Fair Maiden by Cheri Schmidt Read Free Book Online

I recall my past.”
    “Oh, you poor dear.” But the old gentleman’s spirits didn’t
stay down for long. After rubbing his chin in thought for a moment, Jackson’s
face brightened and he smirked. “Might I tell you stories of Christian’s
childhood? He was an energetic lad and got himself into many spots of trouble.”
    Christian was about to fight it, until he saw the look of
delighted curiosity brighten her face and remove all signs of the previous
pout. He decided to let Jackson have his fun.
    The old man’s fun lasted for quite possibly hours. Christian
didn’t have his watch on him to know for certain, but realized he was fidgeting
in his seat much like he had in church as a youth. Jackson managed to make him
flush far too often with all of the embarrassing childhood tales he told to
her. How was his memory so sharp? But Christian decided he could suffer the
discomfort just to be able to hear her melodic laugh. He also suspected she was
afraid to retire until the storm had passed, and he wouldn’t deny her that
either.
    This séance had not given them what he’d first wanted, but
he felt some good had come from it. They’d discovered a new thing she could do.
There had to be another way to find her name, another medium, perhaps…. A
witch , he thought.
    Christian secretly decided to keep this one to himself. He
didn’t want to upset her or Jackson with this new idea. He would face that
battle when it was too late for them to argue it, even though he wasn’t looking
forward to another lecture about his finances from Jackson. He’d sent a letter
to his father hoping to get the matter cleared up more swiftly. He wasn’t used
to living like this, which, he suspected, could account for his recklessness in
the matter. But discovering who she was and who killed her seemed much more
important to him, and highly worth the cost.

 
    Chapter
5
    Toil
and Trouble
     
    “You’ve done what?” Jackson hollered, whilst he paced the
entryway.
    “The psychic helped even though she was a fake. I’ve decided
to try a witch.”
    “Gad, Chris, are you a complete fool? You’ve gone from dark
to darker. How can any good come of this?”
    “I must agree with Jackson. I do not think witches are
good.” She’d come to see Christian and had not expected to find them
quarreling.
    Before he could reply, a knock at the door echoed through
the hall. Christian gave them a stubborn look, turned on his heel toward it,
and wrenched it open. He revealed a tiny woman dressed in a finely constructed
black dress with ruffles and lace adoring the high-necked bodice and the
bell-shaped skirt. A scarlet-colored shawl was draped about her shoulders. She
had the covering pinched closed with one hand and a tapestry bag clutched in
the other. Her wild mass of red hair swayed in the breeze as her green eyes
twinkled. Whilst the hair was very witch-like, she did not look as spooky as
the psychic had.
    “Hello, dears, might I introduce myself? I am called
Tabitha.”
    Christian choked and got this surely-you-jest look on his
face as he motioned for her to enter and follow him.
    As they silently filed into the sitting room, she was
utterly startled when the witch turned to face her and then addressed her
directly, “I gather you’re the reason why I’m here?”
    “Were you already—?” Christian asked.
    “I did not think I was.”
    “You weren’t, dear, but I can see you anyway.”
    How would she know that unless perhaps she was what she
proclaimed? she wondered.
    “Then you’re a real witch?” asked Christian.
    “Of course I am. Why would you think otherwise?”
    She shared a look with Christian.
    “Oh, it doesn’t matter. How may I help you with your lovely
apparition, Lord Krestly?”
    “We wish to know her name. She cannot remember that or how
she came to be here.”
    “Mmm,” the witch hummed as she plunked her bag onto the table,
tugged it open, and then began sifting through it. “You need a truth charm, and
the seer