“What is that?” Iris’s mother asked curiously.
“A petal,” Lady Rivenna said. “Or, more precisely, a paper petal.”
They all stared at the innocuous object in silence. Lady Rivenna appeared to be making some profound connection between this paper petal and Iris’s folding abilities, but surely she hadn’t based such a momentous decision about her successor on the tea house producing a single paper fragment? Such a coincidence could signify any number of things! Iris, however, wasn’t about to voice these doubts. Her mind was already racing with possibilities. This opportunity excited her not merely as a potential path to independence and her family’s salvation, but because the tea house itself fascinated her.
Sitting forward on the edge of her chair, she asked, “What exactly would this apprenticeship entail?”
“I cannot divulge the specifics to anyone but you, Lady Iris,” Lady Rivenna said with a glance at Iris’s parents, “and only after you have accepted the position. But in essence, you would learn everything there is to know about the tea house—its magic, its secrets, its operation. By the time your training concludes, all the knowledge I have cultivated over decades will be yours to wield.”
“And when would this apprenticeship begin?” her father asked.
“Immediately. Time is precious, and there is much to learn.”
Iris couldn’t contain herself any longer. “I want to accept,” she said, sitting forward on the edge of her chair now. “This is an incredible opportunity.”
Her parents exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Her father turned to Lady Rivenna. “Perhaps we might have a moment to discuss this privately?”
“There is nothing to discuss,” Iris insisted. “This is exactly what I need—a purpose beyond merely seeking a husband.”
“Iris,” her mother began gently, “we understand how appealing this offer must seem, especially after … recent revelations. But marriage is still …” She hesitated, glanced at Lady Rivenna, and lowered her voice slightly. “It is still the surest path to security.”
“You must consider this carefully,” her father urged. “What if you were to receive an offer of marriage and accept, only to discover your husband expects to return to his country estate after the Bloom Season? You cannot possibly manage the tea house from a distant property.”
Lady Rivenna cleared her throat. “When I first established The Charmed Leaf, I too had family obligations—young children requiring my attention. For many years, I closed the tea house at the conclusion of each Bloom Season while returning to our country estate, reopening only when most of society gathered in Bloomhaven again. Once the tea house belongs solely to her, Lady Iris would have the freedom to make similar arrangements.”
A tense silence fell over the room. Iris looked between her parents, silently willing them to say yes. Her father’s gaze swept back to Lady Rivenna. “If Iris begins this apprenticeship and circumstances then prove unfavorable, would she be permitted to withdraw from this arrangement?”
“IfLady Iriswere to decide this,” she said, and Iris noticed the emphasis Lady Rivenna placed on her name, “then of course she would not be forced to remain.”
Iris’s father considered this in silence for another few moments, then sighed. “If Iris wishes to accept your offer, Lady Rivenna, we will not stand in her way. However, we must insist upon certain conditions.”
“Name them,” Lady Rivenna said, inclining her head.
“First, the apprenticeship must not interfere with her social obligations. She will attend all significant events of the Bloom Season and maintain her place in society.”
“Agreed.”
“And second, she must continue to develop her magic in preparation for the Summer Solstice Grand Ball. Her presentation there is vital.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Lady Rivenna replied. “Her magical growth will only benefit the tea house.”
“Then …” he glanced at Iris’s mother before returning his gaze to Lady Rivenna. “I suppose that is all. We shall support Iris if she wishes to accept your offer.”
Lady Rivenna’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Your conditions are reasonable, Lord Starspun. I accept them.” She turned to Iris. “And you, Lady Iris? Do you accept my offer with these stipulations?”
Iris nodded, a strange sense of exhilaration coursing through her. “I do.”
“Excellent.” Lady Rivenna rose to her feet. “Then I shall expect you at The Charmed Leaf tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock precisely. We have much to cover. Oh, and do wear something practical, dear. The hearth sprites can be quite mischievous with newcomers.”
Chapter Nine
Iris arrivedat The Charmed Leaf precisely at eight o’clock the following morning, dressed in what she hoped qualified as “practical.” She’d selected a pale blue day dress with minimal embellishment, and her hair was arranged in a simple knot at the nape of her neck. She paused at the foot of the tea house’s stone steps, taking in the weathered charm of the establishment. Morning light caught on the intricate carvings adorning the heavy oak door—delicate teacups and swirling leaves etched by a master craftsman’s hand. Vines climbed the stone walls, their glossy leaves framing the entrance while clusters of tiny purple flowers cascaded around the doorframe.
Her heart fluttered a little faster as she ascended the steps. Despite Lady Rivenna’s warm welcome yesterday, Iris couldn’t quite shake her nervousness. Was the front door even unlocked at this hour? Perhaps she was meant to enter through the back, where staff might already be preparing for the day.
She startled as a gossip bird shrieked from a nearby tree. “Kissing in the lake!” it proclaimed before taking wing. Iris blinked, wondering if she’d heard correctly.
Just as she lifted her hand to knock, the door swung inward. She hesitated on the threshold, took a steadying breath, andstepped inside to find the entrance area curiously empty, with no sign of whoever—or whatever—had opened the door.
