Chapter Twenty-One

Aknock wakes Marigold the next day. She slept all the way through morning for the first time in years.

Still in her pink lace nightgown, she hurries out of her room and opens the door with a smile.

"Hello, Miss Marigold," says Mr. Benny.

"Mr. Benny! Come in!"

"Thank you, kindly. I came to deliver this," he says as he hands her an envelope, sealed with a wax emblem displaying her family's crest.

Finally, another letter from home. She takes the letter and presses it to her heart, as if the letter is her dear little siblings whom she can finally pull into a hug after so long apart.

"Thank you for bringing me this. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen while you're here."

He smiles wide and starts snooping in the kitchen as Marigold tears open the envelope to reveal a letter in her sister's hand.

My dearest sister,

I am thrilled to write to you with such wondrous news. I've accepted a proposal from Mr. Woodrake, and we are to be wed at the end of the month as we have received a special license from the archbishop. I realize that the travel is long and grueling, but you must be in attendance on such a joyous day.

I am also writing to inform you that you will be my maid of honor. In an unconventional twist, I've also decided that Frankie will attend me as well. Mother urged me to simply position Frankie as a groomsman alongside my betrothed (I love saying that. My betrothed. I can hardly believe it.), but Frankie and I insisted. Do begin your travels promptly after receiving this letter. You mustn't be late!

I think about you every day. I am so proud of you, and I cannot wait to hear of your adventures.

All my love,

Aster

Marigold rereads the letter over and over again to be sure. Aster Claude, the girl who had every man's heart held gently in her palm, is getting married. And Marigold was not there when she accepted the proposal. She was not there when Aster realized she was in love.

She missed it. All of it.

"Is everything all right, miss?" Benny asks after her long silence.

Marigold brings her eyes away from the letter and blinks herself back into reality. "My sister is getting married," she says.

"Well, that's lovely," Mr. Benny says.

"And I must leave for Bardshire as soon as possible to attend her wedding."

Mr. Benny clasps his hands together. "Wonderful! I'll take you to the ship myself."

Marigold drops herself into a chair at the kitchen table and sighs, pinching her eyebrows together as she reads the letter again.

"You don't seem excited, miss," Mr. Benny says as he takes the seat across from her.

"No, I am," she assures. "I simply can't picture the Aster that I know getting married, though I know she is more than ready. In my mind, she's still my baby sister. I feel like I've already missed so much. I know I've been here for quite some time, but this is the first time I've truly felt so far away. It hurts more than I thought it would."

Mr. Benny nods. His eyes soften as he takes a deep breath. "I understand. I really do. But that's the beautiful thing about family. No matter how far you go, they are still with you. And when you see them again, it will feel as though you never left. I promise."

She smiles. "I hope so." Gazing down the corridor, she thinks of her friends, who are still sleeping in their beds. "But now I must leave them. And I don't know if I'm ready for that either."

"You know you'll see them again when we return. Take the rest of the day to prepare for the travels and say goodbye. I'll return in the evening and we'll go."

Marigold nods. As the logistical plans come together, she falls deeper into her emotions. She is overwhelmed with gratitude for Mr. Benny, not only because he will be taking her to her family, but because he comforts her when she needs it the most. She wraps her arms around him tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything you have done and everything that you are." She pulls away and touches her grandmother's ring that hangs from her neck. "Thank you."

He says his parting words and leaves Marigold in the house, waiting for her friends to wake up. She pens a letter to her brother, though she will likely see him before it arrives.

Dear Frankie,

Well, she has done it. Aster Claude has found a rake and turned him into a gentleman. I could not be prouder. If her wedding is to be our first reunion since I came to Innisfree, we must plan accordingly. How might we disrupt Bardshire? There must be some scandalous rumors surrounding my sudden departure. Shall we indulge them?

My head is racing. I must admit, it is going to be very difficult for me to leave the isle now. Believe it or not, I actually have some friends here, and I am quite enjoying the company. Of course, no company compares to yours, but I'm fond of these new companions all the same. I will tell you everything of my adventures soon.

All my love,

Marigold

To distract herself from the impending partings, Marigold casts another protection spell on the house and makes her rounds through the isle to offer honey to the landv?ttir and strengthen the protection wards. She gives them each a massive dose of honey, larger than she has ever given before. It is the only way she knows to keep them healthy, and they'll need to be sustained during her trip to Bardshire. She then whips up an enormous spread for breakfast. Eggs, spiced sausages that were made by Mr. Benny, warm honey cakes, and freshly squeezed orange juice. When Marigold is thoroughly exhausted and covered in flour, Lottie is the first to rise and come into the kitchen. She wipes her eyes and stretches her arms toward the ceiling until her back cracks.

