The Hare and the Oak by Celia Lake

Author:Celia Lake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celia Lake

Chapter 22

BADDOCK HALL, LATE THAT EVENING

They were not back at Baddock Hall until rather later in the evening than Cyrus had expected. Gemma had given a tour of the gardens after everyone else had left. Nora had taken quite a lot of interest, in the historical plantings, especially, and the idea of a working garden. It had thrilled Gemma to explain the layout of the materials she used for some of her alchemical work, even though other parts came from specialists. Mabyn and Nora had ended up exploring the long gallery and the family portraits while Gemma and Cyrus saw to the necessary estate paperwork.

Now they had come from the portal back across the drawbridge and split up to their various rooms. Mabyn had murmured that she would be along once she’d changed into something more comfortable. Cyrus, after a moment’s consideration, went to change into a smoking jacket before returning to his sitting room and pouring out some brandy. By the time Mabyn knocked, the room was comfortably lit, the wards were ready, and he felt sufficiently hospitable.

“Come in.” Once she had her chair, he raised an eyebrow. “Food to go with the drink?”

“Goodness, no. I am very well fed. I got the impression your cook there was glad of the chance to extend herself. A garden party is rather tricky to cater for in some ways. So dependent on the weather.”

“We were quite lucky there, weren’t we? No sign of a shower, no bother with insects. And I think it was very informative, in terms of the social patterns.” Since they wouldn’t need to wait for food, Cyrus called the warding into action with a twist of one hand. He let the shimmer of light cascade from that central point in the ceiling and fade away.

Mabyn nodded. “Quite. I assume you’ll be sending something along to Gemma? I’ll have a note to go with it.”

“Of course. Normally we use the journals, but I had a few clippings to send along to her, from some of our research, or copies, at any rate. Whenever you like, no rush on my end.”

Mabyn hesitated, then said, “I suppose that brings us to the more private conversation. Though I had something before that. Related.”

“Related?” Cyrus honestly felt he had no idea where this was going. Discussing an alliance was one thing, but what else?

“It was seeing you with Gemma.” Mabyn made that little gesture with her hand, as if she were cupping something. “Seeing you together. I’m a tad envious, actually.”

Cyrus was not sure what to do with that. Faced with this particular challenge, he could do one of two things. He could force his thoughts along the lines of reason and logic, going along cautiously. Or he could trust that thread through the labyrinth would guide him. He flung himself into trust, hoping he was right. “Exactly how irritated are you at Lady Baddock?”

Mabyn’s bark of a laugh told him he’d chosen well. “Very. And with myself. And not just for the obvious reasons.

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