Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle Read Free Book Online

muttering to herself as she set out cups and the plate of Mother’s dark spicy cake on the
    crowded table. Miss Allardyce ignored her and sank into the chair at Father’s desk, distressed by her
    surprise and confusion. They were not emotions she was accustomed to feeling.
    How had she not known at once when she walked into the shop that the handsome stranger at the
    counter was a wizard? Power had fairly radiated from him when she met his eyes just now. Had he
    kept it cloaked until his surprise made him reveal it? For, just as strongly, she had felt his surprise as
    he looked at her. He, too, knew what she was.
    Miss Allardyce shivered. Who was he? Mother was the acknowledged historian in the family,
    keeping track of the families in England known to possess magic ability. She might know something of
    him, if only there were some way to find out his name … .
    Just then the shop’s bell tinkled, and Mr. Allardyce came into the office a moment later. “There.
    We can hope no one else will come in while we have our tea.” He removed a pile of books from a
    chair, pulled off his gloves, and sat down with a grunt of relief.
    “Do you know him?” Miss Allardyce asked before he had even finished seating himself.
    “Who, the man who just left? Never seen him in here before. Irish, sounded like. We don’t get
    many Irishmen coming in for books.” Mr. Allardyce took the cup Lorrie handed him and poured some
    tea into his saucer to cool it.
    Then Mother would probably not have any idea of who he was; her knowledge of magically gifted
    families did not extend past England’s shores. “He was a wizard, Father,” she said aloud.
    “Was he? Hmmph. Lorrie, you cannot leave magic books out on the counter for anyone to pick up.
    You know that.”
    Lorrie’s lower lip quivered, but she only said, “I’m sorry, sir,” and dropped an extra spoonful of
    sugar into her cup.
    Miss Allardyce drank her tea, but she could not eat any of Mother’s cake despite it being a favorite
    of hers. The stranger’s eyes had unsettled her. He had looked at her with an interest that had gone first
    from friendly admiration to speculative intensity, and then—
    “It’s getting late. I should leave now,” she said, and rose abruptly.
    Lorrie looked up at her in surprise. “But you’ve not even touched your cake.”
    “I know. Wrap it for me and I’ll have it tonight. I’ll come back in a few days when Mother and
    Merlin are home, and bring Miss Persephone and Miss Penelope with me next week. They can tell
    you about their presentation dresses. If I hurry I can catch the omnibus and save walking.”
    “Are you well, Melusine?” said her father, looking at her with knitted brows.
    “Quite well, only running later than I ought. Thank you for the book, Father. I’ll come again on
    Thursday. Will that do?” She kissed them both, retied her bonnet, and hurried back into the shop.
    Lorrie came after and helped fasten her cloak. “I’m glad you’re back in London,” she said, with a
    frown at the frog fastenings. “It’s so dull without you.”
    “Silly child, I’ve been gone for years.” Miss Allardyce tempered her words with a quick hug.
    “I know. But I think I miss you more now that I’m twenty than I did when I was small. I love
    Mother and Father, and even Merlin when he’s not being a prat—”
    “Lorrie!”
    “—but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life dusting books and arranging the windows. I want to
    …”
    “What?”
    “I don’t know!” Lorrie half sobbed.
    Miss Allardyce took a deep breath and stifled her impatience. “You know that I’ll be leaving the
    Lelands’ employ soon. I already told Father that when I look for a new position, I’d look for
    something for you as well.”
    “Like what?” Lorrie’s face brightened.
    “I don’t know yet. Be patient. ‘We’ll talk when I come back.” She hugged her again.
    “Bring that cloak with you when you come,” Lorrie called after her as she