"Morning," she says through a yawn.

Marigold attempts to wipe the flour from her face to no avail. "Morning," she says without turning to greet her.

Lottie cocks a brow as she walks closer to her. "Everything okay?"

She continues to whisk dry ingredients in a bowl, sending more loose flour into the air and onto her person. "Yes, fine."

Lottie stands behind her, silent as a wish, until her chin could almost rest upon Marigold's shoulder. "You sure?"

Startled by her closeness, Marigold nearly drops the bowl from her hand. Her sudden movement still sends the whisk flying through the air, decorating both of them in flour as they slip on the floor together.

The commotion stirs August awake, and he comes running out of his room. He tries to catch his breath and steady himself as he observes the scene before him: Marigold and Lottie on the kitchen floor, covered in flour, holding on to each other. "What's going on?"

Lottie pulls herself up first and dusts off the flour before offering a hand to Marigold. "That's a question for the witch."

She takes her hand and stands. "Let's discuss over breakfast. I've been cooking for hours to try to take my mind off of things." She begins assembling plates piled high with sweet and savory treats, and the three of them take their respective seats at the table.

"Don't leave us waiting any longer," August says. "What's on your mind?"

"My sister is getting married in Bardshire, and I am to be her maid of honor."

Lottie takes a massive bite of her triple stack of pancakes and nods. "Sounds lovely," she says, unenthused.

August forces himself to swallow before he's finished chewing. "Don't be rude."

Lottie gives him an annoyed glance and continues eating.

"The wedding is on the first day of autumn," Marigold continues, "so in order to be there in time, I must leave tonight."

August and Lottie both put down their utensils and glance at each other before returning their gaze to her.

"Do you have to go?" Lottie asks.

"To my sister's wedding? Yes. I have to go." Her tone is harsher than she intended.

"You seem upset about it, like it's the last thing you want to do," Lottie says.

Marigold sinks farther back into her chair. "It is."

"Why?" Lottie asks.

"Because I do not want to leave you…" Marigold says before she remembers herself and fights for her composure. "Or August. I don't want our visit to be over."

The two stare at each other, unsure of what to say next. It is August, as always, who interrupts the silence. "But what of the spell?"

"You don't need me anymore for it to work. You'll be able to return home, and you," she says as she places her hand on Lottie's shoulder, "will finally find your soulmate, too. God help them."

The three of them share a soft laugh, but it is swiftly muted by the heartbreak of impending separation.

"So this is it, then? This is our last day together," Lottie says.

Marigold sighs and pushes back the tears already welling in her eyes. "I suppose so."

"Wait," August says, and Lottie and Marigold turn to meet his gaze. "I think I'm getting that feeling."

Lottie sighs. "You don't have to announce it, August. Just go to the privy."

August shoves her playfully and says, "You know what I'm talking about. The spell. I'm getting that pull telling me to go somewhere."

"And where is that?" Lottie asks.

August flashes a devious grin. "Bardshire."

Marigold's heart quickens. "August, don't tease me right now. Do you truly feel it?"

"I really, truly do. It's almost impossible to describe. It's almost like—"

"Almost like you don't really feel anything?" Lottie mumbles with her mouth full.

"No, I'm serious," he says as he places a hand over his heart. "It feels almost frightening."

"Like an itch?" Marigold asks.

"More like a bite, maybe," he says as he scratches the spot where the necklace sits.

Marigold throws her arms over August and cheers. "It's working! See, I told you! And now you'll come to Bardshire!"

August pulls Lottie into an embrace. "And so will you, Lots. Our adventure has only just begun!"

Lottie tries to fight her way out of the group hug, but it is no use. They only wrap their arms tighter. "You know we cannot afford tickets on the ship," she protests.

"I'm paying for both of you. Please, come," Marigold says.

"It will be so fun, Lots. Please come on this adventure with us. You'll always regret it if you don't."

"I'll show you all the worthwhile sites. And you can meet my father! You can even take his art class!" Marigold says.

Lottie chews on her lip and tries to pretend she is not smiling. Her gaze flits between August and Marigold. "You two aren't going to let me say no, are you?"

Marigold smirks and August laughs in response. "I'm afraid you're stuck with us, Lots," he says.

Lottie sighs, though there is a hint of excitement in her voice. "Fine. I guess we're all going to Bardshire."