Grown Enchantress (Book #2, Young Witch Series)

Chapter 6

Madeline soon found that she preferred the company of the children that were used to working for a living, rather than the children that had been born rich, like her. She voiced her opinions to Jessamine, only to have Jessamine laugh at her.

"Of course, you do. You've grown accustomed to having to work, and after the last winter, to sharing." Jessamine explained, balancing the two-year-old Elizabeth on her hip as she moved around the library dusting shelves. "They are still learning, but you have to start interacting with them."

"Do I have to?" Madeline complained, "They bore me."

"You are a princess." Jessamine said softly, coming over to hug the girl around the shoulders, "In your life, you will meet a great many people who will bore you, and you have to let them, because they are important. These children will help you forge links with some of the great houses in this country. How would you tell your father that you had driven away three of his supporters, simply because you were rude to their children?"

"I hadn't thought of that." Madeline said, looking at the floor, "I'll try more. Promise."

"That's my girl." Jessamine let her go, and put Elizabeth down. "Would you like to try more cooking today?"

"I hate cooking." Madeline grumbled, but got up and follower as Jessamine left Elizabeth in charge of her nanny, and went down to the kitchens.

"You could charm a whole table of people into doing what you want, simply by cooking them a meal." Jessamine said firmly, "And your cooking still does nothing for people, except make them sad. You need to learn how to turn your emotions off when you cook, or you will have a table full of angry nobles to deal with, and no idea what to do."

"You mean, because I'm grumpy about cooking, it makes people that eat my food grumpy too?" Madeline asked, shocked.

"I'm afraid so." Jessamine said, stepping into the kitchen. They both stopped, and looked around them in awe. Not a single surface was clean, but covered in muck such as flour, eggs, and what looked like the leftover soup from lunch splattered all over the table and many of the cooks.

"What happened?" Jessamine said, almost too calm. Madeline could see her shaking, and wondered if it was from anger or amusement. All Madeline could think right now, was that she was sorry to have missed out on such entertainment.

"I'm sorry, My Lady." The head cook stuttered, "It was the children. One of them lost control, and soon, they were all throwing things around."

"Well children, you shall have to put this to rights. Without magic." Jessamine looked sternly at them, including the four noble children who were covered in food as much as the rest of them. "And I mean all of it. How you will get to the ceiling, I have no idea, but you will." And then, as if she couldn't stand it anymore, she started laughing.

Everyone looked very taken aback, and soon, Madeline joined in, followed by all of the other children. The cook and maids that had been caught in the crossfire were not so amused, but then Jessamine started getting wipes up onto the roof, and cleaning it off, but making a line of children rinse them out, while others started on the floor.

Several of the girls started filling several big tubs full of water up, and carried them over into the laundry, getting ready to wash everyone's clothes, since that was part of cleaning up. Madeline was part of the roof cleaning brigade, but she was much slower than Jessamine, but the others were forbidden from using magic, and Jessamine refused to let them climb up and risk danger to clean.

Once it was all cleaned up, Jessamine sent the children, including the noble children, off to change, and then the kitchen helpers, since they were just as dirty, and they started on the washing. Madeline had to leave the magical part of it to Jessamine, and she herself learnt how to do it manually. Since Jessamine hadn't let her do this yet, she was the same as the other children, once they had returned in their worst clothing, knowing it was going to have to be dried afterwards, and they all set too it.

The mistress who ran the laundry was told she would be getting extra helpers over the next week, as the children made up for the fun they had had in the kitchen. The gardeners were given another convoy of children, since it was seeding time it was the four noble children, and the maids were given a few children. All of them were going to miss out on their indoor lessons for a week, and help where they had been assigned.

The noble children protested, feeling the indignity of it all, and then jessamine told them that they were going to lose all access to maids and valets help, for the rest of their time here. Madeline smiled at their reactions, and suddenly understood why Jessamine had taken her own maid and much of her pretty clothing away; to build her confidence and character.

"And you lose all your formal clothes too." Jessamine threw over her shoulder as she walked away from the protesting children.

"My parents will hear of this!" One of the boys shouted.

"Go for it!"