Eva Mae accepts a cup of tea from Ms. Zeen. “Blanche says we’re the first folks inside in decades.”
Ms. Buchanan snorts. “Blanche also says she remembers the Civil War.”
“And you don’t, Beulah?” Arna Jean asks.
“Hush your mouth.”
Governess Zeen turns to Carolina. “Speaking of Hearthwitches, the Widow Witch might have broken through our warding the other day if not for the protection spell you placed on Ms. Frost. Remarkable spellwork.”
Mention of the town’s least favorite seasonal tradition sends the jovial mood into the deep end of unease.
Carolina huffs. “Can you believe I actually offered to make one for Gertha Fudge, since she seemed even more anxious than usual this spring? She slammed the door in my face!”
Eva Mae sips tea with one hand and runs the other over her tummy. “She tried to convince me to stay inside until the baby comes. Lectured me about how all thesoulless magicin the air was no good fora lady in the family way.”
Ms. Buchanan scoffs. “Pastor Webb’s got her stirred into a frenzy this year. He’s up to something.”
As I clean, I mull over what Ms. Buchanan said earlier. Noxie is someone who could use the Widow Witch’s unique curriculum vitae. So it doesn’t seem a stretch to assume that in her long life, the Widow Witch has taken some terrible husbands—and created a few grateful widows.
“We’ll have to put poor Gertha’s mind at ease, bless her heart,” Carolina says. “Honey, have you been kidnapped, tortured, maimed, drawn and quartered, or encountered any bodily danger while staying here?”
The copper pots rattle above the island, but the ladies don’t notice. “Not yet.”
Ms. Buchanantsks. “I am curious about that boy, though. You mean to tell me this Warlock was charming enough to catch at least one young lady to have a baby?”
I accidentally drop the stack of empty trays I’m juggling, and the clatter ricochets right over Eva Mae’s halfhearted, chastising “Beulah!”
“What? If he’s a bachelor, I need escorts to Gertha’s ridiculous church luncheons. Woman boils my blood but she makes a damn fine pineapple upside-down cake. And she lets me bring my Long Island iced teas if I don’t cause a fuss.”
Attempting to digest the topic of the Warlock’s procreation habits, I struggle to gather the rebellious trays. And I can’t even blame this ornery house for my clumsiness this time.
Ms. Buchanan smacks her lips at me. “Hang in there, sugar. Learning a new kitchen is like learning a new car or man. The mechanics are the same but all the buttons are in different places, depending on your model.”
Oh Lord. I want to jam my head into the hottest door of the AGA. I compose myself long enough to say, “Lazlo is an orphan.”
“Mr. Knight was his next of kin,” Ms. Zeen explains.
Carolina leans forward, lowering her voice. “I heard the Widow Witch used to leave widowers behind, too. Not just widows.”
Eva Mae fidgets. “Lord, I amnotletting my husband raise this baby alone. I love him, but Hatton’s cornbread isn’t always done in the middle, if you know what I mean.”
Ms. Buchanan nods. “You’ll be fine, dear. Your Hatton seems like a good fellow.”
“But she’s nevernottaken someone before. What is she waiting for?”
I’m with Eva Mae, and I don’t even have a husband to worry about. The Witch just changes her routine without any sort of ulterior motive? If she doesn’t end up taking whatever unfortunate marital soul is next on her list, I worry that could give Webb’s claim at the market credence. How would we prove the Witches of the Hollerdon’tattract the Widow Witch’s ire?
“The Witch will do what she has always done,” Ms. Zeen says. “As she pleases.”
Ms. Buchanan jabs a bony finger into the table. “If I were a betting woman—”
“You are a betting woman, Beulah,” Carolina says.
“Hush—I’d bet the Witch is busy trying to balance something that’s gone crooked. And if anyone’s capable of causing an imbalance of magic,well.”
She means a Warlock is responsible.
While the others don’t know what I do about the Warlock’s curse, he says the Witch’s attention on him doesn’t have anything to do with her absence this year. I might believe him. He’s not a husband, and if taking him would’ve met her quota, she’d have done it already.
