The Fake Dating Spell novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Dinner for Two

Pippa Gorse arrived at the town house that evening carrying a basket of bread, a jar of pickled eggs, and an opinion.

"I can't believe you did it without me," she said, shoving past Tavish in the doorway like he was a coat rack.

"I'm Pippa. I'm her friend."

She jabbed a finger at his coat.

"Yes, she told me everything, and no, I don't care that you're a Warden."

"Told you how?" Tavish said.

"A note-bird, from the sleigh. It nearly took my eye."

Wynne, at the kitchen table, put her face in her hands.

Pippa was twenty-two and had red hair, freckles, and an apron stained green to the elbow from the herb shop.

She dropped the basket on the table and turned to look at the thread on Wynne's wrist.

It was a thin gold line, and it ran through the air to the Warden, who had gone to the stove to stir a pot.

"Oh," Pippa said, in a very different voice. "It really is gold."

"It's broken," said Wynne.

"It's not broken, Wynne. It's glowing like a lantern whenever he turns his head."

"Pippa."

"I'm just saying. It went bright when he laughed at the egg."

"He did not laugh at the egg."

"A little breath through his nose," said Pippa. "I saw it."

At the stove, Tavish's shoulders moved very slightly.

Wynne wanted to climb under the table.

They ate soup and bread at the narrow table.

Pippa told a story about a lord's valet who had bought a love tonic and poured it on his own boots.

Tavish listened with his chin on his fist.

When the boots caught fire, he laughed outright, a low, startled sound.

The thread flared so bright it lit the bowl.

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