Page 4 of Potions & Prejudice
Adelaide touched her apron pocket absently, the wand sticking out from it. “My father,” she said quietly. “He carved each of our wands for us when we were born.”
“Really?” Elm leaned forward, resting an elbow on his knee and forcing Auggie to withdraw her hand. “He must’ve been a talented woodsmith.”
While Elm’s face brightened, Adelaide’s tightened, a frown growing. “He was. He wrote his own spells to make wonderful creations from wood.”
“Is he here?” Elm looked around our campsite as if my father might suddenly appear from the woods in the distance.
“No,” I said, voice hard. “And we have to be going soon.”
“Elspeth!” Mama admonished. “Mr. Kingsley hasn’t even finished eating his soup.”
I stood, accidentally kicking my bowl. It lurched to the side, soup spilling all over the ground.
“What is wrong with her?” Auggie asked.
Prue lowered her book. “Well, she’s probably tired of hearing you talk all the time.”
Auggie scoffed as Prue raised her book back over her eyes.
“Girls.” Mama’s eyes widened meaningfully.
“It’s no trouble, Thea,” Elm said to my mama, but his gaze was trained on Adelaide, who was looking straight at me.
My heart pounded in my chest, past memories flooding me. My father. His betrayal. Everyone else who’d betrayed us. It was a miracle we were still in the Witchlands, that we hadn’t been forced to leave.
“Oh no.” Adelaide looked down, her bowl now turned on its side, the contents spilling everywhere.
“Why is everyone so clumsy today?” Auggie drew her bowl closer to her. “I’m not sharing any of mine.”
“We know,” Prue said from behind her book.
“I’m so sorry about them,” Mama said to Elm, but his gaze remained on Adelaide, brows pinched.
“Are you still hungry?” he asked, tipping his head toward the forest. “I know Thistlegrove Forest well. I can forage some mushrooms and berries for you if you’d like.” He tapped his nose. “I have a good sense of smell.”
Adelaide waved away his words. “No, that won’t be necessary?—”
“Yes,” I burst out, a plan forming in my mind. I strode past the fire and grabbed Elm’s arm, helping him to his feet. He towered over me. “That would be lovely. Thank you so much for the kind offer.”
“Elspeth,” my mother hissed. “He does not need to forage for us. He’s our guest.”
“It would really be so helpful,” I said to him.
“It’s not a problem,” he said to Mama. “Really. I don’t mind at all.” His gaze flicked to Adelaide again. I let go of his arm, and he backed away. “I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he turned and walked in long strides toward the forest in the distance. I waited until he disappeared behind the tree line and then stomped out the fire.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” I said as I grabbed the bowl of soup from Auggie’s hand and dumped it.
“Hey!” Auggie whined.
“What has gotten into you?” Mama asked. “First, you try to turn away a perfectly good customer, and now you’re treating Elm abominably. Honestly, it’s no wonder you’re not married by now. Is this how you treat every man you come across?”
I ignored her, grabbing everyone’s bowls and stacking them. They’dhave to be washed later when we found a new campsite. One far away from here.
“We’re leaving,” I said, stalking toward the cart and placing the bowls in a basket that sat right by the back door. I walked around the side and lifted the countertop, which hinged upward and latched to the side of the cart.
“Leaving?” Auggie said. “What about Elm?”
