by Sharon Booth
'He's what?' Star stared at me, astonished. 'Who says he is?'
'Well,' I said uncomfortably, 'he is, isn't he? Sort of?'
'No, he's not! Sirius is.'
I squirmed, recalling how Blaise had mentioned to me a couple of nights ago that, by rights, the entire St Clair estate was still his, since it had been in his possession when he left his own time and he was, after all, still alive.
Star's lips tightened. 'Is this what Blaise said?'
'But,' I said nervously, 'he has sort of got a point, and it's not as if Sirius wants the estate, is it?'
'You must be joking!' Star clearly disagreed. 'I think he's got a damn cheek even suggesting it. The estate passed to Bevil and then to Bartholomew. It's ours by rights, not Blaise's. His time has gone. I'd like to see him try to prove it in a court of law.' She nodded over to where Hector was standing by the keep. 'He could hire Hector to represent him. He's got an excellent reputation according to Benedict, but I doubt even Hector could make that claim stick.'
'Don't be silly. Blaise wouldn't contest Sirius's claim,' I said uncomfortably. I sighed and stared at Hector, who was oblivious to the fact he was being watched. 'What's he doing?' I murmured.
Star leaned forward. 'Talking to the ravens,' she said.
I stared at her.
'What? It's no big deal. Tourists are always talking to the ravens, trying to get them to say stuff. Why would he be any different?'
'But those aren't the castle ravens,' I said. 'Can't you see? That's Bran and Belasko!'
Star frowned. 'Are you sure? They all look the same to me.' She shook her head. 'Can't be. There's three of them there.'
'Three!' I looked again and noticed for the first time, a slightly smaller raven standing nearby, head tilted as if she was listening to every word Hector was saying. I shivered. I was almost sure it was the female raven Blaise and I had met before.
'Don't sound so freaked out,' she said. 'He's probably feeding them. You know they'll do anything for food.' She grinned. 'Bit like Aurora.'
I tutted at her, then looked back at the castle grounds. Hector was walking towards East Gate, and the three ravens were circling the keep. Evidently, he'd run out of food.
I decided I was being over-dramatic.
'So,' I said, turning back to Star, 'are you coming to Sky's tonight? They're picking Jethro's editor up from the train station at four-thirty and taking her out for tea, but Sky said we could come round about eight-ish if we wanted to meet her.'
Star hesitated, then shook her head. 'Maybe another time. I'm not in the mood. I think Benedict and I need to talk again. Properly this time, with no arguing.'
I couldn't help but smile, and her eyes crinkled with amusement. 'Yes, all right, I know it will be a miracle if we avoid a row, but it's worth a try. I want him to understand why I'm so scared, that's all.'
'And once he does, I'm sure he'll agree keeping the witch bottle in place is fine — for the time being at least.'
'I hope so.' She leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek. 'Have a good day, Celeste. You must tell me all about this American wonder woman tomorrow. I want to know everything.'
'I will,' I said, laughing. 'Although I expect it will be Sky who hogs the conversation tonight. I probably won't learn a thing about our Diana Prince!'
****
'I think it's probably best to keep Blaise away from Jethro's editor for the time being,' Sirius said firmly. 'If she gets the slightest inkling he's a time-traveller — well — God help us all.'
We were standing in the kitchen at Castle Lodge, drinking freshly brewed coffee and trying to decide whether Jethro's new house guest would prove tricky. Sirius was of the opinion that the fewer people who came into contact with Blaise — at least in the early stages — the better.
'But we're already hiding the fact that we're all witches,' I pointed out. 'If we can keep that secret from her, I don't see why we can't cover up Blaise's true identity, too. It's not as if she will expect it, is it?'
'We've had all our lives to hide that we're witches,' he replied calmly. 'Blaise is new to this.'
'Are you kidding? He had to hide his magic, too, you know. You do remember what they did to witches back in his day?'
'Hiding magic is one thing. Hiding that he's from the seventeenth century is a different matter. He's still adjusting to that, and you know he finds things confusing and slips up now and then in public. We have to be careful at the best of times, but with a stranger who has a vested interest in the legend in the mix ...' Sirius threw up his hands in despair. 'You must see where I'm coming from?'
