Spell Bound - Chapters 5 & 6
We decided to launch our Kickstarter campaign a little earlier than planned…so it is LIVE right now! And we have all our Enchanted Fairytales (including the one we’re serializing right now) as add-ons. These are available as ebooks, signed paperbacks, and signed hardcover books.
A princess must run for her life and escape to the forest in The Lost Princess, our first Adventure Fairytale. (Ends Wednesday, April 29th)
All Pearl was ever expected to do…find a good match and marry someone to help her kingdom. After her parents died, everyone looked to her uncle to help the princess until she was old enough to marry.
Traveling home after a royal visit, her coach is attacked and she finds herself alone in the forest. Realizing she can no longer trust her uncle, she’s not sure what to do next.
Pearl finds a home with a group of outlaws staying in the forest. She hides her true identity as the kingdom searches for a lost princess. Will Pearl ever be able to return home and help her people? Or will she become an outlaw in this kingdom?
We hope you’ll check out this new campaign!
One other surprise…we have Storm Front FREE today!! You can download the ebook at Amazon, and we’ll be offering a new FREE ebook each week until the series is finished. This was originally written as five short parts of a longer story, so enjoy!
And now, here’s the next two chapters of our Enchanted Fairytale.
Chapter 5
As she sat down at the table in the dining room, Felicia was surprised to see the staff were all in attendance. At her previous job, the only time staff was allowed in the dining room was to clean or serve.
Trixie smiled, seeming to read her mind. “Things are a bit different here, Miss.”
Felicia nodded. “So, they are. I quite like it.”
“The master doesn’t always join us,” Trixie said, “but he’ll probably be down tonight. Seeing as how this is your first evening with us.”
“What about Harris?” Felicia asked. “Does he eat with us as well?”
“Harris keeps to himself most of the time," Trixie replied. "He’s a bit odd, but he does know his plants.”
“The gardens are amazing…” Felicia began, but stopped as Oliver walked into the room.
“Good evening,” Oliver said. He smiled as a short, robust woman walked in and joined them. “Mrs. Porter, you’ve outdone yourself.”
The cook blushed and nodded. “Kind of you to say, Sir.” She sat down next to Trixie, and Felicia realized there were still a few empty chairs.
Oliver looked at her and smiled. “We’ll have a few more joining us tonight. I want everyone to meet our new apprentice.”
Mrs. Havermale rolled her eyes but nodded as Oliver looked in her direction. “They’ll be here shortly, Sir.”
“We might as well go ahead and start,” Oliver said. “Mrs. Porter’s food deserves to be eaten while it is warm.”
A few minutes later, two men walked into the room. One was Harris and the other was younger, but looked a bit like him. They both had dark hair and a muscular build.
“Ah, Mr. Harris,” Oliver said. “Nice of you and your nephew to join us tonight.”
“Sorry about being late, Sir,” Harris replied. “Young Tim was finishing the new starts.”
“Those are plants you’ll be using,” Oliver said, looking at Felicia. “The starts are lavender and rosemary. We’re working on a new candle fragrance.” He smiled at Trixie. “Maybe we’ll include some of that bergamot you like so much.”
Trixie blushed slightly. “Oh, Sir…that sounds lovely. Your candles are always such a treat to use.”
Oliver nodded, then looked at Mrs. Havermale. “I would like to speak with you after dinner.”
Mrs. Havermale glanced over at Felicia, then back to Oliver. “Of course, Sir. Coffee in the library?”
“That would be fine,” Oliver agreed.
After dinner, Felicia went back to her room. Everyone had seemed very friendly and made a point of talking about the gardens, candles and orders for spring. What bothered Felicia was that they made such an effort. She got the distinct feeling they would have been discussing something else if she had not been there.
“I’m letting my imagination take over,” she whispered, then smiled. “What I need is a cat, so I don’t look so silly talking to myself.”
A few minutes later, Trixie came to the door. “Would you mind looking after Nora? She’s a good girl, but she does like to get under Mrs. Havermale’s feet.”
Felicia looked down at the cat. She was not very big but had gray stripes and a bit of orange with pretty, white markings. “I didn’t know you had a cat.”
Oh, Nora is not mine,” Trixie replied. “She belongs to the master. Her name is Elenora and she’s a sweetie. She seems to like everyone…but Mrs. Havermale.”
Felicia smiled and thought she could understand that. “You can leave her with me if you like.”
“Thank you, Miss,” Trixie said. “You can just let her back out in an hour or so. Mrs. Havermale will have gone to her room by then.”
