“Really?”
“Really. The town has been afraid of that house for decades. And they respect the Aurora Coven, but us giving it our stamp of approval might not be enough. After all, that’s just a piece of paper. I think they need to see it for themselves.”
She had a point. We needed people soon, and there wasn’t time to wait for the town’s opinion to change. “What are you thinking? An open house?”
“I’m thinking that we throw a barbecue tomorrow afternoon. Let people come by and have some fun, walk through the house and see the progress that’s been made.”
“That’s a genius idea, but there’s no way I can throw a barbecue on such short notice.”
“That’s where I come in. Or rather, that’s where Vivienne and Madeline come in. My grandmother-in-law and aunt-in-law are expert party planners, and they have the connections to pull one off quickly.”
“But will people be able to attend?”
“For free beer, food, and a live band at one of the most talked-about places in town? Absolutely. You’re just lucky tomorrow is Sunday.”
“Good point. Are you sure this isn’t too much?”
“Of course not. Vivienne and Madeline love a challenge, and so do I. I can make up invitations today and get them out. I know everyone to invite.”
“Oh, my gosh, thank you so much.”
“That’s what friends are for,” she replied.
“Thank you.” I smiled, so incredibly grateful that I’d found my way to Charming Cove. “Can you send an invitation to Judith, who lives on the hill next to Lavender House?”
“Who?”
“The older woman who lives next door.”
“Hmm, sure. I’m not sure I know her, but I’ll get it done.”
“Thank you.” I wanted to include her because I liked her, but also because I needed to ask her about the enchantment that had given the house a personality. I was sure that the woman in the vision had reminded me of her.
And with that, I went to tell Rafe the news.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Isobel
The morning of the barbecue dawned bright and clear, for which I was immensely grateful. To successfully throw the party, we really needed good weather. I didn’t want to have to shove everyone into the house at once if it was raining. Far better to have them congregating outside and go into the house in smaller groups, just to let the building get used to their presence.
Rafe and I had spent the rest of the day and night making sure the house and garden looked their best. We moved all the rubbish to a giant skip that he’d had delivered, then cleared away the rest of the weeds and debris. Then we tidied up the tools and work spaces in the house, and it really was thrilling to see it all coming together.
But now that it was the morning of the party, the nerves were setting in. Were we really going to pull this off?
Yes. We’d convince the local contractors to work on Lavender House, and then we’d have time to address Rafe’s curse. I was so hopeful that I’d already called the Welsh coven geographically closest to the stone circle where Rafe’s miserable ex had cursed him. They were the ones most likely to know her, and it was also polite to check in with them before visiting a sacred space so close to their coven. We set up a tentative meeting, and if all went well, Rafe and I would be one step closer to breaking his curse by tomorrow evening.
I just hadn’t told him that yet.
“I think someone’s here!” Rafe called up the stairs.
I dragged on a jumper to repel the worst of the morning chill and hurried down to the main level. A massive old car was pulling up the drive, and it screamed sophisticated elegance from a previous era. I’d never even seen a car like that outside of old films. Two women sat behind the windscreen, and I didn’t recognize either of them. The driver was older, however, and she had to be Vivienne.
I waved as they parked, then walked out to greet them.
Vivienne climbed out of the driver’s seat, her gleaming white hair pulled up in a perfect chignon. Her wool suit looked like it had been handmade in London, and her pearls gleamed in the morning light. She looked like the dowager duchess that she was.
The woman at her side wore a flowing, colorful dress and an enormous hat to keep the sun off her perfect complexion. Massive sunglasses covered her eyes, and she looked as sophisticated as the older woman, but in a more bohemian way.
Both of these women came from money, it was clear, and I couldn’t help but feel the faintest bit awkward in my overlarge jumper and jeans.
The younger woman, who was probably in her fifties, grinned widely and held out her arms. “You must be Isobel!”
Before I could respond, she hurried toward me and gave me a hug. Behind her, the older woman’s eyelids flicked in what I assumed was a titled person’s version of an eye roll. “You really must ask a person’s permission before you embrace them, Madeline.”
“Oh, Mother.” Madeline pulled back and waved her hand at Vivienne. “So old-fashioned.”
The dowager duchess sighed and approached, holding out an elegant hand to shake mine. I had to tell myself to shake her hand like a normal person and not like an awkward weirdo.
“We are very glad you’re here, darling.” The dowager duchess’s tone was warm and genuine when she spoke, and I relaxed. She might have a different style than her daughter’s, but she was just as kind and lovely. “Emma has said only the best things about you, and we can always use more good witches in this town.”
She and her daughter were vampires like the duke, but I was glad to see they liked witches. Unlike the vampires of human myth, they had no need to shy away from the sun.
Both women turned to gaze up the hill at Lavender House.
“Why, it’s already looking better,” Vivienne said. “It will be stunning when you’re finished.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Call me Vivienne.”
“And me, Madeline,” said the younger woman. “Have you spoken to Aria at the Enchanted Garden about landscaping? Surely she can get you set up quite nicely.”
“I’ll do that.” I’d hardly started thinking about the garden, but it was an excellent suggestion.
“We’ve got the caterers arriving at ten to start setting up,” Vivienne said. “Do you mind if we go up and have a look to see where things should be placed?”
“Of course. Let me show you around.”
“I’ll drive,” Vivienne said, gesturing to her short heels. “These aren’t suited for a walk up the hill.”