Lizzy’s Story (Pride & Prejudice & Potions)

Chapter 1

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man with a lot of money will also be looking for a love potion.” Mom winked at my younger sisters, Lydia and Kitty, while steam curled around her face like ghostly fingers.

The soft glow of the fire under her cauldron cast shadows on the basement’s stone walls.

“More like a non-committal relationship,” I mumbled, dumping the pouch of phoenix feather ash into my veritas potion, which hissed and bubbled.

Despite Mom’s faith in love potions and her ridiculous declarations, it was highly unlikely that a rich, single man needed help to get women, especially not with online dating.

“If you remember nothing else from tonight, remember that men need to be told what they want,” Mom said with a pointed look at me. “It doesn’t matter if they’re fae, human, or any other race they are; they’re all the same.”

“Don’t forget the mermaid’s tear for your potion, Lizzy.

” Jane, ever the reliable older sister, rummaged among the shelves filled with mismatched bottles of spices and dried herbs.

More plants hung from beams cutting across the ceiling, and the air was thick with the scents of mugwort and eucalyptus.

Jane squinted at a vial, trying to read the label in the candle’s flickering light. Mom believed that technology interfered with witchcraft and banned anything as convenient as electricity in the basement, so whenever we came down, it was like stepping into the medieval era.

“Thanks.” I accepted a small vial from Jane, then stirred my veritas potion four times counterclockwise.

Jane returned to flipping through her photographs, her golden hair bent over the prints.

As my mixture started to boil, I hurried to add the mermaid’s tear. The potion spewed cerulean bubbles, so different from the pale pink shimmering love potion in Mom’s cauldron, and filled the room with a briny smell that made me wrinkle my nose.

“Do you mind?” Lydia glared at me, her expression strangely similar to the glowering jack-o’-lantern someone had brought downstairs with a box of fall decorations.

“Not in the slightest.” I kept stirring.

“Some of us are trying to work, and you’re going to taint my clothes with that stench.” She gestured to her expensive jeans and lacy top.

“You know better than to wear nice clothes while we make potions.” I plucked at my old T-shirt and leggings. Not only were they more practical in the cold basement, but they were also easier to replace.

“Whatever, Lizzy. Don’t be jealous.” Lydia stuck out her tongue, then turned back to watch Mom.

I rolled my eyes at my youngest sister, who, after graduating from high school last year, somehow grew into being more obnoxious instead of out of it.

Lydia and I were as different as sisters could be.

I had chocolate-brown hair and blue eyes, while she had light-brown hair and hazel eyes.

She was impulsive and frivolous, more focused on her next boyfriend and completely happy to stay in Austen Heights, while I was focused on my future and making a name for myself outside our small town. Or at least I had been.

Lydia whispered something to Kitty, and they giggled.

Those two were thick as witches in a coven.

With both of them now working in Cupid’s Confections with Mom, they were even more inseparable than usual.

I needed to find them jobs out of the family bakery before Mom filled their heads with any more nonsense about how we needed to hurry and get married before we were too old to attract a man.

“Is it ready?” Kitty peered into Mom’s cauldron, her braid swinging dangerously close to the love potion.

“Yes, now don’t mess me up. I have to finish this batch for tomorrow’s orders.” Mom pulled a glass flask from the desk and added three drops of moon water, making the liquid shimmer white and the room smell like apples and cinnamon.

Kitty coughed—a common enough occurrence while brewing potions, especially considering her asthma and the dank basement air.

“Please stop coughing, Kitty.” Mom shot her an annoyed look. “You’re making it difficult to concentrate.”

“I’m not doing it on purpose. I—”

“And where’s Mary? She should be down here.” Mom steamrolled over Kitty’s defense.

Jane and I exchanged looks, but neither of us was about to rat out our middle sister.

She hated practicing our witch magic. If I had to guess, she was either doing work for her internship with the church or holed up somewhere in the house with her nose in a book.

Although considering it was already almost nine, probably the latter.

“Let’s do it without her.” Lydia linked her arm through Kitty’s. “She doesn’t even like being down here.”

Mom sighed, her green eyes narrowing in a familiar scowl that hinted at an incoming lecture. “Learning to make love potions is no joke. It’s our duty as Bennets and witches to make sure everyone finds their happily ever after—”

“Even if they only last as long as our potions,” I muttered to Jane.

