Page 60 of Must Love Scones and Secrets
“Thank you. The town has been…unforgettable.”
From the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of movement. Emmalyn stood at the edge of the veranda, her expression unreadable. When our eyes met, she gave me a long, measured look before hurrying away.
Something about her hasty departure made me uneasy, but I had no time to dwell on it. After exchanging some pleasantries with Elder Thornberry and his wife, I set off for the docks, Smoke trotting dutifully beside me.
The morning air was fresh and cool, laden with the scent of blooming flowers and baking bread. I tried not to think about how much the latter reminded me of Rosalyn, of her warm smile and flour-dusted hands.
As I reached the harbor, I spotted the riverboat preparing to depart. According to the harbormaster I’d spoken with late last night, it would be bound for Port Silverleaf, where I could catch a larger ship to Frostfjord.
“Almost out of here, boy,” I told Smoke, who seemed less than enthusiastic about our departure.
The truth was, I’d miss everything about Moonshine Hollow—the magical charm of the place, the friendly townsfolk who’d treated me like a regular person, the unicorns and fairies, and most of all, a certain pixie baker whose laughter had become my favorite sound in the world.
But wishes and regrets changed nothing. I’d lied to her, betrayed her trust, and now I had to live with the consequences.
I had just reached the gangplank when I heard someone shouting my name.
“Prince Bjorn! Wait!”
Turning, I was surprised to see Winifred hurrying toward me, her enormous hat bobbing precariously as she ran. Behind her came Emmalyn, clutching her side like she’d been sprinting.
“Don’t you dare get on that boat, young man!” Winifred called, wagging a finger at me as she approached. Despite being a third of my height, she managed to look impressively intimidating.
“I beg your pardon?” I said, genuinely confused.
Emmalyn reached us, panting. “Rosalyn,” she gasped out. “She was going to see you this morning. She was planning to try to work things out.”
My heart skipped a beat. “She was?”
“Yes,” Winifred said with annoyance. “And I will not let you sail away like some coward before she can speak her mind.”
“I’m not a coward,” I protested, stung by the accusation even though a small voice in my head whispered that she wasn’t entirely wrong. “I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone.”
“Best for everyone?” Winifred scoffed. “Or easiest for you?”
I winced. The gnome’s words hit uncomfortably close to the mark.
“Look,” Emmalyn said, her breathing finally returning to normal, “Aside from the lying, I don’t know exactly what happened between you and Rosalyn, but I know my friend genuinely cares for you. She deserves a chance to say what she needs to say. You owe her that much.”
“I spoke to her this morning,” Winifred said. “She was getting ready to visit you at the elder’s estate. If you hurry, you cancatch her before she leaves. Don’t leave things like this. Rosalyn deserves better.”
She was right, of course. Running away without giving Rosalyn a chance to speak her piece was cowardly. But what if she just wanted to tell me how much I’d hurt and disappointed her? I wasn’t sure I could bear it.
“Fix this,” Winifred said, meeting my gaze. Her look was piercing. “For her…and for you,Bjorn.”
“Yes… Yes, you’re right.”
“Oh! Oh, I know,” Emmalyn said, then reached into the bag Winifred was carrying and extracted…a book?
Winifred and Emmalyn exchanged glances, both of them smiling excitedly.
“Perfect! Perfect idea,” Winifred told Emmalyn then turned to me. “Here,” Winifred said, taking the book from Emmalyn and thrusting it into my hands. “Read chapter fifty-eight.”
“Chapter…chapter fifty-eight?” I looked down at the worn volume, its cover depicting a crown resting atop what appeared to be a pastry. The title readCrown and Crumpets.
“Right. Chapter fifty-eight,” Emmalyn agreed. “This is Rosalyn’s favorite book. Read it. You’ll understand.”
Feeling distinctly confused but seeing no other option, I opened the book to the indicated chapter and began to scan the text. It seemed to be some sort of romantic scene where the male protagonist, a royal lord, finally revealed his true identity—and his real feelings—to the baker’s daughter with whom he’d fallen in love. After much emotional back-and-forth, he proposed marriage in a grand gesture.
