Page 28 of Emma & Edmund

As the door clicked behind her, Emma found herself almost afraid. What if this woman tricked her? What if she accidentally revealed Edmund?

What if she was just wasting her time?

The woman's eyes never left hers as she came to sit on the chair across from the sofa. The bright lighting and warm room did little to set the atmosphere, and the longer the two women stared at each other without a word, the more Emma was able to convince herself that this woman would be nothing but a fraud.

“Miss Thompson." The woman took a long, loud sip of her tea. Her thick Welsh accent hit Emma with surprise.

"Do you know of me?"

"Just heard of you. Heard you were stood up tonight." A hot blush coated Emma's face, and she didn't stop the affronted huff that came to her throat. "Ah, no need for that. More important things to talk about, yeah? What do you want to know? What your friends think of you? Who your future husband will be?"

At that moment, Emma realized she probably should be asking those questions.

"What do you know of the coven on the Mersey?"

Well, Emma's inner voice sighed, that wasn't the plan. But whatever response Emma could have guessed the person sitting across from her would have given, it certainly wasn't that wild, wide-eyed grin. The toothy smile unnerved her, and despite herself, Emma shrank away.

"What an interesting question. The Mersey, you say? A coven of what? What would a young lady know of such things?"

"It doesn't matter. Do you know of them?" Edmund's purse weighed heavily at her side, but she wanted to try a bit harder before resorting to it.

"Hm," the woman hummed, taking another noisy sip, "and what if I have no help to give?"

"Then I believe we don't have any business with each other." Emma knew it was a risk to stand, that she could ruin the chance. Straightening her skirts, she made sure to exaggerate the jingle of coins hidden within the folds, watching the woman from the corner of her eye. While she didn't turn or raise her brows, the woman did hold up a hand to stop Emma from going further.

"Now now," she said, waving Emma back into her seat, "let's not be hasty. You're the whole reason I'm still in this house, aren't you? I stopped telling fortunes hours ago. So, what is it? Were you sick? Didn't want to attend the party? What's the grand reason I've been ladled with food and drink just to speak with you, Miss Thompson?"

"Thank you for waiting." Emma readjusted, taking a deep, grounding breath before continuing. "I am not here for myself-"

"So I've gathered."

"And I do not need a future revealed. What I do need is any information you may have. A name, a direction,anythingcould be helpful."

"Hm. I take it this also has something to do with the wine and dinner and dessert I have been treated to here. The servant girl even managed to hide her disdain in serving me, the sweetheart. So, if not for you, I take it this is all for the master of the house?"

"I hardly think that matters."

"All signs point to it being at his behest, my dear." She set down her teacup, instead changing to her full port class.

"Look, Mrs..."

"Call me Annie."

"Mrs. Annie, the coordinator of this effort is unimportant. All that is, is what you know."

"But my dear, what if what I know is conditioned on who is asking?"

Emma could have screamed.

"If it were for my own knowledge?"

"I know nothing."

"And if it were...if it were for Lord Lockhart?"

A thin, long smile stretched over Annie's weathered cheeks, leaning in over her knees as she spoke.

"Well, then I might know a thing or two. But it's proving a bit difficult to remember..."

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