frosting. What’s yours?”
“I’m not a huge cake enthusiast, but I enjoy strawberry shortcake.”
“That’s delicious too.” She thought a moment. “Do you have a favorite dessert?”
“I could eat Red Vines all day long,” he said and then laughed. “They are a candy exclusive to my time.” His face fell. “I hope I have the chance to share them with you some day.”
***
After breakfast, they to the library hand in hand after breakfast. Lucy felt Will’s desolate mood and wanted to say or do something to lift his spirits, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Sebastian’s man gave them the list and escorted them up three flights of stairs. At the top, Lucy paused to catch her breath before continuing. Will waited with her until the man got the door unlocked. Then they both went inside.
The first thing that struck Lucy was the room’s pristine cleanliness. Being so far out of the way, she would’ve guessed this room was rarely used, but there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere. On top of that, it emanated the smell of citrus, like a bouquet of oranges, grapefruit, limes, and lemons. It was lovely and immediately lifted Lucy’s spirits. The smell seemed to have the same effect on Will because he smiled.
“I expected it to be dull, dusty, and filled with cobwebs, but it’s quite the opposite.” He went over to a desk situated near the window. “And look, there are fresh cut flowers.”
“Do you think the duke did this for us?” Lucy smelled the roses intermingled with daisies, tulips, and wild lavender.
“I would say that’s highly likely.” He spun in a circle, taking in the high shelves filled with all sorts of bizarre items.
Lucy went over to the nearest shelf. “Everything is marked. This is Eye of Newt.” She stared at the large bottle and grimaced. “Yuck.”
“The items on the list should all be here,” Sebastian’s man interrupted. “Place them into this basin once you’ve located them. The master should return with the others shortly.” He went to the door. “Good day.” And was gone.
“May I see the list?” Lucy held out her hand.
Will handed her the paper. “Sure.”
It’d been scrawled in a steady hand and included ten different items.
Raven feather
Cypress root
Mandrake root
Nightshade
Rosemary
Blood of a human virgin
Snake skin
Yarrow root
Anise
Demon flesh
“Did you read this list?” Lucy scrunched her nose in disgust. “How worrisome is it to know that the duke has demon flesh and blood up here somewhere?”
“I’m going to try not to think about it,” Will said.
They found the items rather quickly. Using tongs, they placed everything in the bowl and went downstairs.
Sebastian’s man met them. “The others are going to be gone a bit longer than expected.”
“Is anything the matter?” Lucy asked, concerned for Dashel and Harriet.
“No, Miss. All is in order.” He bowed. “My master suggested I have the cook prepare you and Mr. Godwin a picnic. He thought you might like to take a walk out by the pond and have lunch there.”
Lucy wrung her hands nervously. It was Harriet’s habit, but at the moment, she could think of nothing better to do.
“That sounds nice.” Will studied Lucy’s face. “I could eat. You?”
“Yes, I’m hungry.” The piece of toast and fruit hadn’t lasted her very long. Despite her worry, she was starving.
“Excellent. I can have the basket and blankets loaded onto your horses. Will you be using the same ones as yesterday?”
“That would be great,” Will answered for the both of them.
“Very good. Miss Channing, I would recommend something a little warmer. The weather has turned a mite nippy. And Mr. Godwin, I would advise a jacket for you as well.”
SIXTEEN
ILL OF THE FISHES
THEY RODE out to the pond. The afternoon sun shone, giving a rare but much needed flare of sunlight. But Sebastian’s man had been right. Even with the sun out, the air still held
“I’m not a huge cake enthusiast, but I enjoy strawberry shortcake.”
“That’s delicious too.” She thought a moment. “Do you have a favorite dessert?”
“I could eat Red Vines all day long,” he said and then laughed. “They are a candy exclusive to my time.” His face fell. “I hope I have the chance to share them with you some day.”
***
After breakfast, they to the library hand in hand after breakfast. Lucy felt Will’s desolate mood and wanted to say or do something to lift his spirits, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Sebastian’s man gave them the list and escorted them up three flights of stairs. At the top, Lucy paused to catch her breath before continuing. Will waited with her until the man got the door unlocked. Then they both went inside.
The first thing that struck Lucy was the room’s pristine cleanliness. Being so far out of the way, she would’ve guessed this room was rarely used, but there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere. On top of that, it emanated the smell of citrus, like a bouquet of oranges, grapefruit, limes, and lemons. It was lovely and immediately lifted Lucy’s spirits. The smell seemed to have the same effect on Will because he smiled.
“I expected it to be dull, dusty, and filled with cobwebs, but it’s quite the opposite.” He went over to a desk situated near the window. “And look, there are fresh cut flowers.”
“Do you think the duke did this for us?” Lucy smelled the roses intermingled with daisies, tulips, and wild lavender.
“I would say that’s highly likely.” He spun in a circle, taking in the high shelves filled with all sorts of bizarre items.
Lucy went over to the nearest shelf. “Everything is marked. This is Eye of Newt.” She stared at the large bottle and grimaced. “Yuck.”
“The items on the list should all be here,” Sebastian’s man interrupted. “Place them into this basin once you’ve located them. The master should return with the others shortly.” He went to the door. “Good day.” And was gone.
“May I see the list?” Lucy held out her hand.
Will handed her the paper. “Sure.”
It’d been scrawled in a steady hand and included ten different items.
Raven feather
Cypress root
Mandrake root
Nightshade
Rosemary
Blood of a human virgin
Snake skin
Yarrow root
Anise
Demon flesh
“Did you read this list?” Lucy scrunched her nose in disgust. “How worrisome is it to know that the duke has demon flesh and blood up here somewhere?”
“I’m going to try not to think about it,” Will said.
They found the items rather quickly. Using tongs, they placed everything in the bowl and went downstairs.
Sebastian’s man met them. “The others are going to be gone a bit longer than expected.”
“Is anything the matter?” Lucy asked, concerned for Dashel and Harriet.
“No, Miss. All is in order.” He bowed. “My master suggested I have the cook prepare you and Mr. Godwin a picnic. He thought you might like to take a walk out by the pond and have lunch there.”
Lucy wrung her hands nervously. It was Harriet’s habit, but at the moment, she could think of nothing better to do.
“That sounds nice.” Will studied Lucy’s face. “I could eat. You?”
“Yes, I’m hungry.” The piece of toast and fruit hadn’t lasted her very long. Despite her worry, she was starving.
“Excellent. I can have the basket and blankets loaded onto your horses. Will you be using the same ones as yesterday?”
“That would be great,” Will answered for the both of them.
“Very good. Miss Channing, I would recommend something a little warmer. The weather has turned a mite nippy. And Mr. Godwin, I would advise a jacket for you as well.”
SIXTEEN
ILL OF THE FISHES
THEY RODE out to the pond. The afternoon sun shone, giving a rare but much needed flare of sunlight. But Sebastian’s man had been right. Even with the sun out, the air still held
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