Page 47 of A Time of Witches

Asher nodded to the creature. “The skunk—”

“Lord Wimbleton the third,” Aunt Jacqueline corrected.

“Yes,” Asher said tiredly. “Lord Wimbleton the third was part of an exotic animal menagerie owned by an eccentric millionaire. When he passed, many were taken to zoos, but no one wanted a skunk.”

“And so, we took him in to love him,” Aunt Jacqueline said with a coo of affection.

“Under the promise that he remain outside.” Asher gave a pointed look at his aunt.

In the doorway, the skunk—Lord Wimbleton the third—was slowly backing away from Toby’s glare.

“I can take it from here.” Asher gave Lilith a grin that hit her right in the solar plexus. “Thanks again. I genuinely appreciate your kindness.”

She nodded in reply, her cheeks warming. How embarrassing that one little compliment could undo her. Self-consciously, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gave him a shy smile.

The corners of his eyes crinkled and he turned back to his aunt to see to her.

Now that she was being tended to, the afternoon opened up for Lilith. The manor called to her, tugging the thread of curiosity about what Jacinda had asked her to find. Lilith wanted to see Jacinda again, to talk to her again.

Because as much as Lilith tried to rationalize away the idea that she was just seeing things, she knew that conversation had happened. She had seen and spoken to Jacinda.

But she certainly wasn’t so unfeeling as to ask Asher to take her to the manor after he’d left work early to tend to his aunt.

Instead, Lilith hovered there in her own awkwardness, not sure what to do with her arms or the rest of her body before finally slinking to her room. A wave of unexpected homesickness slammed into her.

At least in Savannah, she had a whole house to disappear into. Here in someone’s home with one rented room, there was the sense of being contained, judged.

She picked up her phone and tapped out a message to Essie: I miss home.

Essie: No, you don’t.

Lilith gave an incredulous scoff. You’re right about a lot of things, but I’m pretty sure I’m right about how I’m feeling.

Essie: And I’m pretty sure you need this adventure in your life. Lil, you were so excited about this trip, talking about the manor and finding a connection to your past.

Lilith: Except Mr. Darcy won’t let me go to the manor without him.

The dots appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared.

Lilith smirked and tapped out a reply: Do not tell me you’re trying to find a way to lawyer-talk me into permission to break in.

Essie: I was trying, but really can’t justify breaking and entering, especially in a country where you’re a foreign national. Sorry.

Lilith decided not to mention that she had already disobeyed Asher’s wishes using Aunt Jacqueline’s key, since it might technically be considered breaking and entering.

Essie: This is the first time in years that you’ve been so enthusiastic about something. Don’t let Mr. Darcy take that away from you. And don’t let missing home get you down either. If it helps, Savannah is ridiculously hot right now. Like I had to change my bra cuz of all the boob sweat after a client wanted to eat outside at lunch kind of hot.

Lilith laughed and replied back: Boob sweat is the worst.

Essie started typing again: What about that museum? Moblys?

Lilith: Moyse’s Hall

Essie: Have you been yet?

The birthmark on Lilith’s arm tingled, echoing Essie’s sentiments.

Essie replied again: I take your silence for a no, which means you can go there today.