Laughter bubbled up my throat.“My condolences.”
She took my hands and squeezed.“I’m so glad you’ve come back, Gigi.Did you mean to surprise us?”
I kept smiling, though guilt twisted my stomach at her words.I hadn’t planned on visiting home at all, which meant not seeing Christabella, even though she was the only one whose presence wouldn’t be a punishment.It was a shame that Ma wasalwaysaround her.Taking advantage of her absence now, I pulled Christabella into a hug.
“I missed you,” I said instead.
“I missed you too.”She pulled away and tossed her two waist length braids behind her shoulders.“So, update me!How is the kingdom aboveground?”
Briefly, I summarized my time at the Witch Committee, my temporary post as the royal seamstress during last winter’s tour, and opening my own dress shop.Christabella’s brown eyes grew even wider.
“Wow Gigi, you really made it up there,” she breathed.
I let my chest puff out with pride before it ultimately deflated.On paper, it was an impressive list of accomplishments.My past self would’ve been amazed.But my present self knew the truth of things, and I knew nothing would ever impress Ma.
“Thanks Chrissy.”I hoped she didn’t notice how my smile trembled at the edges. “Look, I have to go now, but see if you can come to Alexander’s place after Ma is done.We can talk more there.”
Christabella furrowed her brows.“Why do you have to leave so soon?”
“I’ll explain everything later.I promise.Just meet us at Alexander’s.”
“Alright,” she said hesitantly.“Should I tell—?”
“Don’t tell Ma anything!”
Christabella pinched her lips together and nodded profusely.
After hugging her goodbye, I ducked past the wheelbarrow of flour and headed back toward the house, half-running and half-walking.Better to check on Edmund quickly before Ma decided to come back.
Just as I reached the porch, the door opened, and out came Edmund in a ravishing ensemble.He wore a seafoam waistcoat, a brown coat, beige breeches, and an ochre necktie that all fit him to perfection.It was the perfect balance between wealthy gentleman and casual farm boy.Maddox followed behind him, dressed in his typical manner of whatever clothing he had on hand.
I caught up to the two, unable to keep the blush from my cheeks when Edmund directed a smile at me.
“Welcome to your first morning in Witch Village,” I said to him, adopting an official-sounding tone.“This is the first day of the Harvest.Every witch is entitled to a portion of the season’s produce and obligated to make something delicious to share with everyone by the end of the week.There will be a celebration at the village square, but it’s not much.Not interesting at all,” I added hastily.The last thing I wanted was to parade Edmund around in the most populous part of the village.
“Sounds fun,” Edmund said, surveying the fields and the wooden stands erected along the dirt paths.“Shall we go and introduce ourselves to everyone?”
I winced.Somehow I assumed Edmund would prefer being a silent observer, a reporter on the sidelines.The witches who currently remained in the village, despite having an opportunity to go aboveground, were the stubborn, old-fashioned sort, and I doubted they would welcome a human visitor with open arms.The less people we talked to, the better.
“Maybe not now,” I said to Edmund.Holing up clearly wasn’t going as planned.“I should probably get everyone acquainted with...the situation.”That was a lie.But if Iwereto have him meet witches, I’d have to first find ones who were significantly more open-minded than their peers so I could curate the best experience possible.Beatrice was definitely not one of them.
Edmund raised his brows.“No one was informed of my visit?”
It was a good question I did not know the answer to.Those in the Witch Committee should’ve informed the village of an emissary visit, but Ferdinand and Rowena hadn’t mentioned it, and a witch never wanted to be the harbinger of bad news.It was bad luck.So naturally, that duty must have fallen to me.
Perhaps this could work in my favor.If I didn’t tell anyone, nobody would know.
“Introductions can wait until tomorrow, Edmund,” I said with a smile.
He nodded congenially.
Not knowing what else to do, I offered him the bag of roasted peanuts.“Peanut?”
“Thank you.”Edmund popped one into his mouth.“It’s good.”
“Peanut?”I said, turning to Maddox who had been trailing behind us.
He held up his hands.“I’m deathly allergic.Runs in the family.”