Felicia nodded, then closed the door after Trixie left. Looking down at Nora, she smiled. “Well, I guess I have someone to talk to now. What do you think of this place, Nora?”
The cat looked at her with those bright green eyes, tipped her head to one side and purred. Then, she jumped on the bed and curled up by the pillow.
“Make yourself at home,” Felicia said. “I guess I should be careful what I wish for.” She smiled. “Good thing I didn’t say dragon.” She paused and glanced around, wondering for a moment if one would have shown up if she had.
Shaking her head, Felicia picked up the book she had borrowed from the library. It was all about herbs and flowers, which she hoped might help her with the candles. She sat down on the bed next to the cat and started to read.
Chapter 6
The next morning, Felicia was woken up by a tapping on her door. She opened it to find Mrs. Havermale standing there.
“We don’t bring breakfast up to your room,” she announced. “The master will want to see you downstairs in a few minutes.”
Felicia nodded and closed the door, quickly getting dressed. As she started down the stairs, she saw Trixie polishing the banister.
“Did she get you out of bed?” Trixie asked.
“Yes. I didn’t know we were supposed to be up so early,” Felicia replied, glancing out the window on the landing. “It’s not even light yet.”
“She does that with everyone,” Trixie assured her. “Mrs. Havermale enjoys showing us all who runs the household.”
“I’ll see you downstairs,” Felicia said, walking past her. “I don’t want to be late on my first day.”
“Trust me,” Trixie replied. “You’ll have plenty of time.”
As Felicia walked past the dining room, Mrs. Porter waved to her. “Come into the morning room and get some breakfast.”
I’d like to, but I’m late,” Felicia said.
“No, you’re not,” Mrs. Porter replied, smiling. “Mrs. Havermale does this with everyone. Go ahead and check the library, then come back here and eat.”
Felicia nodded and went into the library. No one was there except the cat. She sat down in a chair and Nora walked over and purred, then rubbed against her leg. “I wonder what I should do now,” Felicia whispered.
The cat looked at her for a moment, then turned as Mrs. Havemale walked in. With a quick hiss, the cat slowly walked out of the library.
“Why that animal gets free run of the house is beyond me,” Mrs. Havermale said. “It seems the master will be coming down after lunch, so you might as well make yourself useful. Perhaps you can help Trixie.”
Felicia nodded. “I’d be happy to help any way I can.”
“I supposed you should have something to eat,” Mrs. Havermale replied. “Then, you can get to work.”
Felicia watched her walk out, then turned and went back to the morning room. Nora was already there, eating a little piece of sausage Mrs. Porter offered her.
“She’s such a good kitty,” Mrs. Porter said, then scooped up the cat and the plate. “I’d better take her to the kitchen.”
The food was on the table buffet style, and it seemed everyone helped themselves. Trixie walked in and got a plate. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get some food and we’ll sit over by the bay window."
Felicia noticed there were smaller tables here rather than the large table in the dining room. “This is a cheerful space,” Felicia said. “It must be very nice in spring.”
“Oh, it’s lovely,” Trixie agreed. “All those shrubs at the back of the garden are lilacs. When they bloom, it’s wonderful.”
Felicia hoped she’d still be here to see them. This was one job she’d like to keep. “Sounds beautiful,” she said.
“All the gardens are,” Trixie replied. “My favorite is the rose garden. The colors and fragrance…well, you’ll see them soon enough. I know they use a lot of rose petals with the candles.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Felicia said. Do they make the candles upstairs? I haven’t seen the third floor.”
No, the candles are all done in the cellars,” Trixie replied. “Something about the dried plants doing better down there. And the temperature is more constant.”
“That makes sense,” Felicia agreed. She took another bite, then smiled. “Mrs. Havermale and the cat don’t seem to get along.”
Trixie giggled. “I think they each believe they’re the master’s favorite. Mrs. Havermale does run a very efficient household, but I think Nora might win that bet.”
“Has she been here a long time?” Felicia asked. “Mrs. Havermale, I mean.”
Trixie nodded. “Seems she’s been here longer than any of us, which isn’t saying much. Most of us have only worked here a few years.”
Felicia started to ask another question as Harris walked in with his nephew. They got some food and started back out when Harris turned back to her. “If you want to see the gardens this morning, we can show you around after breakfast.”
“That would be very nice,” Felicia replied. “Thank you.”
Harris nodded and walked out with Tim behind him.
“Looks like you’re getting the grand tour,” Trixie said. “I don’t know that Harris has ever done that for anyone.”
“I’m sure it’s just part of the job,” Felicia replied. She quickly finished her breakfast and went upstairs to get her coat.
Read another two chapters next Thursday!