The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

order. I went on to tell her about Georgia’s appearance in my bedroom last night, and Kyle’s response.

“Well. If that didn’t send Kyle screaming, it’s a safe bet he’ll stick around for the long haul,” Nora said. “Hannah told you to be more concerned with the woman?”

“Yeah, but she didn’t know who. I assume it’s Sharon.”

Nora tsked. “Do you think it would help if I talked to Jason?”

Based on what I knew of my cousin, I doubted he’d be receptive. “I wouldn’t go out of my way, but if the opportunity presents itself. Not that he’d listen to you any more than he’d listen to me.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I have to get to work. I’ll talk to you later.”

Ash wound around my feet. I picked her up and carried her into the living room beside her basket and packed the special orders.

Ten minutes later I arrived at the shop. Cassandra was at her sewing machine by the window. While I unpacked, the machine whirred faster than usual, and then stopped.

“Damn,” Cassandra muttered.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

She turned in her seat to face me and stared me down for several long moments. “No.” She turned to the machine and released the garment she’d been working on, then proceeded to rip a seam apart. Which indicated an obvious ‘yes’ to my question.

“Anything I can do to help?”

Again, she turned to look at me. She set the garment aside and rose from her seat. She waved her hands in front of her clothes. “What’s wrong with this outfit?”

She wore a gray cable knit sweater over a red, white, and gray plaid skirt with a loosely-fastened belt hanging below her waist. Red bands were tied around her knee-high gray boots like bows—her own unique style.

“Everything matches,” I said. “And it appears to fit you well. What, in particular, did you want me to notice?”

She set her hands on her hips, pursed her lips and tears welled in her eyes, threatening to smear the dark liner and mascara.

I rushed to her side and took hold of her arm. “What happened?”

Even as I asked, I saw the scene playing in her head. Dinner. With Lucas. At the restaurant across the street. Mrs. Hazelton at the booth next to theirs.

Cassandra, dear, even kilt makers have learned the art of sewing seams in their skirts. Are you sure that won’t fall apart?

I shook my head, hearing the words while Cassandra repeated them.

“Your styles might have an unconstructed look,” I said. “But never ratty. You know how people talk.”

“And then she went on to ask Lucas if he was worried the principal might reprimand him for being seen with someone whose clothes might fall off her at any moment.” A sob escaped, and Cassandra brought her hands to her face, calling attention to long red fingernails.

I’d suspected Cassandra’s and Lucas’s opposing styles might present a problem in a small, conservative town. “What did Lucas say?”

“Not a single word. He turned six shades of red and pounded down his beer.”

The sense I got from her wasn’t so much the insult as Lucas’s failure to defend her. In public.

Cassandra patted her chest with a palm. “He’s the one who asked me out. Now he’s ashamed to be seen with me?”

“Did he say that?”

She hung her head. “No. But he let that awful woman insult me, and then he didn’t make a second date. You can be sure Mrs. Hazelton isn’t going to let it rest. She’ll probably go straight to his principal to point out the error of Lucas’s ways.”

I chuckled. “I’m sorry. I know you like him, and I’m pretty sure if he didn’t like you, too, he wouldn’t have subjected himself to the stifled opinions of this town. Give him a chance. Maybe he didn’t know what to say, wasn’t prepared.”

“As if anyone can prepare to be insulted.” She managed a smile. “Thanks. It’s all good.”

“Don’t write him off yet. I have a feeling he’ll be back.”

Cassandra plopped into her seat at the sewing machine.

When Kyle walked in, she didn’t bother to look up from her work or acknowledge him. Kyle and Lucas were friends. If Kyle knew anything or had something to add to what happened, he’d speak up, but most likely he’d stay out of it. The men usually did.

“Everything okay here this morning?” he asked.

“So far,” I replied.

He shot a glance at Cassandra, which I wasn’t sure was meant to evoke an answer from her or to see if she’d mention her date last night. Kyle leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “Did you hear?”

I nodded.

“Shouldn’t have happened, but he said he refuses to take her out of town and hide the fact they’re dating. He wasn’t prepared for the immediate backlash.”

I nodded again. “And?”

Kyle chuckled. “I guess we’ll find out what happens next.” He kissed me, turned to Cassandra to wish her good day, and left to continue his rounds.

“And?” Cassandra said after the door closed behind him.

“You know Hillendale. Word travels fast.”

“Anything I should know?”

I smiled. “He said Lucas didn’t want to hide the fact he was dating you by taking you someplace out of town.” I stopped. Blinked. “Wait a minute. Kyle took me out of town when we started dating.”

Cassandra laughed. “You’re going to quibble about that now? When you’re planning to marry him?”

I laughed with her. “No, but it does say something for Lucas.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Mrs. Hazelton sauntered past the shop, turned, and stopped outside the window. She peered in, and a moment later walked inside.

“How are you today?” I greeted her. “In need of bath salts? Or are you bold enough to try a new look? Cassandra has such a way with colors, don’t you think? They really make a statement.”

“I’m not sure that’s the kind of statement I want to make,” Mrs. Hazelton said.

“I suppose her fashions aren’t for the older crowd, are they?” I replied. Catty, I knew, but I wasn’t going to let her get away with being nasty.

“You young people. Always wearing clothes that look like