many fairies there who’d be envious he chose someone as stupid as me. They’d stare and whisper and gossip about us till the next surprise comes along. Some of them can be really spiteful, I remember it.
And what if he changes his mind? What if we had a baby and then he decides he wants someone who’s cleverer than me? The thoughts swirled. When she’d left the court, she’d been glad to get away from the fashion dictates, glad to leave the constant gossip behind her. He wants me to go back to all the fuss, and have a baby as well. And what about my mortals? No, tomorrow I’ll tell him, if he wants to be part of the court fashion, which to my mind is silly—babies aren’t fashion, they’re fairies, and shouldn’t be thought of as anything else. No, if he only wants me because he wants to follow the fashion, he’ll have to find a different fairy.
I’ll stay here until I’m certain the girls are all happy and settled and only then will I think about going back to the court. If Cedar, lovely as he is, wants more because of the fashion, well, it can’t be with me.
A small sob broke and she stifled it into the bedding.
Chapter 11
A strange stillness in the air thrilled through her when she woke. Cedars’ slow deep breaths were the only sound. She scrambled up onto her knees and peeked over the side of the nest.
Snow.
The top of the little blue car sat covered in a thick layer of snow. The grass had disappeared beneath the shimmer of white, and thick feathery flakes continued to drift down from a dull sky. The cold made her shiver and she slid back under the cloak with Cedar. She snuggled into the warmth of him, sliding her arms around him as he stirred. Her decision from last night returned to haunt her thoughts. Do I ever want to think of a morning when I don’t wake beside him? No. The thought prompted tears. Later, when he wakes, we need to talk and to fix things for my mortals.
The door below opened and Keri called, “The snow’s worse than I thought. I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere. It seems like the snow team haven’t got as far as our road.”
Today is a day to stay indoors and be cozy. If the girls stay home it will give me a good chance of finding out what happened last night and taking more steps to put things right.
“Oh, I didn’t think it would be this bad,” Lucy said and sighed.
Poppy wriggled into her gown and checked Cedar, who remained asleep.
“Keri, Luce, Claudia has just sent a text. The office won’t open until ten thirty today, if at all. The snow’s caused gridlock. There’s nothing moving in Worcester today. Even Claudia isn’t going to attempt the journey in until later. She said she’ll text back at nine thirty to tell us if the office is closed for the day.” Bal joined them in the porch.
“I don’t understand this country, six inches of snow and everything grinds to a halt,” Lucy said.
Bal shivered on the doorstep. “Whatever, let’s get inside before we freeze. This will either turn to rain or it will stick.”
Keri gave a laugh. “I think you could say it’s stuck already.”
Poppy headed under the lintel of the door before they could close it and cautiously followed them inside. Now I’ll find out what happened last night to Keri and Lucy.
“More coffee anyone?” Lucy called through from the kitchen.
“Please,” Bal said. “You know what? I think this will ruin my date with Surjan this evening. I think perhaps he and I should simply give it up and say it’s not meant to be.”
Keri shook her head. “Oh, don’t say that. The snow might clear. I bet he phones you anyway.”
“Maybe, so tell me how did it go last night?” Bal asked with a smile.
Poppy nodded agreement, she so wanted to know. She settled down to listen.
Keri smiled and said, “Fine, we found out we dance well together.”
“So, are you seeing Jez again?” Bal asked.
“Yes, tomorrow.”
“Good, and you’re both okay about what happened the other
And what if he changes his mind? What if we had a baby and then he decides he wants someone who’s cleverer than me? The thoughts swirled. When she’d left the court, she’d been glad to get away from the fashion dictates, glad to leave the constant gossip behind her. He wants me to go back to all the fuss, and have a baby as well. And what about my mortals? No, tomorrow I’ll tell him, if he wants to be part of the court fashion, which to my mind is silly—babies aren’t fashion, they’re fairies, and shouldn’t be thought of as anything else. No, if he only wants me because he wants to follow the fashion, he’ll have to find a different fairy.
I’ll stay here until I’m certain the girls are all happy and settled and only then will I think about going back to the court. If Cedar, lovely as he is, wants more because of the fashion, well, it can’t be with me.
A small sob broke and she stifled it into the bedding.
Chapter 11
A strange stillness in the air thrilled through her when she woke. Cedars’ slow deep breaths were the only sound. She scrambled up onto her knees and peeked over the side of the nest.
Snow.
The top of the little blue car sat covered in a thick layer of snow. The grass had disappeared beneath the shimmer of white, and thick feathery flakes continued to drift down from a dull sky. The cold made her shiver and she slid back under the cloak with Cedar. She snuggled into the warmth of him, sliding her arms around him as he stirred. Her decision from last night returned to haunt her thoughts. Do I ever want to think of a morning when I don’t wake beside him? No. The thought prompted tears. Later, when he wakes, we need to talk and to fix things for my mortals.
The door below opened and Keri called, “The snow’s worse than I thought. I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere. It seems like the snow team haven’t got as far as our road.”
Today is a day to stay indoors and be cozy. If the girls stay home it will give me a good chance of finding out what happened last night and taking more steps to put things right.
“Oh, I didn’t think it would be this bad,” Lucy said and sighed.
Poppy wriggled into her gown and checked Cedar, who remained asleep.
“Keri, Luce, Claudia has just sent a text. The office won’t open until ten thirty today, if at all. The snow’s caused gridlock. There’s nothing moving in Worcester today. Even Claudia isn’t going to attempt the journey in until later. She said she’ll text back at nine thirty to tell us if the office is closed for the day.” Bal joined them in the porch.
“I don’t understand this country, six inches of snow and everything grinds to a halt,” Lucy said.
Bal shivered on the doorstep. “Whatever, let’s get inside before we freeze. This will either turn to rain or it will stick.”
Keri gave a laugh. “I think you could say it’s stuck already.”
Poppy headed under the lintel of the door before they could close it and cautiously followed them inside. Now I’ll find out what happened last night to Keri and Lucy.
“More coffee anyone?” Lucy called through from the kitchen.
“Please,” Bal said. “You know what? I think this will ruin my date with Surjan this evening. I think perhaps he and I should simply give it up and say it’s not meant to be.”
Keri shook her head. “Oh, don’t say that. The snow might clear. I bet he phones you anyway.”
“Maybe, so tell me how did it go last night?” Bal asked with a smile.
Poppy nodded agreement, she so wanted to know. She settled down to listen.
Keri smiled and said, “Fine, we found out we dance well together.”
“So, are you seeing Jez again?” Bal asked.
“Yes, tomorrow.”
“Good, and you’re both okay about what happened the other
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