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“He talked with you about it?” The notion makes me feel itchy and uncomfortable. He was always my friend. Maura was the pest, the tagalong little sister.
Maura nods. “He wanted answers. I couldn’t tell him the truth about the Sisterhood, of course, so I let him think it was because of Finn Belastra. I’m afraid it makes you look rather pathetic. ”
Tess tugs the golden dress over Maura’s shoulders. “I’m sure Cate had her reasons. ”
“Cate always has her reasons. But as she chooses not to share them with us, all we can do is speculate,” Maura says airily, arranging the dress over her hips. “In any case, Paul said he’d come to see that we’re all settled in. Perhaps I can persuade him to take me shopping. Tess, you could come along and chaperone. I’d ask you, Cate, but I’m afraid that might be awkward. ”
“No. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of your fun,” I agree.
“That’s very kind of you. I can’t wait to see the city properly. Thank the Lord for Brenna Elliott and this new prophecy. I was afraid I’d spend the rest of my life wasting away in Chatham!” Maura sighs.
“Home isn’t that bad,” Tess says, tying a wide, brown velvet sash around Maura’s waist.
“Oh, you know what I mean. This changes things. Elena says the Sisterhood isn’t so certain of you anymore, Cate. The prophesied witch could be any of us. ”
“Don’t, Maura. ” Tess looks on the verge of tears. “Stop trying to pick a fight. We’ll find out soon enough which of us is the oracle, but for now we’re all finally together again. Aren’t you glad?”
Maura eyes me with trepidation, as though admitting she missed me will take something away from her. Perhaps it will.
“I’m sorry. I owe you both an apology. ” I take a deep breath. “Especially you, Maura. The decision for me to come here, and the two of you to stay home—it was a decision we should have made together. You’re both old enough to have a say in what happens to you. You told me that, and I didn’t listen. I—I’m not a very good listener, sometimes. ”
“Sometimes?” Maura scoffs, rolling her eyes to the shadowy ceiling.
“Maura!” Tess snaps.
I offer Maura my hand. She looks at me for a long moment, and then she takes it.
“Fine,” she says. “I missed you, too. ”
Chapter 7
THE NEXT AFTERNOON DURING TEA, Tess grabs a plate of pumpkin scones. “The front parlor?” she suggests, heading for the door while I grab two cups of tea.
Maura tugs on one of Tess’s braids as she passes the pink love seat. “Where are you going?”
“Cate and I were going to find a quiet place to catch up,” Tess explains. “Do you want to come with us?”
Maura rolls her eyes. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to intrude. ”
I add milk and sugar to Tess’s tea the way she likes it, trying not to seem as though I’m eavesdropping. Tess sighs. “You wouldn’t be intruding, Maura. I just haven’t seen her in weeks; I want to hear all about everything. ”
“That’s all right. I find the company here more stimulating anyway,” Maura says, turning back to Alice, and hurt flashes across Tess’s face.
“Thanks,” she mutters. I finish with the tea, and we walk in companionable silence to the front parlor and shut the door behind us.
“Tell me, how were things at home?” I ask.
Tess curls up on the stiff settee, her stocking feet tucked beneath her, munching on a scone. Cinnamon and nutmeg perfume the air. She gestures at the other scone on the plate. “You should eat something. You’re too skinny. ”
I take matches from the tinderbox and light the gas lamps on either side of the mantel. It gives the illusion of warmth, at least. It’s freezing in here without a fire, despite the hiss of heat through the radiator. “Are you avoiding my question?”
“No. Well, perhaps. ” Tess hands me the scone as I plop down next to her. “You’re always fretting about us. Aren’t I allowed to worry about you?”
“No. ” But I take a bite just to appease her. “There. Now tell me. ”
“Things weren’t good. ” Tess sighs, retying the pink bow on her braid and avoiding my eyes. “After you left, Maura stayed in her room for almost a week. Then she and Elena got into a screaming match. Maura was—I’ve never heard her so angry. Even Father came to see what happened. Maura did mind-magic on him so he’d forget what he’d heard, and she was different after that. I caught her practicing on John and Mrs. O’Hare last week. ”
“What?” I yelp. The O’Hares have been our housekeeper and coachman since we were little; they’re practically family.
“Yes. ” Tess raises miserable gray eyes to mine. “I don’t think it was the first time, either. I don’t know how often she’d done it before I caught her. She wouldn’t tell. ”
“What did she have to say for herself?” I put my unfinished scone down.
Tess hunches her shoulders. “She didn’t think she was doing anything wrong. She said she needed to work on compelling multiple subjects. I told her if she did it again, I’d never speak to her for the rest of my life. ” Unlike Maura, Tess isn’t the sort to make empty threats. “She swore she wouldn’t. ”
“Are the O’Hares all right?” I trace the carved pineapple on the arm of the settee.
“They seem to be. It’s Maura I’m worried about. She’s become obsessed with magic. The whole way here, whenever she wasn’t flirting with Paul, she was asking Elena questions about the Sisterhood. It’s as though she thinks she can be the prophesied sister if she tries hard enough. ” Tess bites her lip. “I don’t think that’s how prophecies work, though. I don’t know what Maura will do if it’s not her. ”
“Be even angrier? I thought we made a truce last night, but she’s ignored me ever since. ” I kick off my slippers and curl my feet under me on the settee, mirroring Tess’s position. “Do you hate it here?”
“No, it’s grand. Very—homey. ” Tess glances around the dour parlor and rolls her eyes.
“I’m serious!” I protest. I can practically feel the headmistresses sneering at me from their portraits, disapproving of my show of emotion. It seems unfathomable that I could join them someday.
“I’ve only been here a day,” Tess says. “I haven’t formed an opinion yet. ”
“I couldn’t bear it if you were angry with me, too. ” I smooth the ruffles at the bottom of my blue plaid dress. “I know you wanted to stay home with Father and—”
“I understand why you sent for us,” Tess interrupts. “I think I’ll like it. It’s a little overwhelming, is all. I’m used to it being just us. It feels like everyone’s always staring at me now. ”
Tess is wearing a new blue dress with pink and purple polka dots, and combined with the pink bows in her braids, the effect is sweet and girlish. It makes me want to look after her, mother her, and I have to remind myself of my promise not to treat her like a child.
“They’re all curious about us because of the prophecy. You’ll get used to it. ”
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