‘Drink that and sit still. All your pacing is making me dizzy.’
‘I can’t help it.’
Hamlet had been trying to stay with her, but even her faithful companion had his limits. He gave up on Helena’s twentieth turn from the dining room table to the hearth. Padding over to Ellie and Ophelia, the ferret scampered down Ellie’s bluebell skirt to wind herself around Hamlet, rubbing her face against his in interspecies infatuation.
‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Clio had joined them for dinner after receiving Helena’s desperate note.
‘Murder!’ Sir Robin flapped his impressive wings.
‘Yes, thank you, Sir Robin. Helpful as always.’ Aunt Rowan raised her brow as the raven bobbed his head.
‘She could reject her powers, decide we are a bunch of devil worshipers, and refuse to ever speak to us again.’ Helena couldn’t breathe. Perhaps sheshouldstop pacing. She was quite certain she was going to collapse in a heap. But this was unprecedented.
‘She’d never do something so ridiculous.’ Ellie waved her hand and giggled. As if the world weren’t about to end.
Helena glared at her. ‘You are an infuriatingly optimistic woman.’
Ellie’s cheeks flushed. ‘Hel! You say the sweetest things.’
‘That wasn’t a compliment.’
‘I know you didn’tofferit as a compliment, but that is how Ireceivedit.’ Ellie’s smile revealed the dimples in her round cheeks.
‘All will be well.’ Aunt Rowan’s calm voice made the plants shift and sway as if a warm breeze blew through the dining room.
Helena had no time to refute her as a knock sounded on the front door.
‘Ohh! She’s here! I’ll let her in.’ Ellie jumped up and raced out of the room in a flurry of frills.
Helena heard the lilting melody of Ellie’s voice grow louder, and then she returned with Cynthia at her side.
She was wearing yet another black gown. This ensemble had a scooped neckline that revealed the upper swells of her breasts. Tiny obsidian beads had been sewn into the fabric, catching the reflection of the gas lighting and making her glitter like a galaxy of stars. Her narrow waist was accentuated by the corseted bodice and contrasting full skirts made more voluminous with a bustle. Helena wished to strip her bare and see her true shape.
‘Thank you for inviting me to dinner.’ Cynthia addressed Aunt Rowan, but her gaze found Helena. She twisted her fingers together.
She’s nervous.
Forgetting her own jitters in the need to reassure Cynthia, she closed the distance between them and pulled her into a quick hug, pressing a kiss to each cheek. ‘You look lovely. Do not fret. All will be well.’ She offered the words of comfort before realising her actions.
‘I don’t remember the last time you hugged someone without being forced.’ Clio’s sly comment had Helena dropping Cynthia’s hands and stepping back awkwardly.
Ellie elbowed her sister. ‘Don’t be a brat.’ As an empath who could read people’s auras, she would no doubt know exactly how much Cynthia needed all their reassurances.
‘There’s no need to fear, Cynthia. We are all here to support you. No matter what we discover tonight.’ Aunt Rowan’s steady presence brought calm to the room.
Sir Robin, who was perched on Clio’s shoulder, cawed an agreement.
‘Why don’t we start with dinner and progress to magical revelations after we’ve sampled some of Ellie’s turbot?’
‘I used a dill and butter sauce that is divine,’ Ellie chimed in.
Aunt Rowan gestured to the table, and the ladies all took their places. Candles had been lit, and a window was open to let in the night air, fragrant with blooming jasmine.
Helena sat next to Cynthia. She couldn’t stop from reaching under the table to squeeze Cynthia’s knee.
The flush rising from Cynthia’s neck to her cheeks only enhanced her wild beauty.
Dinner progressed uncommonly well. They talked of the apothecary shop, the investigation, London’s new obsession with crinolines, and the candidate running for the presidency in America. A tall, lanky man who had views the women could respect. Rare for a politician. It wasn’t until after Clio brought out the melange that Aunt Rowan cleared her throat and the table grew quiet.
