In which Robin De Noir mistakes Olive Heliotrope for the Moon Princess, and the two star-crossed enemies must work together to break a curse.
❝ Oh, I can't
Stop you putting roots in my dreamland
My house of stone, your ivy...
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AS SHE STROLLED THROUGH the garden, the early-afternoon sun splashed over Olive's shoulders like the warm embrace of an old friend.
Aunt Jane had dismissed her and Maria from their lessons for a late lunch, and the girl had hoped to escape outdoors for some fresh air, and the chance that it might help to clear her head.
All morning, she couldn't shake the memory of the De Noir boy standing before her in the moonlight. Recalling the feeling of his lips upon hers left Olive's quill motionless while she was meant to be practicing her calligraphy. His name was the only word that she could think of whilst Maria and Aunt Jane carried on with French verbs.
If her suspicions were correct, Robin would surely be nearby, as he always seemed to be lurking about. Perhaps, sharing that suspicion, Wrolf padded along beside her as she began to pace beneath a large oak tree at the corner of the garden.
Olive glanced across the long stretch of grass that spanned the distance between the edge of the garden and the start of the suspiciously-still forest. Part of her never wanted to see that boy again. He was brash, and disgraceful, with no regard for propriety – no respect for Olive's virtue. If anyone found out the way he'd seen her, the way he'd touched her – she'd be ruined.
But, oh.. that kiss.
Olive raised her hand to her cheek, which flushed crimson. She could feel heat at the touch, and the hastening of her beating heart.
Suddenly, the girl flinched, startled by a sudden commotion behind her.
"Oh," Aunt Jane exclaimed, swatting her parasol at a dragonfly that buzzed past her nose. "Apologies, dear, I didn't mean to startle you," the woman gabbed, walking unsteadily on the gravel footpath towards her niece.
"Aunt Jane," Olive said, caught off guard by the woman's unexpected appearance. It was rare that the elder woman dared to venture outdoors. "I didn't hear you coming.. is something the matter?"
"Well.. perhaps.." Aunt Jane finally made her way to stand beside her niece. "My dear, are you quite alright? During the morning lesson you seemed rather absent. And, my.. you appear rather flushed," she added, squinting at the girl through her bifocals.
Olive turned her face away from her Aunt, and away from the sun, attempting to hide her blush. "Y-yes, I'm feeling fine. Perhaps it's just the sun."
Aunt Jane pulled her niece by the arm into the shade of the large oak behind them "Do come out of the sun, then," she scolded, meaning to keep the girl from damaging her delicate skin. "Where is your parasol?"
"Uh, I–"
"–Oh, nevermind child," she said, pushing her white lace parasol into Olive's hands. "Take mine, instead."
"Let's take a stroll, shall we?"
Knowing she hadn't much of a choice, Olive grinned apprehensively, before taking Aunt Jane's outstretched arm. The pair began to walk about the garden with Olive holding up the parasol just so, so that both ladies' faces were shaded from the sun.
