Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Author:Jessica Spotswood [Spotswood, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Contemporary, Romance, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯), Juvenile Fiction, family, Fantasy & Magic, Love & Romance, Siblings
ISBN: 9781101559925
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2012-02-07T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

SUNDAY IS LILY’S DAY OFF, SO I ask Tess to fasten my corset, then dress myself. I’m wearing one of my new frocks to church: a royal blue with cream-colored lace at the wrists and throat. The wide gored skirt is free of any frills or frippery, and the plain cream-colored sash ties in a neat bow at the back. I smile at my reflection in the glass. I feel almost pretty. Will Finn think I’m pretty?

Maura’s giggle floats down the hall. She and Elena must be primping together. They seem more like friends of late than teacher and pupil, and their closeness unnerves me.

I need to talk to Elena. To confront her with what I know.

Their footsteps approach, and I think quickly. Asking to speak with Elena alone will only ensure Maura’s interest in the conversation. I need a pretext. I pull the pins from my chignon and shake my hair out.

Maura pokes her head in the door. “Almost ready? John’s brought the carriage around front.”

“Almost. Elena, would you mind helping with my hair?” I smile bashfully. “I’m useless with these pompadours.”

Elena looks surprised. “Of course. We’ll be down in just a moment,” she tells Maura, who troops downstairs with Tess. “You know, I brought a stack of ladies’ magazines from New London with step-by-step instructions. You can borrow them if you like.”

“That would be lovely, thank you.” I sit at my wooden dressing table before the looking glass. Elena stands behind me, brushing my hair, teasing it up at the crown. I meet her dark eyes in the mirror. Her black curls are swept up, just a few perfect ringlets left to frame her face. My hair won’t curl without irons and hours of effort.

“Is there something you wanted to discuss?” she asks carefully.

I might as well say it straight out. “I know you’re a witch.”

She doesn’t even hesitate; her hands stay busy in my hair. “When did you figure it out?”

“That doesn’t matter. You haven’t been honest with us. You being here—it’s no coincidence. You’ve been sent to spy on us.”

“Notspy. I’ve been sent to protect you. It had already been confirmed that at least one of you was a witch, but the Sisters were eager to—”

I twist around to face her. “Confirmed? By whom?” I’ve always known the Brothers have spies in Chatham. Do the Sisters? Are there other witches in town besides Maura and Tess and me?

Elena sits on the settee, arranging her inky blue skirts elegantly around her feet. “I’m not at liberty to say. I can assure you it’s not someone who means you ill. I was sent to discern which of you could do magic—and to my astonishment, I discovered all three of you can. That’s very rare. Exceedingly so.”

My first instinct is to deny it, but Elena raises a hand, forestalling my argument.

“Maura told me. Don’t be angry with her, please. I know you’ve worked very hard to keep it secret, and you’ve done a good job of it.”

Not good enough, apparently.

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