Kiss of Ash by C.J. Archer

Author:C.J. Archer [Archer, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.J. Archer

Pippa welcomed the distraction the arrival of Georgiana's belongings provided. She sat cross-legged on the floor of Ash's study, paper, pen and ink at her side, and wrote a detailed account of each crate. She was half way through the third when Fallon returned. His face was red and his breathing irregular as if he'd hurried up the stairs.

"His lordship has gone out for supper," he said. "Have you discovered anything...of interest?"

"To you?" She smiled as she handed him a small wooden box. "I think so."

He knelt beside her and opened the lid to reveal a dozen letters bound together with a red ribbon. He fingered it gently and caressed the yellowing paper as if it would crumble.

"Thank you." He stood. "I'll leave you to your duty."

He left and she picked out a box from the crate similar to the one that held Fallon's letters. She unlocked it using one of the several keys Sir Francis had found at Georgiana's cottage and included with her belongings. Inside was a small parcel tied with another ribbon, white this time. She hesitated before removing it. The package, so carefully wrapped, obviously contained a personal item. She really shouldn't open it. She barely knew Georgiana Dale. It would feel like an invasion. But Ash had specifically instructed her to catalogue all the contents of Georgiana's crates. Besides, the tiny parcel practically unwrapped itself in her palm. She only had to help it a little.

Inside was a woolen baby's cap. It was white, or nearly so, and made from such finely spun wool that it was impossibly soft against her skin.

She knew beyond doubt that it had belonged to one of the twins. Why else would Georgiana wrap it so carefully and keep it locked away in a keepsake box?

She turned it over, hoping to find a name stitched onto the wool but found none. She checked inside the box. Nothing. No false base, nothing under the lid, no identifying features of any kind. Just a plain box.

She sighed and folded the paper around the cap again. She was retying the ribbon when she remembered something. Ash had told her witches could find people using an object that had belonged to them as a talisman.

She unwrapped the cap once more and stared at it. Nothing happened. She picked it up and held it to her heart. Still nothing. She held it in front of her eyes and willed it to lead her somewhere, anywhere. No path cleared, no map appeared before her. What was she supposed to do to make it work? She'd never divined for anything before, never even knew she could until Ash mentioned it.

Another witch would know, one with more experience. And the only other witch she knew was Isabel Merritt, apothecary and the wife of Ash's good friend.

Pippa ran to get her coat and pocketed the cap. She just hoped Mistress Merritt would be willing to help her.

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