Page 33 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Lift your hips for me,” he asked, and she did as she was told. He made a little knot in the drawstring, the furrow in his brow as he concentrated an adorable contrast to his firm orders.
Juliet tucked her hair behind her ears before glancing back up at him. His smile had been replaced with something she couldn’t quite name… fear, concern. Guilt cut through the moment; she hadn’t realised how much her leaving him had hurt him.
“I’m sorry I worried you.”
“It’s my job to worry about you.” Will secured his belt and knelt to press his lips to hers. Juliet shook her head, but he ran his fingers over her jaw and down her throat, and her breath caught. “I should get you home before Margot starts to wonder where you are, but we should wash up first.” He sounded disappointed that she’d have to leave.
“She’s probably going out of her mind with worry,” Juliet agreed.
“Don’t worry, I told Harvey you were with me. Though I left out where.” He smiled, and she wished it didn’t make her insides melt. Another hour or two wasn’t going to make a difference.
They left Will’s home after finally getting around to breakfast. She was full and satisfied in more ways than one, but it still felt like she’d got back too soon. They arrived in the alley a few streets over from the apartment block, since randomly appearing inside probably wouldn’t be good for Margot’s heart. Even with some fresh air and the short walk to her building, Juliet’s stomach churned a little thanks to travelling by Air Bell.
“The next few weeks aren’t going to be easy, but you need to keep the past twenty-four hours to yourself,” Will warned, opening the door to her apartment building. He followed her inside, and she wasn’t surprised when he stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She was better off facing Margot alone.
“I don’t like lying to Margot,” she said, hesitating to make a promise. If only she could tell Margotsomething, just to have someone to share all this craziness with.
“I know, and I wish you didn’t have to, but this is for her own good.”
She nodded reluctantly, wishing they’d spent less time on his stairs and more time getting back to how he’d got caught up with the chest and her family. There were so many answers she needed, but she didn’t even know how or where to start asking.
“I put my number in your phone,” Will said, kissing her cheek. He handed her back her dress from the gala and her clutch bag. Good thing he’d taken it, or she probably would’ve tried to ping her location to Margot in a panic, and how would she have explained that she was at the North Pole? Then again, she doubted her service provider even covered secret winter villages. “I suggest you go through the letters in the chest, and call me if you need anything. Even if it’s just someone to talk to.”
“When will I see you again?” She didn’t want to be too far from the only person who knew what she was going through.
“Soon – and be careful with the bell. I don’t want to have to chase you down again.” He winked.
Since he had a habit of just appearing, Juliet didn’t doubt him. She watched him head out, and took a deep breath before taking the stairs. Getting out her keys to her apartment, she saw her phone was truly dead. At least she wouldn’t have to lie about that.
“Where have you been?” Margot snapped before she even had a chance to take her shoes off.
“I’m sorry—” Juliet barely got out the apology before Margot suffocated her in a hug.
“Don’t leave me like that ever again! When I got home, you were gone. Victor didn’t have a clue where you went. I called the hospitals, but the cops wouldn’t do a thing until forty-eight hours passed. You scared me to death!” Margot dragged her to the couch. “Tell me everything, and leave nothing out!”
Juliet winced, realising she had forgotten about the time difference. The kitchen clock told her it was already well past two in the afternoon. She tried to conceal her guilt as she lied,staying as close to the truth as possible. She went over how Fiona Caldwell had humiliated her in the toilets, and despite standing up for herself, Juliet had got upset and ended up leaving the party before crying in public. Will had followed her to check if she was all right, and one thing had led to another, so she’d ended up staying the night with him, and he’d given her some clothes to come home in. She pointed out that her phone had died – thankfully Margot was too engrossed in the gossip to ask why she hadn’t just charged it. She left out the travelling bell, now concealed in her pocket, Lyla, and most importantly, Yule.
“On the stairs? Interesting choice, but bravo,” Margot smirked, snuggling with her hot water bottle.
“How was your evening with Harvey?” Juliet hadn’t mentioned that Will had brought his friend as a distraction.
Margot sighed, resting her head on the back of the couch. “He wants me to come and work for him, but I refused. Then he wanted to sleep with me, but I refused that too. Now he won’t stop calling. If the rumours are true, then he’s used to getting what he wants. I plan on making him work for it.” She smirked, enjoying the game.
Juliet grinned. Margot had a way of making men fall at her feet – but Harvey might be her match, given that he’d managed to convince her to have dinner with him tonight.
Once she’d showered and climbed into her comfiest pjs, she decided to spend the day lounging in front of the TV to give herself time to absorb all she had learned.
With the apartmentto herself that evening, Juliet pulled out the chest from under her bed. A small part of her neededto verify what Lyla and Will had told her, even if she’d seen Yule with her own eyes. To believe that such a magical place could exist for thousands of years without discovery seemed impossible, implausible – not in the modern world, where information was power and technology made nothing secret.
Unfolding one of the oldest letters, dated twenty-five years ago, Juliet took a deep breath and settled into the pillows on her bed.
Dear Ms Eloise Heart…
Juliet ran her fingers over the name. Eloise Heart.Mom. Tears stained the paper before she could stop them. She hurried through the next few sentences, desperate to learn something, anything, about the woman who’d left her with the Frost family.
I was under the impression that we had come to an agreement last winter that you would leave my family alone, which is why I was surprised to receive a letter from Mr Klaus stating that the banishment of the Frost family and its descendants will not be voided by order of the Council of Yule.
I appreciate your effort to confer with the Council of Yule on our behalf, but I’m afraid there is no undoing the past. The Frost family has lived in banishment for three generations, and we are at peace in the Outside. Unfortunately, your relationship with my son, forbidden by Yule law, has opened a wound that will not easily heal.
