Marmalade's Love Potion

Chapter 25 - A New Season (The End)

Penelope awoke, eyes bleary, to a sharp rap on the front door. With a groan, she disentangled herself from the stirring Sisters and stumbled to answer.

Peering through the small port window of the door, Penelope spied a messenger dressed in jewel-hued silks bearing an elegant box. Rubbing sleepily at her face, Penelope opened the door as the Sisters muttered behind her about aching bones and bruised joints.

The messenger appeared startled at her appearance, tactfully averting her gaze as Penelope recalled her state of undress and fussed self-consciously with the belt of her robe.

"Apologies for waking you. I have a parcel for Princess Penelope of Royal House Starwood from Princess Ivy of Royal House Sweetwood."

"Oh! Thank you!" Penelope received the box with surprised delight. A note attached to the ribbon conveyed Ivy's gratitude for the lend of her gown, as well as assurances it had been returned in perfect condition.

"I apologise, I have not yet had the opportunity to clean Princess Ivy's gown for return..." Penelope snuck a guilty glance at the heap of fabric and crusted cake where she had left it on the floor of the sitting room.

"It is no matter, our household staff will tend to it."

Penelope nodded. "One moment, then."

Penelope lumbered over to retrieve the gown, fished in the pockets for her purse, then hastily folded it into a spare box from her work station. She passed it to the waiting messenger, who was looking around with an anxious grimace as the trees rustled in the still morning air. Accepting the box with a start, she retreated with a blushing curtsy. She mounted her horse with a graceful arc and urged her horse into a canter down the crystal path, seeming eager to leave the woods behind.

"Well... that's that solved then."

"What's what solved, ducky?"

Penelope smiled at Sister Rosin's wide yawn and the licks of hair sticking up in all directions. Penelope supposed her own hair was in a similarly dishevelled state.

Over tea and breakfast cakes, Penelope filled the Sisters in on all they had missed of the previous night, including everything she had learned from her family.

"Those sneaky, heartless, manipulative villains!" Sister Rosin shouted, pacing the length of the small kitchen. Sister Heely's face was stony with rage, her pale blue eyes burning with a fury Penelope had never seen in the woman.

"They just... To think they... They sacrificed you to... And left Grimwood to face..." Sister Rosin raged, spitting half-articulated thoughts as Penelope nodded, feeling exhausted.

"Do Grimwood know?" Sister Heely asked in a hoarse whisper as Sister Rosin fell into silence, lowering herself into a chair with slumped posture.

"I'm unsure... I told Steph. I don't know if, or when, he intends to inform his father or brother. It sounds as though they may have suspected already, if what Clarity said of their mistrust of Starwood is true..."

The three women continued to discuss the events and revelations of the Dark Moon Ball as morning lengthened to afternoon.

In the late afternoon, Sister Heely answered another rapping knock on the door to a richly-garbed messenger bearing a wax-sealed missive.

"It's from the Noble House Rivercourt, requesting a custom gown, gloves, cloak, and perfume for an upcoming spring festival... goodness! They've sent an advance to secure our commission..."

Sister Heely upended a small pouch enclosed within the letter and a pile of gold pidges spilled across the table.

"Well..." Sister Rosin blinked, eyes wide and owlish, as she took in the small fortune sitting between their tea plates.