Page 8 of With This Witch
“Which means what exactly?” Petra asks, a thread of hope audible in her tone.
“It means that you, my darling granddaughter, must find a partner and marry within the next month. If you don’t, the Rose family line will no longer hold the Premier Witch title. The title will shift to the Wilkses until the council deems them unsuitable to maintain it.”
Lachlan catches Petra as she sinks to the floor, defeated. She buries her face in his chest. A sense of longing, of wanting to hold her, but in different circumstances, rises within him.
“I can’t get married. I can’t get married,” she repeats into his shirt between sobs.
“This is asinine. They can’t hold her to this. We have to be able to fight it,” he says hotly, rubbing his hand along her back.
“They can, and they will. The council is unforgiving, as you know. They are tired of Roses in power. Plus, itistradition for the Premier Witch to be married before receiving the title. While the council at the time made an exception when I took the title because I was newly widowed, it appears that this council will not make any accommodations,” Gladys tells them.
“Then we need to help you find a way to prove to them that you are capable. That you can do this without needing a spouse,” Lachlan says to Petra, whose tears have slowed.
Lachlan notes a look of realization dawn on Petra’s face. “They never saidwhoI had to marry. Maybe I can marry Daisy! Wouldn’t that be a lovely way to spit in their face? Then, as soon as I have the title, we can divorce. It would help her with being invited back into the community and would solve my problem as well.”
Lachlan and Gladys look at each other. “As lovely as that could be—and trust me, I would be first in line to see the look on Grog’s face—I think it is important that the marriage appears legitimate,” Gladys says.
Petra deflates. “But he didn’t say that. All he said was I needed to get married.”
“True. But as a future Premier Witch, you are now under great scrutiny and need to ensure you are behaving as such. Which means you can’t try and make a farce out of this,” Gladys cautions.
Lachlan slowly caresses her back with his hand, drawing circles and figure-eights absentmindedly.What if…
“What if I married you?” Lachlan says, posing the question before he can think it through.
Petra bolts upright, pushing away from him. “I can’t ask you for that, Lachlan. As Gammy just said, it needs to at least look legitimate. I can’t do that to you.”
“You aren’t asking, I’m offering,” he says, confident and sure. He meant it, he realizes. He will happily marry her if it means being able to help her.
Petra takes a handkerchief from Gladys and wipes her face of tears, then takes Lachlan’s hand. “I appreciate the offer,but I can’t lock you in with me and this trouble. I should tell them I can’t do it and solve everyone’s problem. Let Sloan have it.”
“Petra, you can’t let Sloan get this title. This power—” Lachlan holds up a hand to stop Petra from interjecting. “Hear me out. We are, I would argue, good friends and have been for a few years. We already see each other almost daily, thanks to Daisy working for me. We know it would be a fake marriage, but the council won’t know the truth.” He pauses, thinking it through. “We would have to convince them that this wasn’t a rash thing to try and meet their demands, so we would have to be seen in public on dates as if we have a real relationship, but I don’t see a problem here. We can always agree to an open marriage later on,” he says, winking at her. “It’s a win-win for everyone. You get to keep the title in the family, and I get to help a friend in need.”
Lachlan lets go of Petra, kneeling on one knee in front of her. He holds out his hands as if opening a box, but of course nothing is in his hands. “What do you say? Petra Rose, will you fake-marry me?”
Lachlan watches the emotions play out across her face. She moves from disbelief to consideration to complete shock. She looks to her Gammy, seeking her approval.
Gladys gives the slightest of nods. “Given your timeline, I think this is your best option, my girl.”
Petra looks back at Lachlan. “Why not, Mr. Grace? Let’s do this.”
“The best answer I could have hoped for.” Lachlan laughs.
“Well, with that sorted, we need to start getting you ready to join council!” Gladys exclaims.
* * *
It’s a bleak-looking day outside the window, and despite the dark clouds and rain streaming down, Lachlan wonders if he will ever see the outside world again. This council meeting refuses to end. Lachlan hadn’t paid attention to a word Grog has said in the last few minutes, and certainly hasn’t heard what he’s just been asked.
“I’m sorry. Could you repeat the question?”
Councilor Clellugs glares at him. “Councilor Grace, I asked about your plan for the werewolves’ request to open a new restaurant. Given their nature, how can we be sure that products for consumption would be… edible for the public?”
“Well, I assume they would have to follow the same regulations as any other establishment,” he responds, bored and disinterested.
“Councilor Grace, I would be remiss if I did not strongly encourage you to return your attention to the matter at hand. You are not a twelve-year-old boy sitting through a history lesson. It is an honor to be a council member, and you must treat it as such by providing the duties afforded to you with the utmost attention,” Councilor Grog admonishes.
“And yet you treat me like a twelve-year-old and continually leave me out of council decisions,” he retorts. “If it is such an honor, why then, Grog, do you insist on disparaging it with corruption?”
