A Passion for Potions (Petalfall #1)

6. Six - A Suspicious Household

Six - A Suspicious Household

Edric

“Are you certain you don’t require anything else?” Blicks says, casting a suspicious glance my way.

I’ve known him all my life and I don’t think he’s ever truly glared at me, but he’s close this time before his gaze slides to Viggo behind me.

“Yes, thank you. I’m sure.”

The other members of our household should be accustomed to being sent away on random nights by now. What they think Viggo and I get up to while they’re gone... I don’t know. But until we’re sure the woman who comes to be interviewed is the one , the last thing we need is to get their hopes up and dash them, over and over again.

Blicks is old and old-fashioned. He believes in the traditional elven family unit. Viggo and I are one short of what he considers the minimum. And “despite the disadvantages” of my upbringing, he is determined to see us happily wed to a third.

I think he wants a child running around that he can teach to shoot a bow and arrow, or correctly hold a sword.

It’s been nearly a century since he did the same for me. And less than forty years since he did so for the woman standing slightly behind and to the left of him.

Deanna, his daughter, joined us to keep an eye on him last year, and his niece came along when I received this guardianship.

They are staff in the loosest of terms and I think that is the reason our requests that they vacate the manor on these nights come with this minor resistance.

I have a feeling that if he opened the door to Ana standing on our stoop, he would take one look at her and fall in love immediately. If it didn’t work out, he might stab us in our sleep.

The dangers of a butler who was a consigliere during the Scale War are few, but ever present.

“Go, have a nice time and try not to get in any trouble.”

“What trouble would we get in?” Blicks asks, affronted.

I think of all the ways they have gotten in trouble in the past. “Don’t stab anyone unless you can prove they deserved it. Don’t make any bets you can’t afford to lose. Don’t fall in love with anyone who’s already taken, and for the love of the Goddess, don’t go harvesting mushrooms with Murdoch this close to the full moon.” Our harpy cook left hours ago, but I don’t trust her to find one of them and convince them that this time, she won’t give them a mushroom to change their voice for fun.

They chuckle at me and make their promises.

Blicks is the last of them to go and I am not surprised when he glances back at me over his shoulder. “I will discover what you are up to.”

“I have no doubt of that, old friend.” I salute him as he goes.

Viggo, who has watched the whole exchange with an amused smirk, waves goodbye as I close Dorrian behind them.

“And you,” I rap the wood with my knuckle. “Be nice.”

He doesn’t acknowledge me, but I know he heard. He simply doesn’t want to have to agree.

He keeps our secret because it amuses him that he knows something Blicks doesn’t.

“Should we change?” Viggo asks, pulling down on his red and black brocade waistcoat and fidgeting with his cuffs.

Our valet left first, always ready to take a night off if offered. But we’ve dressed each other in a pinch before.

I don’t even have my cravat on, but... “I think she will be happier if we don’t stand on certain ceremonies.”

Viggo dips his head in agreement but his lips twitch with a sad smile. “ If she shows up at all.”

“She will.” I take hold of his neck and press my forehead to his. “I have faith. The Goddess would not have put her in our path if she was not meant to be there.”

“I hope you’re right.”

He kisses me and the remnants of the tea on his lips makes me lick my own when we break apart.

He glances toward the door before going to the sitting room to wait until he can reveal himself, but he pauses in the archway. “If she only wants you, I won’t begrudge you.”

“If she doesn’t want you, she doesn’t want me. There is no separating us.” If what Viggo told me of their meeting in the clearing was the whole story, I don’t think she’ll run away from him.

I hope it’s the opposite.