Page 73 of Potions and Proposals
“You light up around him,” Lucy gently pointed out. She hadn’t even taken the time to check in on how her friend was feeling. She knew it wasn’t easy to have feelings for someone who was supposed to be your enemy.
“Like a bulb?” Rosie mocked. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Nope. Now that the grimoire is out of my hands, I’ve actually got some free time!” A weight lifted from her shoulders. If it hadn’t been for the curse-stripping potion and her pending nuptials, she really would have nothing left to worry about.
“Well, I do.” Rosie grabbed her files. “They found a weird symbol at the site of a disappearance in Willow Valley last week, and I’ve been asked to consult. Lock up when you leave.”
“You’ll do anything not to talk about your love life?” Lucy followed her to the door. It was the first time she’d seen Rosie run away from her.
“Nice ring. Wearing it even when you aren’t around the coven or Benedict?” Rosie shot back.
Lucy’s smile disappeared, and she held her hands behind her back. “Thought you had to get to the train station.”
Rosie winked, all bundled up in her coat and pink beret. “I was just leaving.”
Lucy finished ordering in the lantern lights they’d discussed at the last coven meeting. Humming to herself, she put away the returns for the day. She wanted to make sure Rosie came back tomorrow to find the library in perfect order.
Suddenly, she clutched her red sweater as her gut twisted. The candle on the desk blew into a giant flame. Terror forced her eyes closed.
Seconds later, she found herself standing in the lobby of Matherson Manor, six inches deep in water.
Releasing her grasp on her crumpled sweater, Lucy watched in bewilderment as disgruntled guests carrying their suitcases headed towards the revolving doors.Holy Goddess, Benedict flooded the Manor?She began to sweat.Maybe leaving each other alone for a few days wasn’t the best idea.
She looked down at her ruined black suede boots. “They were my favourite pair,” she said sadly, lifting a foot.
“Lucinda Hawthorne!” Gwendoline barked.
Lucy jumped, sending ripples through the water. This wasn’t going to be pretty.
She wanted to flee, but Gwendoline was already hurrying down the grand staircase to yell at her future daughter-in-law. “Why are we five inches deep in water?”
Lucy opened her mouth. She had no idea what to say. Even if she told the truth and said it wasn’t her, the circumstances looked extremely damning, and she couldn’t tell Gwendoline about the element swap.
“Close your mouth, dear! Are you a trout?” Gwendoline snapped, the ends of her dress soaking up the water. “Speak up.”
Lucy didn’t want the coven to think she couldn’t control her element, but she couldn’t let Benedict be reprimanded for her family’s mistake.
“I-I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened,” she stammered. “I was on my way to see Benedict and I… lost control!”What the hell happened to him?
Gwendoline smoothed her hands over her slick bob, taking a slow breath. “I don’t know what is going on between the two of you– whether you fought or what – but please keep the Manor out of it. I can’t even find Benedict.”
“You can’t find him? Is he not here?”
“Aren’t you listening? He’s nowhere to be found. Suzy called me about an issue with some unruly guests. I get here and findyoustanding in my flooded lobby!” Gwendoline pinched the bridge of her nose.
Trouble with guests? That might explain his loss of control… but how bad could the complaint have been, for him to flood the reception – and then leave without cleaning up his mess?Waterslipped into the top of Lucy’s boots as she walked towards Gwendoline.
“I can’t apologise enough. I’ll fix this,” she assured her, though she had no idea how.
Gwendoline looked to the guests waiting outside, some looking rather impatient.“Hurry, please, we’re fully booked. I don’t want anyone leaving because of this incident.”
Not knowing what else to do, Lucy knelt, ignoring her sodden clothes. Reaching into the cold water, her palm settled on the rough carpet. Sensing her magic emanating around her yet not being able to harness it saddened her, but she could feel the anger that had caused it. Something had happened to infuriate Benedict, and for once she had nothing to do with it.
“Well? Can you undo this or not?” Gwendoline demanded, leaning over her. Lucy hesitated, shaking water off her hand. There was no way to explain herself. Her palms began to sweat as they heated. She had no choice but to tell the truth.
“I can explain,” she began, but to her relief, her mum interrupted.
“What on earth?” Wilhelmina said, struggling with the revolving door. She looked to Gwendoline, sloshing through the lobby. “I was on my way to meet you at Stoker’s when I heard some guests talking about the flooding!”
