Now that he was standing beside his sister, the resemblance was obvious. Eleanora and Frederick both had the same copper hair as Xander and the same delicate bone structure and elegance.
Frederick was in his late thirties and was quite handsome, which led to the irritating realization that if Xander aged like his uncle, he would never stop being beautiful.
How annoying.
Bisma should have realized sooner that Frederick Chapman wastheUncle Fred Xander often spoke of, the same uncle he had stayed with in Whitebridge while he was completing his studies.
As if she’d summoned him, Xander appeared, standing beside his uncle, mother, and the mayor. His father must have been out on business, otherwise this picture-perfect family would have been complete.
Xander was wearing a fine topcoat above a waistcoat, both pieces of clothing a dark teal that Bisma imagined the deep ocean to be. The effect was quite regal, and she found herself staring.
Bisma did not even notice Lady Charlotte addressing the crowd to introduce Frederick, until everyone was clapping. She averted her gaze from Xander to his uncle, watching as Frederick stood up behind the podium.
‘Good afternoon, dearest citizens of Old Town!’ Frederick said, his voice just as charming as his nephew’s. He gave the crowd a dazzling smile as they cheered. ‘I am honored to be here, in this great town of my youth. As many of you know, my family has run the Chapman Apothecary since the very inception of Old Town; you may know my big sister, Eleanora.’ He turned to toss a wink at her. ‘Because of this, Old Town has a special place in my heart. No matter where I travel, I always come back to this little village,’ he continued. ‘Old Town has undeniable charm—where do you think I get it from?’ The crowd chuckled along withhim. ‘I firmly believe this town, with its wonderful spirit, is an untapped gold mine.
‘Now, you must be thinking, “Frederick, what are you going on about?” Well, let me tell you! As of now, because Old Town is well …old, most business passing through this area goes straight to Stoneville. However, if Old Town expanded and renewed, it could become as metropolitan—and successful—as Whitebridge, or dare I say, even Castletown! And that is exactly why I am here: I wish to see Old Town—and its people—prosper, and the king himself has commissioned me for this cause!’
Frederick finished his speech with a grand flourish. Immediately, the crowd erupted with applause and cheers. Beside Frederick, Xander clapped fervently, looking up to his uncle with stars in his eyes. He clearly idolized the man.
Bisma rolled her eyes. It was a grand speech, to be sure, but it lacked any actual specific plans. It didn’t matter to her anyway; she did not care much for Old Town. The Enchanted Forest was her home, and it would always be safe and perfectly enough for her and her family.
As the crowd continued to cheer, Bisma turned to leave, though not without one final glance in Xander’s direction. He was absorbed with his uncle, standing up there on the stage, and for once, he did not approach her.
Good, she told herself. She would not be bothered by him, which was excellent, though she couldn’t help the strange twinge of disappointment she felt as a result.
Bisma made her way home. On the way, she saw a rose bush and plucked as many flowers as her basket could hold; she would put them in bowls of water around the house for the sweet smell.
As she continued her journey, she tossed some nuts and berries from her basket to the crows as she walked along, skipping over branches and waving to the rabbits.
When she arrived home, Bisma hugged and kissed all her sisters hello, then retired to her room to freshen up. The moment she entered her room, her gaze strayed to her bed, and a thrill shot through her.
A letter!
She had responded the other day to tell her new friend about her day, to describe what she had been busy with, and she was excited now to hear about his life. She had learned that the writer was a boy, a bit older than her, but there was still so much to learn about him.
Bisma was just about to unfold the paper when she heard a cry from downstairs.
‘BAJI!’ Azalea yelled.
Alarm cut through Bisma; she threw the letter down on her bed and hurried down the stairs.
When she arrived, she saw it wasn’t anything serious. Bisma released a long breath.
‘They’re being so ANNOYING,’ Azalea said, pointing at Nori and Deeba, who sat on the floor by her feet. It looked like Azalea was trying to do some embroidery on a dress.
‘Stop bothering your sister,’ Bisma scolded.
‘We didn’t even do anything!’ Nori cried, outraged by the accusation, while Deeba giggled.
‘Did so!’ Azalea snapped. ‘Now go away! Or I’ll undo that hole I mended in your stuffed rabbit!’
Nori never slept without that rabbit, so this threat was enough to scare the wits from her.
‘Baji!’ Nori wailed, tears already filling her eyes at the prospect.
‘Okay, okay, let’s all stay calm,’ Bisma said, coming toward them. ‘Nori, I think you’re hungry, let’s have a little snack. Does Deeba want a little snack?’ She reached for both their hands and helped them to their feet.
‘I’m not hungry,’ Nori said, crossing her arms and pouting.
