The Herbwitch's Apprentice Ireen Chau (best life changing books txt) 📖

I shook my head profusely. “You really shouldn’t. The replacement cook stepmother hired is struggling. I don’t think she’ll be able to handle an additional person.”

“Alright. Should I write them, then?”

“No need! I’ll pass on your regards,” I said.

Tori squeezed in between me and Olivia. “When you were gone, Prince Ash sent you a bunch of letters,” she said with a suggestive look.

I cringed. “Did he?” It then occurred to me that I hadn’t given Ash an excuse for my absence.

“That’s right. After the fifth letter I had to write a note saying you weren’t there. I bet that’s why he’s looking so mopey.”

Ash was looking mopey. He was still behind the fig tree, but Samantha had approached him. No doubt she was trying some last-minute flattery before the Masquerade Ball.

“You should go to him,” Genevieve said.

I blushed in spite of myself. “I don’t feel like getting up.”

“Oh, excuses, excuses,” Tori said. She pulled me out of my seat. I threw a panicked glance at Narcissa. She was still conversing. The duchess was nowhere to be found. I trembled to think what she would do if she found out I defied her daughter.

“No, really. I would much rather stay here,” I said, easing myself out of Tori’s grasp, which proved to be no easy task. Her fingers were like steel.

“Come on, Amarante! I never took you for a coward,” she said.

Our movement must’ve caused some disturbance, for Ash turned and caught my eye again. This time his brows raised in recognition and he excused himself from Samantha. I held back a groan as I sat back down.

“We’ll step aside for a moment,” Tori whispered loudly. She took Olivia by the arm, leaving Cedric to take Genevieve. It seemed like her matchmaking skills weren’t wasted during my absence.

I frowned at their retreating forms as I became increasingly aware of the princely figure approaching me. I didn’t look at him until he cleared his throat.

“Amarante,” Ash said.

“Hello.” I rose, and feeling Narcissa’s glare, curtsied to avoid her gaze.

Ash looked thrown off at the sudden formality. I wanted to give him an apologetic look but found I couldn’t meet his gaze either.

“You look nice,” he said, clearing his throat again.

“Thank you. It’s a rental.”

“I wasn’t talking about the dress.”

I felt another blush crawl to my cheeks. “Would you like to sit?”

He took a seat on the bench. “Tori says you went home this week.”

“I did. My nannies were sick,” I said. I hated how easily the lie came the second time around. “Sorry I didn’t get your letters.”

“It’s alright. We can talk now,” Ash said. “I’m looking for Peter right now. I’ll have to check the Witch Market—”

“I don’t think this is the best place to discuss this,” I said, fiddling with my gloves. I felt Narcissa’s glare again. She was closer now.

“You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”

I gripped the bench when Ash offered his hand. “Oh. I...I can’t go.”

He tilted his head. “Why not?”

Narcissa walked over. I decided to let her do the talking, which probably wasn’t the best idea.

“She wants to stay with me,” Narcissa said. “Your Highness.”

Ash gave me a questioning look, but I turned my head away.

“After all, my mother worked very hard to put this soirée together. It would be rude to leave in the middle of it, wouldn’t it?”

“It would,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry. I would much rather stay.”

I kept my head turned, but hearing Ash’s voice was enough to make me miserable.

“I see. I won’t keep you from enjoying the gathering.” With a stiff bow, he was gone.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes. “What were you two talking about?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

26

Perspiration dampened my back as I sprinted to Miriam’s shop the next afternoon, wiping the ashes off my face. I had thrown on a clean gown before setting out, though the sleeves were already soiled with grime. My crystal pulsed incessantly. I was late. Lana would not be pleased.

“Amarante? Is that you?”

I skidded to a stop at the sound of Olivia’s voice. She was several paces away, rolling leisurely in a horse chaise with her brother. I froze. There was no avoiding the confrontation now.

“Olivia! And Cedric. Hello,” I said nervously when our paths intersected. The driver looked at me with a mixture of alarm and disgust. Narcissa was especially heavy-handed with the cinders today.

“Goodness, what happened to you?” Cedric exclaimed, half-rising from his seat. Olivia looked like she was going to stop the driver.

“Nothing. I, er, accidentally fell into a fireplace!” I said, backing away. “Please don’t delay your trip for me. I’ll see you later!”

Before either of them could reply, I darted around the corner and waited for them to pass. When the sound of hooves and wheels faded away, I slipped into Miriam’s shop, my heart pounding. Hiding so many things at once was getting difficult.

Miriam raised a brow at my disheveled appearance. “This is the second time you showed up like this,” she said, following me to the back room. The air felt stuffier than usual. “I hope you’re not in trouble and not telling anyone. Because that would be idiotic, dear.”

I pressed in the usual bricks. My sigh of exasperation was drowned out when the wall rolled back into the tunnel. “I’m fine, Miriam. Don’t tell Theodora or Rowena, alright?”

Miriam huffed and let the tapestry drop.

I was wheezing for air by the time I arrived at Lana’s cottage. She was standing outside with an irritable expression. “Good heavens. Have you been hired as a scullery maid?”

Even if she was the only person I could tell without consequence, I didn’t.

Lana merely shook her head at my silence and opened the door. “Come inside. We’ve wasted enough time.”

“Can we make the truth potion today?” I asked as Lana rummaged through her cupboard. “Miriam sent you the gold.”

The parcel was sitting on her counter, untouched. Lana’s shoulders stiffened when she glanced at it. “How did you come by this?” she asked,