Page 57 of The Noldrin Witch

I came looking for you before taking the road. It appeared you have performed a miracle, my child.

Try not to wear yourself down before I get back. Go home and prepare for tomorrow.

No need to report to Fabian.

Susanne.

She smiled when she finished reading. There was no mention of the key, but Elise already knew it had to belong to a chamber reserved for her in the castle. She had better hurry to Morgaine’s house if she hoped to make her way back before dusk.

She pulled up her mulberry hood and slipped out of the herbarium like a spy sent to murder the king in his sleep. Before she knew it, she was on the road to town and soon in the forest, where she could finally enjoy some peace.

How was she supposed to explain her relationship with Seth to anyone who happened to see them together? For the love of all benevolent divinities, she hoped he would not visit her at the castle, though she suspected that was almost certain to happen.

Perhaps she could claim he was her cousin. Unfortunately, she would then have to explain why her cousin looked like royalty from a faraway kingdom and was forever trailing steam like a kettle. No, it had to be something else. Not even a third cousin would make that story believable. Perhaps Morgaine and Beth could help her with this infernal dilemma.

Whispering the chant of the Dutiful Maid Potion, she hurried toward the cottage with even greater determination than before. She was nearly flying down the path herself, much like Bruno overhead.

In less than an hour, she was drenched from the harsh sun and under Morgaine’s roof.

“Elise!” Beth greeted as soon as she turned the bone that served as a bolt in the door. “Did you take a swim on your way here? I hope it was with that handsome demon Devon assigned to you.”

She shook her head. “No, but he’s precisely who’s troubling me.”

“What happened?” Morgaine chimed in.

“I need to find a way to explain who he is if someone else happens to see him around.”

“Someone else?” Morgaine asked with a mischievous smile. “Did you speak with your duke again?”

The witch was as smart as she was beautiful, and seeing little reason to hide or deny anything, Elise set about recounting everything that had happened with Kurt in the gardens.

The two witches listened with all the delight usually reserved for one of the delicious meals Elise prepared. As the tale progressed, Beth began to squirm in her chair. She wrapped both arms around herself and began to make small sounds of rapturous approval.

“Beth!” Morgaine protested.

The older witch opened her eyes, jolting in surprise. “I apologize. I got carried away. It has been a long time since I heard such a romance, and of course I can only imagine what sort of stallion that duke must be to have Elise so tempted.”

“Well, my dear Beth, if you like Seth, you’ll definitely like this one,” Morgaine said. “They make your husband look like a kitchen rag in comparison.”

The old witch did not seem offended in the slightest. On the contrary, she seemed more taken with the comment.

“That is precisely why I enjoy hearing such tales from Elise, my darling,” Beth said. “I am simply imagining myself in her place. It has already been a few hundred years since I possessed a waist capable of inspiring this sort of trouble.”

Elise let out a chuckle. It was impossible not to find amusement with Beth.

“How about you say Seth is your suitor?” Morgaine mused.

While Elise was thankful the conversation had drifted back to her initial predicament, she could not say she was pleased with the solution.

“I can’t,” was all she said.

“It’s the duke, isn’t it?” Morgaine smiled.

“Of course it’s the duke, Morgaine,” Beth snapped. “Can’t you see this poor child? She’s smitten.”

Elise’s cheeks grew red as though the temperatures of Hell had suddenly reached her. There was no question that she was attracted to Kurt, and now that she could see those feelings might actually be returned, she felt completely overwhelmed.

“I’ll face Seth and tell him to give me the year I need,” Elise stated firmly.