Mom gave me a withering look and continued. “And with your father sick, we all have to pitch in to care for this family. My poor nerves can’t take the strain of providing for everyone on my own.”

“You know we all care, Mom, and we’re trying our best,” Jane said.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I shoved my spoon toward Jane. “Will you watch my potion for me? It needs to be stirred until it turns violet.”

“Of course.” Jane gave me a sweet smile and took over, leaving me free to fish my cell phone from my leggings with another glance to make sure Mom wasn’t watching.

A name flashed on the screen. Riley Ellison—a fellow reporter at the Sanditon Chronicle. Hearing from him at this time of night could only mean one thing. He had a scoop for me.

I turned away from Mom, who was now giving her usual lecture about the dos and don’ts of love potions as if we hadn’t heard it a hundred times. Do follow the directions to a T. Don’t give to anyone with nut allergies. Do use natural ingredients. Don’t mix with other potions. Blah blah.

I read Riley’s message.

You busy?

Not at all. What’s up?

Heard something interesting. Thought I’d pass it along as thanks for your last tip

“Is it Riley?” Jane whispered to avoid drawing Mom’s attention.

I flicked a curious glance her way. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Maybe because of that silly grin you’re wearing.” Mischief filled her blue eyes, causing her dimples—the same dimples all the Bennet girls had—to appear.

I smoothed my expression to make sure the dimple on my left cheek wasn’t visible. “I am not wearing a silly grin. I was just happy to hear from him because he has a lead.”

“There’s nothing wrong with admitting you like him, Lizzy.” She shrugged, making her T-shirt slip off one shoulder so she looked like a runway model for comfort grunge.

“I promise I don’t like Riley like that.

And even if I did, it wouldn’t work out because I’m not staying in town.

I’m just here until Dad… gets better.” I swallowed past the tightness in my throat.

There was no cure for Moonrot—the magical illness that ate at Dad’s health.

Everyone who contracted it died. There was nothing to do except enjoy the time we had left with him, which was the real reason I’d left my life in New York last year.

With Dad sick, I wasn’t sure anyone would be leaving Austen Heights for a while, least of all me.

My phone buzzed with another message from Riley.

A group of highborn fae are coming to town. The only one I have a name for is Charles Bingley.

My mouth fell open. Why would someone like Charles Bingley come to a tiny town like Austen Heights? He’d earned his fortune as the CEO of a security tech company called Haven Corporation, but he was equally famous in the magical world for his proximity to the royal family.

Do you know where they’re staying or why they're coming?

My phone buzzed again.

No, but I’m sure a journalist as brilliant as you can figure it out.

This could be your chance to find a scoop.

Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and my fingers shook as I responded.

I owe you one.

I have a few ideas on how you can make it up to me ;)

Ignoring his outrageous flirting, I thrust my phone toward Jane.

Her eyes widened as she skimmed the conversation. “What are they coming here for?” she whispered.

“I don’t know, but do you know what this means?” I couldn’t help my wide smile. “If I can find a decent story and show my editor my abilities as a reporter, she might finally ask me to write about something more meaningful than the Austen Heights’ fall festival or the Woodhouse’s charity events.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great,” Jane said.

I pulled out the small notebook I always carried and jotted down the name Charles Bingley.

“I would if Maxine would give me a chance. She acts like I’m some girl fresh out of high school instead of a reporter with a master's in journalism from Columbia.” Not that I’d had a chance to prove myself in New York for very long either.

With Dad falling ill, I’d come home just a few years after graduation.

Lydia plucked the phone from Jane’s hand. “What are you two talking about?”

“Give that back.” I put my notebook away and tried to grab my cell, but Lydia had already danced away.

“Mom!” Her voice went up at least two decibels. “Lizzy’s friend said highborn fae are coming to Austen Heights! Can you believe it?”

“Hex yeah!” Kitty threw a fist in the air.

“Let me see.” Mom snatched the phone from her so quickly that I almost believed she’d brewed a swift spell instead of a love potion. Apparently, she had no trouble with technology in the basement as long as it provided a juicy piece of gossip.

I sighed. So much for my insider scoop. Now that Mom knew, half of Austen Heights was bound to know as soon as the bakery doors opened at dawn. While Mom’s scones and baked goods were delicious, at least half of our customers came solely for her gossip.