“Oh! An apprentice!” Lucie’s smile stretched wider. “Finally! I-I mean to say …” she stammered, her soft brown complexion taking on a deeper warmth, “how very exciting, my lady.”
Lady Rivenna arched a brow. “Exciting indeed. Lady Iris, this is Miss Lucie Fields. She is invaluable to our operation. Though she is human, she has shown remarkable aptitude for the simpler enchantments I’ve taught her, particularly those relevant to the tea house’s daily operations. She’s also developing quite impressive skills in the confectionery arts, creating delicate chocolate concoctions infused with subtle mood-enhancing magic.”
“Thank you, Lady Rivenna,” Lucie said, executing a quick curtsy. “And it’s an honor to meet you, my lady,” she added in Iris’s direction.
“Lucie’s mother is one of the most respected dressmakers in Bloomhaven,” Lady Rivenna continued, “though Lucie herself clearly has no interest in fashion.”
The girl began to stammer something else, but Lady Rivenna added, “All I mean to say, my dear, is that you are perfectly suited to working here, learning the delicate art of magical confectionery from Saffron—that’s our pastry chef—” she addedas an aside to Iris, “rather than wasting your days sewing dresses.”
Lucie nodded, a smile creeping onto her lips once more.
“And this,” Lady Rivenna said as a tall woman entered from the main floor, “is Mrs Spindlewood, our hostess.”
Iris recognized her as the woman who had greeted her family during their first visit. She also noted that although the woman was fae, Lady Rivenna had introduced her asMrsand notLady. Iris found herself pondering the woman’s circumstances. Did she perhaps hail from a fae family of lesser standing, possessing modest means and only basic magic? Or might she belong to one of the established noble bloodlines but have failed to manifest any significant ability?
Mrs Spindlewood’s expression remained as coolly professional as Iris remembered from the first time they had met, though she did incline her head in polite acknowledgment. “I look forward to working with you, Lady Iris,” she said, her tone giving nothing away.
Lady Rivenna directed Iris toward the back door, where Lucie had entered. “We also maintain extensive gardens,” she explained as they stepped outside.
The space was divided into distinct sections—neat rows of herbs, flowers, and what appeared to be tea plants. Beyond this, Iris saw elegant outdoor seating arranged beneath the trees around a central fountain. Garden gnomes moved between the herb beds, their pointed hats bobbing as they inspected leaves and stems. Meanwhile, tiny pixies with gossamer wings flitted among the blooms, collecting the morning dew in miniature crystal vials.
“While we cultivate a small selection of tea right here, the majority of our leaves are sourced from across the United Fae Isles,” Lady Rivenna explained. “And the herbs and flowers are essential for our specialty blends. The garden gnomes havebeen tending these plants for decades, using methods passed down through their families. The pixies assist with harvesting ingredients at precisely the right moment—dawn-caught dew, moon-blessed blossoms, and so forth.”
“And the seating area?”
“For outdoor functions,” Lady Rivenna replied. “Though the fountain serves another purpose entirely.” She lowered her voice. “Its water flows directly from one of the seven ley lines that converge beneath Bloomhaven. The magic that infuses it enhances certain … perceptions.”
Iris was about to ask what perceptions specifically when Lady Rivenna turned and headed back inside. “Now, for the final stop on our tour. Your primary domain, at least initially.”
They re-entered the tea house and crossed the kitchen to the main floor. At the end furthest from the front door, tucked around a corner behind a wall adorned with an artful arrangement of antique teacups, Iris discovered a staircase she hadn’t noticed during her previous visit. They ascended the polished wooden steps. At the top, a small landing led to a single door, which Lady Rivenna opened with a flourish, stepping back to allow Iris to walk in ahead of her.
Beyond lay a cozy study with a large window overlooking the street that ran along the side of the tea house, flooding the room with natural light. Comfortable chairs with plump cushions were positioned near the empty fireplace, where a single hearth sprite lay sleeping, the room warm enough in the early spring that no flames were needed. Carved wooden tables held elegant vases of fresh flowers and delicate magical ornaments, while along one wall stood a modest book shelf, its contents neatly arranged.
Iris’s anxiety stirred faintly at the sight of the books, memories of the bookstore incident flashing unbidden through her mind. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. This wasn’t a shop crowded with volumes. It wasn’t a vast library. Merelya few shelves of carefully selected tomes. Her magic remained calm, dormant beneath her skin.
Two empty desks occupied the space. One larger, positioned at an angle in the corner of the room, the other slightly smaller, standing in front of the window.
“This will be your sanctuary,” Lady Rivenna said, moving toward the window and the desk in front of it. “Your place to study, to observe, to learn the deeper mysteries of The Charmed Leaf.”
“It’s perfect,” Iris breathed. Well, almost perfect, she added silently as her gaze was drawn back to the bookshelf. But that was no fault of the study itself. Perhaps here, in this peaceful space, she might finally reclaim her comfort around books, might rekindle the pure joy of being surrounded by boundless realms of ink and imagination, without fear of her magic spinning out of control.
“I assumed you would appreciate it,” Lady Rivenna replied, straightening a vase of flowers on a small side table. She crossed to a cabinet beside the bookshelf and withdrew something from its drawer. “And this—” she extended her hands, offering a leather-bound notebook of deep plum with silver filigree patterns along its edges “—is for you. To record your observations, insights, and perhaps the occasional secret.”
Iris accepted the gift with wonder, running her fingers over the intricate silver design. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
Lady Rivenna moved around the room, adjusting a book here, straightening a crystal prism there. “I hope you don’t mind hard work, Lady Iris. You will be exceptionally busy this season with three distinct goals to pursue: this apprenticeship, your social obligations, and developing your magic for a memorable display at the Solstice Ball.”
“I welcome the challenge,” Iris said, tucking the notebook beneath her arm. “I’ve never shied away from hard work.”
“Good,” Lady Rivenna replied with a satisfied nod. “Because the first patrons will arrive soon, and there is much to do. Now, let me show you how to?—”
The study door swung open without warning, and in stepped Lord Jasvian Rowanwood, his tall frame filling the doorway. He halted abruptly, dark eyes widening as they moved from his grandmother to Iris and back again. “Grandmother?” His gaze hardened. “What isshedoing here?”
Lady Rivenna straightened, hands clasped serenely before her. “Ah, good morning, Jasvian. I was just showing Lady Iris around her new workspace.”
“Her new … what?” The words emerged with such careful precision that Iris could almost hear them cracking beneath the weight of his restraint.
“Workspace,” Lady Rivenna repeated, as if speaking to a child with limited comprehension. “Lady Iris has graciously accepted my offer to become my apprentice at The Charmed Leaf.”