I slumped, feeling defeated. 'I suppose you're right,' I admitted grudgingly. 'I'm sorry, Blaise. Looks like you're staying here tonight.'
Blaise was sitting at the kitchen table. He looked up at me with a blank expression on his face. 'Huh? Sorry, Celeste, did you say something?'
'Oh, for goodness' sake!' I said, exasperated. 'You weren't even listening, were you?'
Blaise looked shamefaced. 'I apologise. It's this! It's amazing!' He waved the device in his hand at us, his face alight with excitement. 'The entire world right here at my fingertips! And you say the people of this time don't believe in magic.'
I tutted. 'Why on earth did you give him your iPad?'
Sirius shrugged. 'I figured it was time he moved on from dusty old library books. He's been here over two months now, and he's already learned so much it's incredible. He needs to expand his education. We've signed him up for some free online courses, haven't we, Blaise?'
Blaise nodded eagerly. 'We have. There's so much I want to know, Celeste. You're so lucky to be living in this century with so much knowledge available to you. I want to know it all.'
'Steady on,' I said. 'Only Stephen Fry can achieve that level of genius.'
'I take it,' Sirius said to Blaise, 'that you're not bothered about going to Sky's tonight to meet this guest of theirs?'
Blaise wrinkled his nose. 'Not particularly. I'd rather stay here and study. Why?'
Sirius looked at me with an annoying told-you-so expression on his face.
'Fine,' I muttered sulkily. 'I'll go by myself.'
'Isn't Mother going with you?'
'Nope. She's viewing a house with Father and Aurora, followed by dinner in Harrogate. Castor's meeting some of his cronies for a pint and a game of darts at The Holly King. Even Spirit doesn't want to come,' I added, giving my cat a reproachful look. 'She never wants to go anywhere with me these days. I'm starting to take it personally,' I said, loudly.
Spirit gave me a look that said I was going to have to get used to it, then stalked into the living room. I wondered what was up with her. She seemed to have little interest in me and hardly spent any time with me at all. What had I done to upset her? I'd have to a little chat with her, I supposed.
'Are you not going, Sirius?' Blaise enquired.
'I'd rather not,' Sirius confessed. 'I'm sure we'll get to meet this woman at some point, knowing Sky, but right now I'd rather spend the evening a little more productively.'
'Oh?' I raised an eyebrow. 'And what are you planning?'
'Job applications,' he said glumly.
'Ah.' I gave him a sympathetic smile. I'm sure something will come up soon.'
'You reckon? I'm thinking it will never happen.'
'What is it you want to do?' Blaise asked, pushing his iPad away and turning to face us.
'Hard to say,' Sirius admitted. 'I wish I knew. I used to divide my time between running the castle, the museum and the shop, but my talented sisters have taken over and don't need me. I sort of fell into teaching when I moved to Ireland, but funnily enough, there's not a lot of call for teachers of magic in the Castle Clair area, and I'm not qualified to teach anything else.'
'You always enjoyed writing,' I said cautiously. 'You have a degree in English. Maybe you could get a job on a newspaper or something. Castor could help. He's a whizz at papers and suchlike.'
'But I wouldn't feel comfortable using m
agic to get ahead,' he admitted. 'Besides, there aren't many newspapers around here, are there? I'd have to leave Castle Clair, and can you imagine what people would say if I did that? I've not been back that long.'
'Maybe,' I suggested, 'you could start your own local newspaper. Or a blog. There's money in blogging if you do it right.'
'You make it sound so simple.'
'Look it up, ' I said. 'See how you become a properly qualified journalist.'
'Maybe, ' he said. 'I don't know. I want — I don't know what I want.'
'Gosh,' I said, 'you're really down in the dumps, aren't you? Look on the positive side, Sirius. You need a job, and the only way to get one is to figure out what it is you want and make it happen. You're a bright, intelligent man with a good degree. Use it!'
'Hmm.'
'It seems to me,' Blaise said, 'being a journalist isn't something your brother wants to do.'
'How do you know that?' I said, surprised.
'If it were, he'd make it happen,' he said reasonably. 'Instead, he's putting obstacles in his own path. It appears his heart's not in it. I suggest he has a rethink and considers other careers.'
