A Passion for Potions (Petalfall #1)

53. Fifty-Three - Future Plans

Fifty-Three - Future Plans

Viggo

“He’s safe as long as he doesn’t come back,” I cross my arms, my whole body tense.

Penny doesn’t look happy about asking me not to hunt his father down and hurt him for the things Dorrian relayed about their earlier conversation. And if he comes back, I have a feeling even Loric would take up a pitchfork.

People think vampires are uncivilized, and yet, people like Edric Illian walk around this world...

“Thank you.” Penny takes my hand. “I don’t think he’ll be back. But if he does return by some misguided need... maybe I’ll change my mind.”

He looks from my face, down to my trousers. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s in your pocket? Or do I have to guess until you get irritated.”

“I will tell you, but first, I need you to understand that this is not because of your father.”

That makes him look worried.

“I sent it away before he arrived and it is just a coincidence that it came back today.”

“What is it?”

I pull the box free and hand it to him, watching as he opens it and his brows raise. “Oh.”

“If you hate it, we can change it.”

“No... it’s perfect. But I thought we agreed—”

I take the ring back from him, snapping the box closed. “I wanted to be prepared in case the Goddess has plans that are slightly different to our own. Nothing has to happen tonight.”

He nods. “She’ll be here soon.”

“I’ll put it away.” I leave him marking plant locations on a map and make my way upstairs. There’s no reason to hide it. Ana doesn’t snoop. But I want to keep it close to us.

I climb up onto the bed and press the catch for the hidden compartment in the ornate headboard.

It pops open and I smile at the few things that live there. Mementos of a life we’ll eventually share all of with her.

I nestle the box into the strip of lace that Penny accidentally ripped off of my shirt the first time we met... when the Goddess tangled us together.

I’ve met elf families where she’s woven seven lives together... but I will be more than happy if she only weaves Ana’s in with ours.

I keep that hope trapped in my chest as I go back down to find both of them looking at Penny’s map.

“You’re here!”

“As you see.” She smiles as she presses up onto her toes to kiss me. “I hear we don’t have to worry about a visitor tonight.”

“Thankfully no.” I look at their map too. “Did he tell you he found thistles?”

“He did. I am going to be collecting and processing ingredients for a month straight, if all of his suppositions are true.”

“If you want any help, we will be happy to provide you with more hands.”

“I may take you up on that offer.” She taps one of the notations. “At the very least, I’ll need a cart to pull some of these out.”

Blicks pokes his head into the room. “Dinner is almost ready.”

“Thank you, we’ll be right down.”

“We’re eating downstairs tonight?” Ana asks, bouncing a little on her toes.

“Yes.”

“Oh good!” She winces as soon as she says it. “The dining room always feels so silly when there isn’t company.”

I glance at Penny and wonder if she realizes she just admitted that she isn’t company anymore.

She knows our previous dinners were at Blicks’ request.

The kitchen is still a hubbub when we get down there and Penny is quick to help Deanna start clearing away things. Yenna offers me plates with a smile and she and Ana whisper conspiratorially as they gather napkins and silverware.

We only clear off as much of the table as we need and when we’ve all sat down, even though I’m the only one who isn’t eating... I truly do prefer this to the dining room upstairs.

Dinner is as sumptuous as always.

Regardless of where the meal is served, Murdoch never skimps.

I learn that Ana and Loric have been conspiring with Misses. Scoggins to get in fabric the tailor won’t touch.

“He hates velvet,” she pretends to whisper to me.

And I learn that Mina has taught Deanna how to play a card game and Ana insists she join the next time their group meets.

I manage to keep my mouth shut, even though I want to make a joke about what she can tap and shove.

“I’m going to convert the attic space in my shop to a living space.”

I am glad I have my cup to my lips so that she cannot see my scowl. But Penny tells her what I was already thinking.

“If you wish to leave your mother’s house, we would all prefer if you joined us here instead.”

There’s a murmur of agreement all around and she smiles down at her food, a faint blush on her cheeks. “I will admit I had assumed as much. The space would be for Mina, so that she does not have to suffer my mother alone.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her to bring the girl too... but I believe it would be safe to say that none of us much like the idea of having to tiptoe around yet more company.

“We will gladly help in any way we can.”

“Thank you, there is one thing that I think I will need.”

“Anything.” Blicks offers, not even looking at Penny as he agrees.

“I imagine that things might get loud during the construction process and there are a few potions that are sensitive to sound. Some of them, I can submerge the bottles in water, but others have to remain dry.”

“We can make a place for them here, of course,” Murdoch says before anyone else has the chance. “The root cellar is nice and quiet and there’s more than enough room for some temporary storage.”

“Thank you.”

I take a drink again, so that I don’t tell her she doesn’t need to thank us. This house is already hers, she just has to come to think of it as home.