Page 6 of Of Curses and Courtship

But she’s not a witch, is she?

“It will only take a second.” I wait for the moment to pass, the infatuation to pass. It doesn’t.

“Emyr,” Tibalt says. “Please.”

Tibalt wishes to speak with me about something, or so it seems, but I can no longer pretend to care. My feet carry me as if I’m on a cloud, floating to the stranger. Somewhere behind me, a low groan comes from my guard.

“Yes?” I ask faintly. “What are you grumbling about?”

“Bloody—” Tibalt lets out a string of curses.

Some mortals would run from me, but this one doesn’t. She holds a bag in one hand, clutching it tighter as I approach, but she doesn’t scurry or look away.

“You don’t know that mortal,” Tibalt says. “Please, Emyr. Think before you do something to get us in trouble.”

“I’m not worried about that. She should be worried about the trouble I’ll getherinto.”

CHAPTER THREE

OPHELIA

“Have you heard about the fae in Far Water?” Tara, the grocer’s wife, asks me.

I pluck a juicy red apple and turn it over in my hands. “I can’t say that I have.”

Lies, of course, but it won’t take much for Tara to tell me more than my stepmother did. She has always been the talkative sort.

“No?” Tara gasps, her wrinkled mouth forming an O. “Youmust’veheard! Everyone’s talking about it. You shouldn’t be out alone right now, dearie. It’s unsafe.”

Lady Ashbridge made me promise not to leave after dark, and I am technically keeping my promise. The sun will still be up for a few hours.

I smile wryly. “It’s not as if I have anyone clamoring to join me in my errands. You understand how my family is.”

Tara has her own opinions of Lady Ashbridge—namely, that she’s an unfortunate side effect of one who is brought up with too much money and too few manners. I would never outright insult my stepmother, even to Tara, but the occasional comment should slide by well enough.

“I don’t believe that for a second. You have people who care for you, aside from me. Why, I saw you out with Ethel just the other week.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t already heard.” Heat rises to my cheeks, and I clear my throat. “Ethel and I are no more.”

Understanding flickers across her features. “Ah. That’s too bad. Jerry and I were rooting for ya.”

Most were—at least, most who knew of our courtship were. My stepmother did not know. She wouldn’t have approved of anyone making me happy, and Ethel brought joy to my life for several years before we fell apart. As much as I miss her, it was the right thing to do. Courting someone while keeping a halfling secret is no easy task. It hasn’t been long since we ended, but the wound no longer feels so fresh.

Some people are meant to be alone, and I am one of them.

“Life goes on,” I say. “Tell me more of the fae. Do you know what business they have in Far Water?”

“Someone says their prince is throwing a ball. Can you believe it? A ball, here?”

“Ah, but of course, I can.” I roll my eyes. “That’s very much like the monarchs. Rather than visiting to help our small town, they throw lavish parties we can’t afford to attend.”

“Yeah, yeah. Typical royals. But you’d better keep your wits about you.” She leans in. “I saw one just outside here a bit ago. Handsome as the devil, just like they always say. Nearly handsome enough to drag me away from Jerry and into their wretched land, if y’know what I mean.”

“Tara!” I let out a sound between a gasp and a laugh. “Surely that was not your first time spotting a fae. You’re quite old.”

“You come into our shop and insult me?” Tara laughs, waving a plump hand as if the gesture will cause me to disappear. “Get out of here, girl.”

“I’ll have to pay first, Madam.”