'Told you he was clever,' Sirius said.
'Are you sure you won't come with me?' I asked him, worried that if I left him at home, he'd do nothing but brood.
'Quite sure. Blaise and I will have a quiet night in. It will make a pleasant change to get on with our work and study without people interrupting and babies screaming, won't it, Blaise?'
Blaise rolled his eyes. 'Most definitely. Babies are annoying creatures. If I still had my magic, I'd be tempted to clamp that child's mouth shut.'
'Blaise!'
Blaise gave me an apologetic look. 'Sorry. Just, in my day, babies were seen but not heard. At least, not by the menfolk. You don't mind me staying here, do you, Celeste?'
His dark eyes held an appeal, and I melted inside. He looked so adorable, sitting there with his shiny black hair, his brand-new reading glasses perched on his nose. I felt that familiar lurch of desire for him and had to battle to keep my smile firmly in place and my voice light and cheerful as I replied that I didn't mind, and I was happy to leave them to it.
Honestly, I was getting so good at playing the just-good-friends role I was almost beginning to believe it myself. Almost.
****
Sky and Jethro lived in a large, five-bedroomed new-build at the other end of Castle Clair, on a rather exclusive estate just past Bevil Bridge. Sky had never been a big fan of Castle Lodge, with its dark beams, huge fireplaces, wonky walls and creaky stairs. She'd loved Jethro's modern home the minute she saw it, and even though I suspected Jethro would like to find an older period property in the town, I knew he would never persuade Sky to give up her beloved home. She was so happy living there with Jethro, who was, to be fair, a real darling and so well-suited to her. After everything she'd been through, it was lovely to see my little sister settled and happy. She deserved nothing less.
I knocked on the door, clutching a bottle of wine as a gift for their guest.
Sky opened the door and beamed at me. 'You came! Oh.' She peered over my shoulder. 'Are you alone? No one else?'
I whispered in her ear that Sirius thought it better that Blaise stay out of the editor's way for the time being, and that our brother had stayed home to keep him company.
'Oh, and Father and Aurora are viewing that house tonight, aren't they?' Sky looked bitterly disappointed. 'What about Mother?'
'She's gone with them. They're taking her out for dinner afterwards. I'm ever so sorry,' I said.
'Star and Benedict aren't coming either,' she complained. 'I was so looking forward to everyone coming, too. I think they're all jolly mean.'
I shrugged. 'I brought wine,' I said hopefully. 'A present for your guest.'
'Well, at least you can be bothered,' she said. 'Oops, sorry, you'd better come in.'
'That would be nice,' I agreed. I'd been wondering if she intended to leave me on the doorstep all night.
She opened the door wider and ushered me into the wide, thickly carpeted hallway, then held out her hands for my coat.
'What's she like?' I whispered, shrugging my arms out of the sleeves.
'Seems nice enough,' she whispered back. 'Not what I expected, though. She's ever so — American.'
'American? Well, obviously,' I said, trying not to laugh. 'What did you expect her to be?'
'Oh, you know what I mean,' she said, rolling her eyes. 'She's so jolly enthusiastic about everything, it's quite wearing. And she's far too pretty for her own good. Seriously, no one should be that good looking.'
She hung my coat on the rack and led me into the large lounge. Jethro was sitting on the long, L-shaped sofa beside a young woman who was, as Sky had noted, beautiful. She had shoulder-length red hair and ivory skin. Large green eyes appraised me as I entered the room, and I had the feeling she was pretty shrewd and adept at weighing people up.
Jethro got to his feet, and she followed suit. I realised she was a good eight or nine inches shorter than Jethro, who topped six foot, and had a slender though curvy figure. Honestly, she was perfection and far too good to be true.
Behind me, I could feel Sky's eyes boring into my back. I could almost hear her voice saying, 'I told you!'
'Celeste! So good of you to come,' Jethro said, giving me a peck on both cheeks. 'This is Trinity Jones, my editor. Trinity, this is Sky's sister, Celeste.'
Trinity held out her hand. 'Hi, Celeste. Great to meet you,' she said, and I noticed the short but well-manicured nails and perfectly applied polish.
