Page 2 of Love Set Apart
“Oh, I do. I love him so much.” Her heart felt as though it might burst from her chest as she spoke the words. She’d never felt this way before. Robert was all she thought about from morning to night.
“You would not mind being the wife of a soldier? It’s not easy you know.” Madame DuBois tipped her head and examined Emilie’s face, perhaps for any sign that she would waver in her resolve.
“I would not mind at all. I do not enjoy life at court.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of it.
“Well, then I will do my best to help you. You deserve happiness and since you have risked so much to come to me, I will aid you in your quest for love. There are no guarantees it will work. Much is up to you.”
“I’ll do anything.” Emilie clasped her hands in a prayerlike gesture. Excitement bubbled inside of her as she leaned forward in her chair ready for her instructions.
Madame DuBois rose once again. This time she went to the shelves filled with bottles and vials. Emilie watched her every move and was surprised when she returned with something other than a bottle. In her hand was a rose-colored stone unlike anything Emilie had ever seen before. Placing the stone in her palm, Emilie examined it. The translucence was intriguing to the eye. There was a softness to it despite its rough edges, and the color was the most beautiful shade of pale pink. She glanced up to see Madame DuBois smiling proudly at her. “What am I to do with it?”
“I’ll tell you.” Madame DuBois took Emilie’s hand in hers, encouraging her to wrap her fingers around the stone. “On the night of the next full moon, in seven days, you must take this stone to the river. There you should hold the stone close to your heart and tell the moon what you want. Do not be vague in your speech. Tell the moon of your love and your wishes.”
“The moon will hear me?”
“Of course. Say your wishes out loud and then toss the stone into the river. I have already cast a spell on the stone, it will strengthen your words as you speak them. When you have finished, you must thank the moon. That part is very important.”
“That is all I need to do?” Emilie was feeling a little skeptical of these instructions.
“Yes.”
“And Robert and I will be able to marry?”
“The moon will hear you. I cannot guarantee marriage, but you will receive the help you need to find happiness.”
Emilie looked down at the stone in her hand. It seemed to sparkle and shine more as she gazed on it. “Thank you.” She reached into her cloak and from a hidden pocket removed a pouch of coins for Madame DuBois.
“Thank you, Mademoiselle. You must tell no one where you’ve been. You understand that it would be dangerous for me.”
“I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
“I have placed a spell of protection on you, so you may walk back to the palace in safety. Go and be well.”
The week had gone by slower than Emilie could possibly have imagined and the date of her upcoming nuptials to Comte Barbieri loomed in the future. She hadn’t seen Robert since she had spoken to Madame DuBois. He’d been away traveling with the king and Emilie wondered if she’d ever see him again. She gazed up at the moon as she cradled the stone next to her heart and spoke the words she’d rehearsed over and over again in her head. This was her one and only chance to change what was about to occur.
“Oh, beautiful moon, I am Emilie Toussaint, daughter of Comte Toussaint. I come to you for help. I am in love with Robert MacMillan and I wish to marry him. Will you please help me? I am sure that you can.” Even as she said the words, she doubted them. She remembered what Madame DuBois had told her. That she must be sure of her words and so she repeated them again, this time without doubts and with more strength in her voice, and when she was done she thanked the moon and tossed her offering of the rose stone into the river. It plopped without incident into the dark depths of the flowing water.
She’d done it and now she would wait for whatever was to come her way.
1
Edinburgh, Scotland 2022
What had once been a dark and eerie close leading to the offices of The Council of Witches was now filled with color. Window boxes filled with flowers adorned the once drab brick walls. Edna Campbell had seen to that herself. Why should the only access to the council offices be so foreboding that it frightened potential clients away before they even had a chance to meet with the witches? Yes, the sun seemed to shine brighter and the narrow path appeared wider as she made her daily trek from her flat to her new job with The Council of Witches.
Edna straightened her wrap and brushed a single strand of blue hair from her face as she hummed softly to herself. She was quite pleased with her recent accomplishments here in Edinburgh. Aside from the close, she’d also done some work in the actual office itself. The other three witches, while very good at what they did, were anything but organized. The offices had been just as drab as the close had been. Edna saw to an immediate redo of everything. The walls were painted in light, bright colors and overhead lighting presented a warm welcome to visitors. The decor was updated, but also paid homage to those who had come before them, with portraits of witches past and present lining the hallways. Work spaces, desks and other necessities reflected the unique character and quirkiness of each witch.
On the home front, she and Angus had settled into a quaint little flat right around the corner. They occupied the first and second floor of an older brick building that had probably been in existence since the 1700s. The first floor was dedicated to a small, modern kitchen and a lovely living area with a beautiful fireplace. Edna had to have a fireplace. It was how she communicated with all of the many couples past and present that she had united in love. She kept in touch as often as possible, especially with her niece Maggie and her husband Dylan, who’d taken over Edna’s duties as keepers of the bridge and The Thistle & Hive Inn. They were expecting twins any day now and Edna couldn’t be happier for them. On the second floor was a large bedroom with a seating area by the large picture window that overlooked the street below. A second fireplace kept them warm on chilly evenings. Angus was happy there, which made Edna’s decision to work with the council so much easier.
“I’m happy wherever ye lead me, me love,” he’d said, when she’d asked him how he felt about leaving The Thistle & Hive Inn and the town of Glendaloch. Edna considered herself a very lucky woman to have such a handsome, braw and loving man in her life. He liked to say her superpower was uniting people in love. It was her specialty.
Reaching the door to the council offices, Edna juggled the cups and bags she was carrying so she could open the door, but that task was almost impossible. Instead she focused on the doorknob and concentrated on turning it by using her powers. She tried not to use them for silly things like this, but the last thing she wanted to do was drop all the goodies she was bringing to share. The door opened right away, and as she made her way down the hallway it slammed behind her, causing her to jump and almost lose everything she’d worked so hard to protect. “I’ll have to work on that,” she muttered before entering the office. “Good morning, ladies! I’ve brought treats!”
Mardella, Melusina and Daire all hopped up from their seats and converged on her, each taking a cup of tea and a warm scone.
“Thank ye, Edna. I was just saying to the others how hungry I was this morning.” Mardella took a bite out of her scone and rolled her eyes in obvious pleasure. "Delicious!”
“Then I arrived right in time,” Edna said, removing her wrap and draping it over her chair before making herself comfortable at her desk.
