“We will return to Innisfree in a few months before we’re off again!” Frankie adds.
Lottie keeps her gaze low. “Where will home be for you, though?”
“Well, I think it makes the most sense for us to reside in Bardshire”—Frankie looks at August—“right?”
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes,” August says, eyes locked on Lottie. “Nothing is for certain yet.”
Lottie nods, but she says nothing else. If she tries to utter one more word, Marigold can tell that she will start crying, and she cannot have that. Not in front of him, not in front of all these people. She would grab Lottie’s hand if she thought she could offer her comfort without causing her pain. Her mother stands in the doorway chatting with other ladies about the lovely ceremony. When Marigold sees their conversation grow quiet, she stands from the table.
“Pardon me, I’m going to congratulate my mother on orchestrating such a wonderful event,” she says. She makes her way to Lady Claude’s side and hugs her tightly.
“This was perfect. Aster is so happy.”
“Oh, I am so glad,” her mother says in her ear. “And I am so grateful that you came.”
“I am, too. I would not have missed such an important day.”
Her mother smiles and cups Marigold’s cheek. “You look tired, darling. Did you get enough rest?”
Shaking her head, she says, “Apologies, Mother. Something happened last night. I spent hours adding more runes of protection about the estate to ease my anxieties.”
Her mother’s face contorts as she takes Marigold’s hand and leads her out of the room to a small sunroom, closing the door behind them. “What happened?”
With a deep breath, she says, “Last night, something made my magic surge out of control. I started summoning a storm and flames erupted around us.”
Her mother’s eyes darken. “Do you know what caused it?”
Marigold keeps her gaze to the floor. “I read in the grimoire that it could mean that ash magic was close by, but now I think it’s another symptom of the curse. There is something I didn’t tell you before. When Lottie and I get too close, it’s like the curse punishes her. And last night was the harshest punishment yet.”
“Were you close to Lottie when it occurred?”
Marigold blushes. “Very close. Too close. In the maze garden.”
Lady Claude gives her a knowing look. “That is so dangerous, Marigold. You should not risk your safety like that, or Lottie’s for that matter!”
“I didn’t mean to! That’s never happened before.”
Her mother closes her eyes tightly and places her hand on her own heart. “Please promise me you will not take a risk like that again. That woman could be your undoing if you are not careful.”
She envisions Lottie in her mind. They have a long ride back to Innisfree in the morning, and now August will not be with them. When they’re completely alone, will she be able to hold herself back?
“I promise,” she says, hoping that she will be able to keep it.
The rest of the morning blurs in the background. Thenewlyweds cut their cake and try the smallest piece, and then they are off for a glorious honeymoon. Lottie and August take time for themselves, away from everyone and everything else. Their goodbye will not be easy. It might even be harder than Marigold’s own goodbyes that she must make to her family. Her poor parents—everyone is leaving all at once. Aster is off on her honeymoon. Frankie will be adventuring with August. And Marigold will be back on Innisfree, fighting to keep her heart intact.
Chapter Thirty-Two
It has been said that one cannot ache more than they love, that love is all-consuming and more powerful than anything else. Marigold finds that to be completely untrue. It seems all she does is ache and wallow and wish that things were different. She feels all too similar to the way she did before she became a Honey Witch; she feels trapped.
And once again, there is nothing that she can do.
She stands at the bottom of the steps, waiting to get into the carriage behind her.
“My darling, we will miss you again so much,” her mother says.
She bites her lip. “I will miss you more.”
“Can you not stay, then?”
