Page 51 of The Starling and the Hatter

“Maybe.”

“And obviously you have feelings for him.”

“Yes.”

She scooted closer. “Has he kissed you?”

I shook my head. “No.” Not that I would have minded, though it would have been quite fast, and just the thought of it made me nervous.

“But you like him,” Kat pointed out as though I needed reminding.

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t go around kissing everyone that I like.” I hadn’t gone around kissing anybody.

“You kiss Maddox.”

I shook my head, instantly rejecting the comparison. “That’s only on the cheek. We’re friends, that’s all.” Never mind that two nights ago, I could have sworn that he leaned in to kiss me before changing course. Never mind that his hands on my back, helping to ease the pain of the wasp stings, had made me burn and shiver all at once. Never mind that I was suddenly aware of him.

“So you want to be more than friends with this boy? What’s his name?”

“Robert White.”

“You want to be courted by him?” Her eyes were huge and she bit her bottom lip as she grinned.

“How am I supposed to know? I’ve never been courted by anyone. I’ve never felt…” What did I feel for Robert? It wasn’t love, not yet, but I believed it could be. Right now, it was familiarity combined with the excitement of always looking for adventure. The excitement of feeling wanted. I buried my head in my arms. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Kat. Tell me what to do.”

“If you have feelings for him, then why not do something about it?” she asked, sitting up as she warmed to the idea. “He invited you to follow him to Stormbrook. Why not go there? You’re independent.”

Her suggestion took me off guard, even though it was something I’d been half hoping for. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I teased, though I was also half serious. “I always travel with your father and Hatcher, and they aren’t going to Stormbrook this year.” Plus, I was almost certain that I wasn’t brave enough to go after Robert.

“Well,” she said, more hesitant than I was used to seeing her, “perhaps it would be good for you and Maddox to be away from each other.”

I pulled back. What a strange idea. “Why?”

She thought for a moment, looking far more serious than usual. “Maddox is getting older, Elise. It’s time for him to find a wife, and you don’t want him.”

I didn’t know what to do with her words. They were…true, I supposed. But they didn’t feel right. I sat up and shook my head. “What does that have to do with me leaving?”

“Well, if you’re not going to marry him, you might as well get out of the way for some other girls.”

My heart pinched, hurt by the idea that Kat would tell me to get out of the way. “I would never get in the way of his happiness.” Such an idea was awful. Of course I wanted Hatcher to be happy. How could she think otherwise?

“I know you wouldn’t do it on purpose—”

I stood and took a few steps away.

“I’m sorry,” Kat said. “This isn’t coming out the right way. I only mean that both of you should be looking to settle down. You know Maddox and my dad were planning to skip the Faehurst festival. They’re spending an extra week here, fixing up the shop, and I know that makes you antsy.”

She was right. I wasn’t looking forward to giving up the money that I could earn in that week, but the Hatchers had been doing so well that they wanted to put some of their earnings into improving their shop on High Street.

“Plus,” Kat continued, “you’ve never spoken of having an interest in any boy or man before now, and I don’t want you to waste the opportunity, especially when he asked you to follow.”

“You think I should fling myself at Robert?” I asked, chewing on my thumb.

“If you want him, then yes,” she said with full confidence. “Go admit your feelings. Demand to know his in return.”

“But…I don’t know if I want him.” That admission sat in the air between us. I think it surprised me more than it did her. “Or at least, I don’t know how much I want him.”

She breathed deeply and let it out in a sigh. “Well, in that case, it really doesn’t matter what you do.”