned.
“You proposed?” Marigold asks her brother.
“You’re engaged?” Lottie asks.
Frankie shakes his head. “Not officially, no.” He sips hisorange juice and looks at August, who is anxiously touching his collar.
August clears his throat. “Well, we are soulmates. What else could one expect?”
“But being engaged would mean you are already starting a whole new life together. Don’t you have much more to figure out before you start wedding planning?” Lottie asks him, and he nods.
“Exactly. Which is why we are not officially engaged yet,” August says.
There is a pregnant pause between them all. Marigold is happy, of course, as are Frankie and August.
But Lottie looks terrified. She puts down her cutlery and sips her water until the glass is empty. The moment it is refilled by a server, she drinks it down again.
“Do you have anything stronger?” Lottie asks the server.
“Lots…” August warns.
“What?” she snaps.
“This is a happy time.”
She takes a deep breath. “You are right. You are very right, and I am happy you both have found each other.”
“Thank you, Lottie. I am so glad to hear you say that,” Frankie says. The four of them resume their breakfasts quietly for a moment, but there is a question waiting on the tip of Marigold’s tongue.
“So will you return with us to Innisfree, brother?”
Frankie looks up with only his eyes, which then glance over to August.
“You don’t have to,” Marigold says. “But I thought it would be nice to extend the invitation so that you two do not have to be apart.”
Frankie says nothing. He allows August to handle the next part of the conversation.
“Frankie is not coming to Innisfree, but we are not going to be apart.” He looks at Lottie, who is the first to realize what he is saying.
“You’re staying here with him, aren’t you?”
August’s cheeks flush. “We’re going on a trip.Thetrip, Lottie. The one I’ve always dreamed of. We’re going to see the world, listen to the most beautiful music, eat the most delicious food, and dance with strangers.”
Lottie says nothing, but Marigold can feel the panic radiating off her. Lottie has always acted tough, but that was because she had August. She did not need anyone else to like her as long as she had her best friend by her side, but now she is losing him. Yet Marigold knows that Lottie cannot resent him for it. It’s likely that the woman would do the same thing if her own soulmate spell would actually work.
Lottie fakes a smile. “That’s so wonderful, August.”
“It is?” August asks, his voice filled with pure relief.
