A Passion for Potions (Petalfall #1)

67. Sixty-Seven - The Good News

Sixty-Seven - The Good News

Edric

Holding her between us as we kiss... I’m not sure life could be more perfect.

She would let us make love to her until dawn if we asked her for it, but in the quiet of this moment, she falls asleep and I won’t wake her.

But dawn is coming.

We put on what clothing we have to and then wrap Ana up in the sheet.

Viggo carries her back to the manor as her breath flutters against his chest.

The night is quiet and even though there’s a slight chill in the air, my skin is still warm. We go in through the front and Dorrian opens directly into my bedroom.

Ana barely stirs for long enough to get her unraveled from the sodden sheet and to be tucked into bed. Viggo snuggles down with her, looking for all the world like he’d like to never let her go again.

I feel exactly the same. But we are not the only ones waiting for that answer.

I slip from the bedroom once they’ve both fallen asleep and, honestly, I am surprised that I get all the way down to the kitchens before I find anyone.

But once I’m there, I find all of them.

Deanna tries to stand as soon as I step into the room, but Murdoch forces her right back down.

Loric has a pile of mending beside him that looks nearly finished and Blicks... I would hate to be the bag of fire stones he’s stabbing with the poker.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Murdoch waves the apology away, one of her feathers flying away from her hand as she does. “Nevermind that. Did she say yes?”

“Of course she said yes.” Yenna is the only one of them who doesn’t look like she’d like to spring up from where she sits, drinking a cup of tea.

“You are right. She did say yes.”

I am glad we’re several floors below Viggo and Ana. The chaotic sounds that erupt from them as chairs scrape across the floor and the poker clatters to the stones.

Blicks hugs me like he didn’t think we had a hope of hearing yes. Loric starts asking questions about wedding clothes immediately, and Murdoch wants to know when she’s moving in.

Deanna and Yenna stand a ways back, hugging each other.

“I don’t have answers right now. I just wanted to make sure you all went to bed, instead of staying up waiting for news.”

Murdoch glances at Yenna and I wonder how much tea she drank while waiting.

“Go to bed.” I say, shooing them back. “We will talk in the morning.”

“Would the mistress like anything particular for breakfast?” Murdoch asks and I wonder how long they have been calling her that outside of all of our hearing.

“She did not say. I’m sure she will be happy with whatever you had already planned.”

“Of course.” Murdoch uses her wings to herd Yenna and Deanna out of the room and Loric follows after them, hefting his basket onto his hip and weaving through the doors.

“Your father is going to be livid,” Blicks says when the others are gone.

“My father can choke on his next meal for all I care about it.”

“We can only hope.” Blicks smiles, but I know he wants to laugh.

He walks back up the stairs with me. “Miss Mina’s apartment won’t be ready at the Potion shop for another few months. I assume the mistress will want to wait until it is finished to officially move from her mother’s home?”

“That is correct.”

“May I offer an alternative?”

I keep my face forward, hoping he doesn’t see my smile. “Always.”

“Dorrian has offered to separate one of the guest apartments. Mina could come and go as she pleases, living here, but without accidentally wandering into a room or hallway where she might see something she shouldn’t.”

Blicks holds himself in a model of composure, but I’ve known him long enough. He will figure out the problem if she wants him to.

“I will relay the offer to Ana.” And tell her how eager we all are to have her for our own.