Page 36 of Potions and Proposals
She eyed the pin on his tweed blazer. “Don’t wearthatin public. I’m surprised you were able to check in to the Manor with it on. Though we work together, there are still some in town who would prefer if we didn’t.”The same few that would love to use his arrival as a great excuse to take my position from me. The wounds of the past may have healed, but the scars remained.
“I was wearing a coat when I checked in,” he admitted, touching his fingers to the pin as if to conceal it.
“I’d hate for you to run into anyone who’d take issue without knowing the full story. There’s no way a Matherson would allow anyone from the Order to stay within their establishment unless the coven ordered it. Old vendettas die hard.” And the matter between the Mathersons and the Order wasn’t all that old.
“I suppose I’m so used to it opening doors. I never thought it’d be the reason some closed.” Emerson removed the pin without hesitation.
“Maybe in the magless world. Just be glad you weren’t meeting with the wolves in the woods.”
He frowned as the torches dimmed around them. “Why?”
“I believe the Order still has hunters…” She trailed off.
“Different department,” he said quickly. She was surprised he didn’t deny it. “I don’t agree with all their practices. My role is to bridge the gap between us. There are many, especially as new generations move up in the ranks, who wish for us to move forward together.”
The gargoyles confirmed his words. If he believed in harming magical folk, they wouldn’t have let him get this far.
Curiosity won over subtlety. “If you feel this way, why join the Order in the first place? Where there are those who would wish we didn’t exist at all?”
He hesitated. “Are there not some in your own communities who believe that magless are second to your kind?”
He had a point, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “Touché.” If he was going to be honest, so would she. “There are some of magical descent who believe magless are inferior, but I suspect such ideas come from the pain of the past. A desire to punish those in the present for crimes committed against their ancestors,” she said, stepping up onto the platform. “Like you said, the more we work together, the more time can change things.”
An air of understanding settled between them as the ceiling opened above them. “There’s a safe in my room. I’ll leave the pin there for the duration of my stay,” Emerson said, putting it in his pocket.
“Now that the awkwardness is out of the way, you can relax. I’ll discuss your vault access with the High Priestess this evening.”
He let out an exaggerated breath. “Thank you.”
“You mentioned that you worked with my father?” Lucy asked.
“In passing. I’ve been to a few of Mr Hawthorne’s lectures on lost relics. Due to my position with the Order, I bounce around a lot, but I hope to settle soon.”
Lucy wondered what else he did for the Order. He’d done everything she asked and more, so there was no need to be hostile. It’d also be easier to learn more about him if she introduced him to her family, and a welcoming dinner was the perfect excuse.
“Dad would want me to invite you to dinner. You don’t know anyone in town, and they don’t know you. If you come to Hawthorne House, it’ll let everyone know that you’re here with good intentions, especially if you’re going to work at the university. The town can be awfully suspicious of newcomers, particularly magless with Order connections.” She reminded herself to ask later how he’d managed to get a position at the university. Perhaps her dad had given him a good if not great reference, and that was why he hadn’t gone into more detail.
“I’d be delighted. The drive here was rather endless, and service station food leaves much to be desired,” he said, clearly excited to meet the High Priestess of Foxford.
“We eat at seven – bring your appetite. Once I tell Grams we’ve company, she’ll put on a feast. Are you okay to get around in the meantime? I’ve got some translations to finish.” It didn’t look great that she’d been organising old texts when he arrived. She didn’t want him to report that she wasn’t working on the grimoire.
“Don’t let me keep you. I can get to know the town, and meet you back here when the library closes?”
They returned to the library floor. Rosie was in her usual spot, trying to fix the outdated computers. Lucy wasn’t sure about letting Emerson wander freely before she had a chance to talk with her mum about his arrival.
“If you’ve got time to kill, you could help Rosie with her research? She’s working on a cold case for the next village over.” Rosie would get plenty of information out of him.
Emerson looked unsure as he gazed at the petite werewolf.
“You don’t need to worry. She might’ve claws, but she also has one of the biggest hearts in town,” Lucy whispered.
He swallowed at her mention of claws.God, this town will eat him alive if he’s allowed to wander at will.
“I’ll ask her,” he decided, colour returning to his cheeks. “After all, I did come here to be of service.”
“She can also fill you in on the town.” Lucy didn’t want him heading too far into the woods by accident. “Show you some of the no-go areas.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Rosie said, returning to the desk with a computer under her arm as though it weighed nothing.
