The Book of Spells (Private 0.50)

Startled, Eliza rushed forward and ducked down. Catherine was holding a piece of white parchment in her shaking hand. “I found this tucked into one of the knots in the trunk.”

“Well?” Eliza prompted. “Open it!”

“But it’s for you.” Catherine held the paper out to Eliza.

Holding her breath, Eliza took the parchment. Inside she found a short note, written in familiar, masculine handwriting. She read it out loud to Catherine.

Eliza,

Would you do me the honor of meeting me this evening in the woods just south of Billings Chapel? I’ll be waiting for you at midnight.

Yours,

Harrison Knox

The word yours brought a warm blush to Eliza’s cheeks.

“Thank you, Catherine. I never would have found this without you.” She stepped toward her friend. “There’s something I should tell you. That book? The one I received our second day here? It wasn’t from my father. It was from Harrison. I’m sorry I lied.”

“I understand,” Catherine replied. “How could you have known to trust me back then?” She reached for Eliza’s hand and squeezed it. “But I hope you know you can trust me now.”

Eliza grinned. “I trust you above anyone, Catherine White.”

She was just about to fold the note and tuck it away in the pocket of her skirt when she caught a glimpse through the thick leaves of someone rapidly approaching. She froze.

“Miss Eliza?”

Eliza’s heart dropped. “Helen? Is that you?”

Helen ducked under the low branches and stood next to Eliza, her hands folded in front of her skirt. She glanced at Catherine, then at the piece of parchment trembling in Eliza’s hand. Her face went ashen, and she took a step back.

“Mr. Harrison Knox sent word through one of the Easton servants that he had left something for you at the tree,” Helen said. “I was to give you the message. How did you know it was—”

She stopped abruptly as Eliza and Catherine exchanged a look.

“Oh. I see,” she said, her tone shifting completely.

Eliza felt as if she had been kicked in the chest. What, exactly, did Helen see?

“Aren’t Harrison Knox and Theresa Billings betrothed?” Helen asked.

Eliza’s skin burned. She opened her mouth to speak, but Catherine stepped up and touched her arm, stopping her. “Our affairs are none of your concern, Helen,” she said. “You’ve delivered your message. Kindly leave us.”

Helen’s face hardened as she dipped into a quick curtsy. “Yes, Miss White.”

Then she ducked under the branches and was gone.

Suddenly Eliza’s breath was coming at an alarming rate. She looked at the ground and fought to calm it, pressing one hand against the comforting strength of a thick tree limb.

“Are you all right, Eliza?” Catherine asked.

“You needn’t have spoken to her that way,” Eliza replied, bringing Harrison’s note to her chest. “I think you’ve upset her.”

“Well, as much as I like the girl, she has no right to judge you,” Catherine replied, supporting Eliza with an arm around her back. “No one does.”

Eliza took a deep breath in through her nose and blew it out through her mouth. “You don’t think she’ll tell Theresa, do you?” Eliza asked, looking off in the direction in which Helen had disappeared.

“I don’t know. She didn’t tell on us before, but who knows if her discretion or her loyalty to the Billings family will win out?”