The Earl Finds a Bride (Fairy Tales Across Time Book 1) by Bess McBride

Author:Bess McBride [McBride, Bess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bess McBride
Published: 2017-07-13T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Mary swung around in a circle, scanning her surroundings.

“Miss Hickstrom!” she called out. “Where are you?”

No reply. Mary wasn’t surprised. She had seen the fairy godmother vanish before. She was disappointed, however, hoping to bring Hickstrom and St. John together to resolve whatever mystical force kept him trapped at Alvord Castle.

She turned back to Roger.

“Yes, the Hickstrom. I meant to tell you and St. John before that she came to my room last night. I didn’t get a chance, however, before Mr. Bracken came. Is his wife all right? Where is St. John?”

Roger followed Mary’s lead and scanned the area before turning back to her.

“But where has she gone? This is the same woman who cast a spell on the earl, is she not? You say she came to your room? In the castle? How could she know which room was yours? What did she say? Why did she visit you and not his lordship?”

Roger and Mary stared at each other for a moment.

“It seems like we both have a lot of questions,” Mary said. “Maybe we should wait until we see St. John. Is he still with the Brackens?”

“No, the doctor came and left. Maude Bracken is apparently suffering from a complication that often affects women of a certain age. The doctor did not expand but reassured Mr. Bracken and his lordship that her condition was not life threatening, at least not her life. He recommended that Mr. Bracken not trouble her unduly if he valued his well-being. I cannot imagine what the condition may be, but it seems as Mrs. Bracken will recover in due course.”

Mary almost smiled. She remembered her mother’s battles with early menopause. Her father had been confused by his wife’s mood swings and hot flashes, headaches and sweating, but they had passed eventually.

“I’m glad to hear she will recover,” Mary said. “Is St. John back at the castle?”

Roger nodded. “He is, and he was mightily disturbed to discover that you were missing, Miss Palmer. He thought you must have traveled back in time. It did not occur to either of us that you had set out on foot for the village. And you met the county’s most eligible bachelor, Lord Halwell?”

“Is that what you call him? What about St. John?”

Roger offered her his arm, and they passed through the gate. Roger spoke over his shoulder as he closed it behind them. She noticed he did not lock it.

“I am afraid he has lost that title due to the machinations of this strange vanishing lady called Miss Hickstrom. Shall we proceed to the castle? I know his lordship is beside himself with concern for your whereabouts.”

“Really?” Mary asked, her heart skipping several beats.

“Of course, Miss Palmer, as was I. The earl feels particularly responsible for your welfare since you were unceremoniously dropped onto his property by whatever fates determine such things.”

Mary had begun to think that Hickstrom determined such things, but she wasn’t prepared to voice her opinion aloud. Not just yet.

St. John, no doubt having spotted them from a window, rushed outside upon their approach to the castle.

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