Page 38 of Potions and Proposals
“I wasn’t smoking my pipe, and I wasn’t talking about the new professor,” Grams said.
Wilhelmina opened the front door and was visibly taken aback when Benedict greeted her with a nervous smile.
Sorry for intruding. I wanted…” He didn’t get a chance to finish his lame excuse.
“That was kind of you, but we’ve got company.” Wilhelmina’s welcome was far cooler than her mother’s. Benedict didn’t doubt she suspected him of scheming for her daughter’s position. He didn’t even know how the High Priestess would react if she knew her daughter’s element ran through his veins because of the spell she’d cast. He wanted to be angry about the hypocrisy, but any spike in mood might cause another inexplicable storm.
“I know it’s very late in the evening, but I felt I had to stop by and apologise for the other night. No matter what happens between me and Lucinda I only want the best for the coven,” he said, stepping up onto the porch.
Wilhelmina, usually all light and warmth, studied him for a moment longer than was comfortable.
“I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt Lucinda or your family,” Benedict added. He hated sounding so vulnerable, but he needed them to see he could still be trusted. If he and Lucinda were to solve their element situation, he couldn’t have her family blocking his path to her.
Wilhelmina’s expression softened.“There’s no need to apologise. I only hope things work out – not only for the coven, but for my daughter and you.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Grams jumped in. “Everything will work out as it should.” She winked again.
Benedict swallowed. He knew exactly what they were up to to ensure it did. He only wished they truly believed in his good intentions. If they did, they never would have cast such a spell to keep him and Lucinda apart.I suppose I can’t blame them for wanting to protect their own.
“He even brought the teas you were looking for from the manor.” Grams handed the paper bag full of teas to Wilhelmina, who quickly accepted.
“Thank you, they work wonders for my digestion!” Wilhemia beamed, though she didn’t follow up with an invitation to join them as Benedict had hoped. Instead she glanced inside, as though concerned about something, which only piqued his interest about the stranger at their table. “Have a good evening.”
The High Priestess headed back inside, and Grams rose from her chair. Benedict set his jaw. The best way to get to Lucinda’s heart and Wilhelmina’s table was to get Grams on his side.
“On my way over, I popped into Myrtle’s Herb Shop. The rare waterworm root you were looking for last month came in.” He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small glass jar, exposing the golden root within. “I thought I’d save you the trip.”
“Are you trying to bribe your way into this house?” Grams whispered, accepting the jar.
“Is it working?” Benedict offered her his arm and cheekiest grin.
Tiny Grams slapped him on the back with the force of a woman who’d worked for the benefit of others for her whole life. “Come inside. There’s plenty of dessert to go around.”
She shoved him through to the dark purple dining room before disappearing into the kitchen. Benedict found Lucinda alone; the dinner table had already been cleared, and she waslaying out dessert bowls. He noticed the fire in the corner of the room. He wondered if she had used his element to light it. He met Lucinda’s gaze. She rolled her eyes as though reading his mind. The thought of her using his magic stirred something unexpected in him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Hi to you too. Grams kindly invited me for dessert.”
Lucinda’s eyes narrowed.“What did you bribe her with?”
“How well you know me,” he quipped, but his smile faded when a man in a cream jumper entered the dining room, the sides of his floppy fringe hanging over the rims of his glasses. He didn’t need to guess that this was the professor, though he was far younger than expected. Benedict had assumed Rosie was just trying to wind him up, and hoped to find a balding middle-aged man who lacked any form of social etiquette. This one was young, put-together, had an aura of aristocracy about him…
“And this is?” Benedict asked, staring down the man standing a little too close to Lucinda.
“Emerson Hughes.” Emerson extended his hand, which Benedict would’ve accepted had the professor not continued. “The Order sent me to collect some work Lucinda has done for us.”
Benedict’s jaw clenched. Though he preferred to focus on the future, anyone with his lineage wouldn’t want to look back either. However, Lucinda’s pleading eyes forced him to take the man’s hand.
“Benedict Matherson,” he ground out, and shook the man’s hand before taking the empty seat beside Lucinda. She glared at him, but there was no way he was letting an Order member get so close to her.Wait. Why am I getting all protective of her? It must be her element.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m staying in your hotel, or manor, I should say,” Emerson took the seat across from him. Afew inches further away from Lucinda, but still not far enough for Benedict’s liking.
“I hope you have a pleasant stay.” He forced himself to be civil; the man was a paying guest after all. Also, upsetting Lucinda could result in the room burning down around them. He didn’t like that she was letting a member of the Order who had hunted their kind for generations eat at her table, let alone see the vault, one of their most sacred places. She’d never extendedhimany such invitation. Lucinda would never let him assist her– unless under the influence of a mysterious tea.
He wasn’t jealous, he told himself, and yet when Emerson smiled thankfully at his intended when she offered him a dessert spoon, Benedict felt the wash of her element threatening to spill out.
“I’m sure I will,” Emerson answered him. “The place is exquisitely restored. The Victorian mouldings are so tastefully maintained. The porcelain statues, the teardrop chandeliers– I never thought I would get to see the inside of a Matherson Manor.”