'Pleased to meet you, too,' I said.
We shook hands, and I smothered a gasp as she hugged me tightly. Over her shoulder, I saw Sky making faces and gave her a disapproving look.
'What was that about?' I demanded half an hour later.
'Jealousy,' Sky said honestly. 'That's what it was about. And don't tell me you're not feeling jealous, too.'
She and I were alone in the living room. Jethro and Trinity had disappeared into his study, where he was showing her some notes for his book.
'I'm not jealous,' I said. 'Though I'm not doubting you are, judging by your face when she asked if Jethro could show her his jottings.'
'Do you blame me?' she said. 'She's flipping beautiful! I mean, it's not fair, is it? No one should be that gorgeous. Except you and Star, obviously.'
'Oh, don't be silly,' I said, aware Sky always assumed that she was lagging behind me and our elder sister in the looks department. It was true, she'd been a late bloomer, but she'd absolutely blossomed and was a beauty in her own right since she'd rediscovered her magical heritage. She had nothing to be jealous of.
'Seriously, when she stepped off that train my heart sank,' she confessed. 'Jethro's eyes positively lit up when he saw her. Wretch. I wouldn't blame you for being worried, you know. Once Blaise sets eyes on her, you'll have some competition. And the trouble is you may have wandered into that irksome territory known as the friendship zone. Now that's real danger.'
'Honestly, Sky, you do talk rubbish sometimes,' I said loftily, while my inner voice shrieked, Seriously? We're in the friendship zone? How did that happen?
Thinking about it logically, it was obvious how it had happened. I'd taken Blaise to the doctor and the dentist and the optician, I'd arranged appointments for him, discussed history and politics with him endlessly, sat with him as he took his first tentative steps into the world of soap operas, so he could discover how "real, contemporary people lived". I'd even been the one who counselled him afterwards, reassuring him the world wasn't full of gangsters, drugs gangs and people who hid guns in their bedrooms, and that most people didn't have affairs with the world and his wife, nor secret children dotted all over the place. Well, I'd promised him, not in Castle Clair at any rate.
We'd done all the friendship things, but nothing that would lead him to think of me romantically. He didn't approve of holding hands, and was uncomfortable just linking arms in pub
lic, not to mention that he'd never so much as tried to kiss me — even when we were alone in the house which wasn't often.
'The trouble is,' Sky said, 'you've not shown him much encouragement, have you? Every time I see you together you act more like his nanny than a potential lover.'
'I do not!' I protested.
'You do, too,' she insisted. 'You're constantly giving him instructions and directing him here, there and everywhere. Honestly, how's he supposed to fall in love with you when you're more Mary Poppins than Marilyn Monroe? You'll be saying "spit spot" to him next.'
'Gosh, that's harsh,' I said.
'It's for your own good.' She sighed. 'You do still like him, don't you? I know he was your hero for so long, but that was before you knew him in real life. Now he's actually here and living with you, has he lived up to your expectations?'
I thought about the image I'd had in my head of Blaise for so long. That proud, slightly haughty demeanour of the figure in the portrait: flashing black eyes, every sinew representing strength and courage and raw masculinity.
The man I'd left behind at Castle Lodge wasn't much like that. Wearing black jeans and a maroon shirt, he'd been hunched over the iPad, his dark hair neatly cut but his chin stubbled because he was too absorbed in learning to shave. He wasn't what I'd expected, and sometimes, I had to admit, his behaviour had disappointed me. But that wasn't his fault. Deep down he was still Blaise St Clair. Still that legend. Still my hero.
'I do like him,' I admitted quietly. 'I like him a lot.'
'Then you'd better move out of the friend zone,' she said urgently. 'He needs to look at you as a real woman, not his carer.'
For a moment, I considered what moves I could make to get him to see me differently. Until I remembered.
'It's pointless,' I said. 'Are you forgetting Jennet? He loves her.'
'Are you forgetting she's been dead over three hundred years? Seriously, what's he going to do for the rest of his life? Sex by seance?' She giggled. 'You'd better get your act together, because if you haven't reminded Blaise you're a living, breathing woman with oodles of sex appeal, he'll take one look at Miss America and that will be that.'