trade him for this favor.â
âThat would make sense,â Elsie said. âNow letâs talk about whatâs
really
importantâwhat are you wearing to the celebration tonight?â
We decided to check out Elsieâs attic, which was like a vintage clothing store. I didnât think any woman in her family had ever thrown anything away. There were hundreds of old dresses in every style for the past hundred years, all colors and sizes. There were hats of every kind imaginable with bags, gloves and shoes to match.
Every so often we raided her stash for different clothes to wear to various celebrations. It was fun romping through a history of clothes in the attic with dust, lit by sunbeams, floating in the air.
âLook at this!â Dorothy held up a beautiful green satin dress that was ankle-length and formfitting. It had a large, stand-up collar that was studded with sequins and rhinestone stars. âDo you think it would fit me?â
âTry it on,â Elsie encouraged. âIf it doesnât, weâll fix it.â
âWould we have time to get it altered? Is there a witchâs tailor shop?â
Elsie and I laughed.
âJust try it on,â I said. âLetâs see.â
I was looking at a black velvet gown that was shot through with bright blue threads. âI feel guilty doing this without Olivia.â
Elsie put down the red blouse she was holding. âI do too. But I think she might feel worse being here and not being able to try things on, donât you?â
âI do. I just hate ignoring her because sheâs a ghost.â
Barnabas meowed loudly.
âPipe down,â Elsie told him. âHe thinks ghosts shouldnât hang aroundâlike the council. Or maybe heâs jealous that we donât have one here. Who knows?â
Barnabas hissed and ran down the attic stairs. His spirit, encased in an orange-tabby body, was that of a preacher from the 1700s who had been mistakenly hanged for witchcraft. Like Isabelle, he could be a little sullen. Old souls were sometimes that way.
Dorothy came out of the closet looking radiant. Green was certainly her color. The dress was a little large for her, but combining our magic, Elsie and I were able to tailor it until it fit like a glove.
âWhat do you think?â She twirled around like a child. âHow do I look?â
âYou look amazing,â I said. âIâll bet there are shoes and a bag that go with that.â
We searched around until we found them and then took everything downstairs.
Elsie was going to wear the beautiful embroidered red blouse sheâd pulled out of one of her aunt Ceciliaâs boxes with a matching flounced red skirt. âAunt Cecilia was a fire witch too. I remember her wearing this outfit. Now there was a witch who knew how to party.â
âI have some shoes that will match this gown perfectly.â I held the black gown up against me. âYour attic is like a treasure trove. It seems that, no matter how often we go up there, we always find something new.â
âThatâs what comes of having a family of hoarders.â She laughed. âYou two better go home and finish getting ready. Are you picking me up, Molly?â
âLet me drive tonight,â Dorothy volunteered.
Elsie and I exchanged frowns. Neither one of us wanted to ride in her tiny brown Beetle.
Dorothy laughed. âIn the Mercedes, ladies. I know that would please Mom. Sheâs wanted me to drive it for months. What are we going to do about her? Can we sneak her into the celebration with no one noticing?â
âIâm afraid thatâs not possible,â I told her. âYou can see how the other witches feel about ghosts. I donât know what to do.â
âThereâs no disguise for a ghost that Iâve ever heard of,â Elsie said. âI wish it could be different. Olivia always enjoyed a good party.â
âWhat about
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In The Kings Service
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