Chapter 14
Mathilda was utterly bewildered by the unfolding drama, her mind only now catching up to the events at hand. She snapped her head to look at Cordelia, wondering how on earth this was happening
Cordelia, a student in high school with a wallet as thin as her homework folder, couldnât afford such an expensive gift. It dawned on Mathilda that this had to be a gesture from Sanderson, didnât it?
Over the years, Sanderson had a habit of purchasing luxurious gifts for important family events, sending them through Mathilda to support Lorna and elevate the Wilson familyâs social standing.
This seemed like just another instance of Sanderson pulling the strings from behind the scenes, orchestrating Cordelia to deliver another power play for Lorna.
Shaking off her initial shock, Mathilda straightened her back and turned to Laurinda with grace. â
, are the coffee beans to your liking?â
âAbsolutely!â Steward exclaimed, beaming as he took the few ounces of beans and scurried off to the side, practically giddy with delight.
With the weekend visit to the Griffin family, these coffee beans would make an impression without the need to even consider rewrapping the gift!
Laurindaâs disbelief was palpable. âHow on earth did you manage to acquire this?â
Mathilda dropped her eyes in a display of cultivated elegance, her voice laced with enigmatic poise. âNever underestimate a university professor. A teacher affects eternity. One can never tell where their influence stops. Oh, but perhaps thatâs beyond you. Shall lâexplain?â
She meant the Wilson family had connections too. Underestimated Lorna at your peril!
Laurinda was flushed, her body trembling with barely contained rage.
Mathilda had a knack for delivering words with a serene sophistication that could infuriate anyone to their
core.
Lorna remained silent, nodding in acknowledgment at Laurindaâs begrudging warning to be more careful with her chores at home.
Cordelia, relieved to see the situation resolved, hefted her backpack, her mind already on the math homework. Latham had assigned. As she made her way upstairs, she paused, glancing back at Laurinda with a nonchalant suggestion, âPerhaps keep those coffee beans out of the everyday cabinet to avoid any⦠mishaps.â
Silence fell as Cordeliaâs words hit their mark. She continued up to her room without another glance, leaving Laurinda flustered and Steward deep in thought.
Once in her room, Cordelia shut out the noise from downstairs as she dove into her studies, determined to tackle this problem about coffee beans without resorting to advanced methods.
It wasnât until Lorna called for her at dinner that Cordelia snapped out of her academic trance.
Descending the stairs, Lorna shared the household news, âSandra, the maid responsible for the coffee bean mishap, had been spared from dismissal by Steward, albeit with a hefty fine and a demotion to tending the back garden.
Cordelia merely nodded, understanding the implications.
The coffee beans as gifts were placed in the dailyâuse cabinet. That must be the trick of Laurinda.
Sandraâs punishment would ensure the staffâs respect for Lorna from now on.
Dinner proceeded with Cordelia barely noticing the venomous glares from Laurinda and Juliana. Oblivious as usual, she finished her meal quickly and retreated to her room to continue studying.
Chapter 14
Mathilda wanted to engage her in conversation, but Cordelia was already lost in her world of numbers and equations.
The following morning. Mathilda departed early, leaving Lorna a question, âDid you ask Sanderson where he bought those coffee beans?â
Lorna shook her head, âI havenât asked him on the phone. I will ask him after he comes back.â
By
the time Cordelia got up, Mathilda had left.
Anyway, Cordelia had to go to visit Mathilda on weekends, so she didnât care. Cordelia got off at Midnight. Scent as usual.
Just as she was about to enter the shop, she spotted a girl with pink hair, dressed in a school uniform, kicking pebbles along the street.
Merry?
Sensing Cordeliaâs gaze, Merry looked up, brightened, and started to approach but quickly ducked into an alley at the sight of Latham.
He was pedaling an old bike that creaked and wobbled as if it might fall apart at any moment. Wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, he asked Cordelia if sheâd seen Merry.
Cordelia glanced at the alleyway but remained silent, prompting Latham to give up and resume his search elsewhere, leaving a message for Merry to stop hiding even if she didnât dye her hair back.
After he left, Merry emerged, her voice trailing as she reflected on Lathamâs frugality and her familyâs wealth in contrast to his financial struggles.
Cordelia, ever practical, queried, âYou really like pink, huh?â
âItâs not ,â Merry replied, conflicted.
Merry wanted to say something, but when she caught sight of Cordeliaâs fresh face, the words died on her . âNever mind, you wouldnât get it,â she mumbled.
With that, Merry turned on her heel and left.
âWhere are you off to?â Cordelia called after her.
Merry didnât turn back, just waved her hand in the air, her pink hair fluttering behind her like a pastel banner.
Once Merry was out of sight, Cordelia entered Midnight Scent.
Breakfast was ready and waiting. She slid into her usual spot at the table, joining Everard and Little Fang. It wasnât until they had polished off their plates that Cordelia realized just how quickly sheâd adapted to this routine over the last three days
But Everard hadnât made any other demands. Was the whole point of his spell just to have her run errands every day?
What was she supposed to buy today? She had brought home coffee beans yesterday, but what now?
Cordelia pondered for a while, only to conclude that she lacked for nothing. After all, Lorna had been thorough, leaving no stone unturned in her preparations.
Deciding not to dwell on it, Cordelia fished out a crisp hundredâdollar bill and placed it on the table, her voice leisurely as she said, âGet a box of balloons, I guess â
Everard, who had been about to stand, froze midâmotion.