“But youarea witch.”
She gave me a pointed look.“I wasn’t raised like one.For all they know, I’ve only been one for a year.”
Of course.Narcissa was first and foremost a lady, appearing as human as they come.But me?I was a charmwitch of Witch Village, as authentic as they come.
There wasn’t a day I wasn’t reminded of that.
I walked over to the platform again, retrieving the abandoned mock-sleeve from the floor.
“But why do you need me specifically?”I argued, even though I knew exactly why.
They expect me to have things under control if any scuffles broke out, I thought bitterly.It was the reason I got accepted into the Witch Committee in the first place.
I stuffed the scrap of fabric into my pocket.
The maid in the room came forward with a silken pouch.Narcissa took it from her and offered it to me.
“Consider it,” she said.“Here’s your payment.”It jingled, the satin sagging with the weight of my upcoming rent and then some.She then produced a copper coin from her pocket and pressed it into my hand.
“Are you bribing me?”I said, forcing a smile.“That’s not very princess-like.”
Narcissa smiled back, though hers was genuine.“It’s for your ride back.”
I took the coin, turning it in my palm.It was polished to a high shine, one side stamped with the royal insignia, the other, the Greenwood crest—a sword before an oak leaf.
Was itthatobvious I didn’t have money to spare?
6
One week later, I wasin for another unpleasant surprise.Mrs.Lewis stood before my counter just as I emerged from my back room, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.The patter of rain sounded from the roof and a chill hung in the air—it would be a dreary day, it seemed.
“There you are, witch girl.”Mrs.Lewis focused a sharp glare on me.“What have you been doing?”
“Sleeping,” I said, pulling my shawl tighter around my shoulders.“I was up late working on a client’s dress.”It was partly a lie.I had spent the better part of the week losing sleep over Crown Prince Bennett’s job offer and barely making any progress with Narcissa’s wedding dress, save for crossing out the wrong skirt length measurement and writing down the correct one in my notebook.
Mrs.Lewis was dressed in a much nicer gown than her usual gray sack.It was a deep blue wool, nowhere near as faded as the rest of her clothing.“I need lanolin soap.Three bars.Get them at that new department store, Blanche de Clare.”
