“An awful lot of young witch girls are coming up and exploring.I daresay some of them have set their sights on human men.”
“Scandalous,” I said without heat.Even I had to admit that there weren’t many options in Witch Village.I knew perhaps two boys near my age, one of whom was my brother, and the other one very much like a brother.Even still, human men were frowned upon ever since Seraphina Barclay ended up dead after eloping with one.It worked out for the village that there were so few romantic matches every year—space was limited, so children were had sparingly.
Miriam plucked an errant snail from a low table and placed it into a globed terrarium.“I must say I know the siren call of business myself, but I hate to think that a girl as young as you has only work for her companion.What about that tour last winter?Meet any handsome guards?”
“One,” I said, embarrassed that my mind immediately went to Maddox.He had made it clear he found my attraction uncomfortable.I had ceased and started treating him like an annoying brother instead, a role he played far too well.
“Oho, is that a blush I see?”Miriam teased.She settled herself on the orange pouf across from me.“Tell me more about this guard.Is he dark-haired?Blond?”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I said, standing.“I should really get going.”
“At least stay for tea and biscuits.”
“Alright.”I sat back down at the prospect of food.Ihadskipped breakfast to come here.
After treating me to a plate of chocolate biscuits and strong black tea, Miriam retreated to the back room behind a beaded curtain, leaving me to curl up on one of her poufs and sew.I’d brought the unfinished skirt of Narcissa’s wedding gown, which consisted of seven flared panels of luminous ivory satin yet to be stitched together.
The dress would be simple but magnificent, lending more attention to the wearer than itself.It would be the dress to end all dresses—my best creation yet.
I threaded my needle and began a line of running backstitches along the seams, relishing the feel of the buttery soft satin between my fingers and the sound of silk thread pulling through fabric.
By the time I had finished sewing the panels together, it was nearing noon and my spool of white silk thread had run out.I squinted at the rays of sun slipping through the windows.Regretfully, I had to return to my shop where Mrs.Lewis was sure to be lurking.
Standing, I put away my work and said goodbye to Miriam, who emerged from her beaded curtain to see me off cheerily—though not without a few more prodding questions about my love life, which I pointedly ignored.
4
Imade it back to myshop swiftly, stopping before the door to fumble for the keys in my pocket.As I picked through loose buttons and pieces of lint, voices drifted from behind the building; one sounded very familiar.
“I don’t know how else to continue.My property can only handle so much!”Mrs.Lewis said in her squawking voice.
Someone shushed her, a harsh sound that cut through the silence of the street.“Be quiet,” an oily male voice said.“Continue you must, if you want the funds.”
I stilled.Funds?For all I knew, Mrs.Lewis got her money from two places—my rent, and her daughter’s generosity, the latter of which she never failed to boast about.Who was this mysterious man?I was half-tempted to round the building and take a look, but the white of my blouse was far too conspicuous against the dark alleyway and grimy bricks.
“But I—”
