Miss Blair, if you want to pick it up today, youll have to wait. About fifteen minutes, no more, the master very successfully came to the rescue. Sabella, you
Don't worry, I'm in no hurry. And yes, I guess Ill have some tea, as usual. Thank you, Grisella. Why don't you join me, Miss Blair? She pointed to one of the round wicker tables on the opposite wall. Probably just for those waiting ones.
With pleasure!
Tea appeared in the same magical way as pizza. A pot-bellied teapot, two cups on saucers, a sugar bowl, a jug of milk and lemon pudding with cinnamon, which finally removed the question of who was in front of me. Okay, almost definitively the possibility of coincidences can never be discounted.
The tea smelled like mint and went wonderfully with the pudding and the pudding was just as incredibly delicious as the pizza. Probably, in this world they cook exclusively with magic, and thats why the magical result is obtained.
They dont serve delicious puddings at Panacea Academy? Miss Norwood smiled, picking up another piece with a spoon.
Not that much, I almost blurted out the I didnt try it that would have burned to the very core she was amazingly conducive to frankness. She was struck with a sudden panic how closely had the real Charlotte communicated with her? Yes, Mrs. Norwood is often here But where here? Judging by the manner of work of Professor Norwood, he would not tolerate visits to the department even from his beloved mother. Maybe in the same village where Charlotte lives? They could have crossed paths there by chance.
I dont even know how small the world is of those involved in one way or another with the Panacea Academy! Maybe the mother of the professor and world luminary knows everyone there, or maybe just one or two who work next to her son or are friends with him. If he even has friends at the Academy, Charlotte didnt mention them.
Well, one way or another, now I need to establish contact. Despite the fact that there are no topics for conversation, no clues or common interests. Perhaps Dougal, but you cant say straight out: I need to find out about your son! As much and as detailed as possible!
Besides, at the Academy, thoughts are occupied with everything but the taste of pudding, I said with a smile. You cant head-on approach from afar, in tricky zigzags, or circle like a hungry shark, approaching the target. As best you can. Pick up the crumbs until a large and truly valuable piece falls. Sometimes it seems like you dont even notice what you had for lunch. Enough more exciting problems.
Miss Norwood looked at me with surprise and interest.
Is it true? Wow, I she suddenly seemed to change her mind about finishing what she was going to say, took a sip of tea and silently put the cup down. If work makes you forget about puddings, but does not cause irritation, then this is the right choice and great happiness, isnt it?
Its not that I never doubted my choice, it seemed right to confess, because if I, we succeed, Ill probably want to return to journalism, and not sit over papers at the department. But I like to know that Im doing the right thing, and not some nonsense. Besides, the Academy is really interesting! Its just a pity that I myself didnt I paused and hastily took a sip of tea. Let him think for me. She didnt have a hand in many interesting things, she wasnt capable of anything more than being an assistantanything. Getting someone to finish your sentence is a great way to get to know them better. Well or not him but what he thinks about you. ? for me now I still cant say too much, if suddenly she knows Charlotte better than I think.
Not an academician? asked Miss Norwood, and seemed to be joking, but her voice was rather thoughtful. I must admit, I didnt expect to hear something like this from you, she suddenly added.
I always thought that my heart skipped a beat was just a beautiful, but extremely stupid phrase. It turns out that it happens I have established, as they say, contact! You have to know how to pierce yourself in five minutes.
? what did you expect to hear? I pretended to take a sip of tea. Gain a couple of seconds, come to your senses. Decide what to do next. Admit? Turn it into a joke? Run away?
I work in the most prestigious institution in Britain. We light up the stars. And I'm proud to be involved in this. This is a great honor. And Dr. Norwood is a wonderful boss. Oh, sorry, I have to run, otherwise he will be extremely unhappy. And he shouldnt be dissatisfied, because he is a world-class luminary! And together we light the stars Miss Norwood grinned. Something like that. What a mistake it is to judge people by their first impression. I'm really sorry. And Ive never noticed such a habit before.
You managed to get into the carcass of a prestige-obsessed fool! No, come what may, but
It looks like her. And it's very sad. And you obviously know how to make the right impression. You know, Miss Norwood, Im not at all sorry that Im not an academic and I dont light up the stars. But it's a pity that I'm Charlotte Blair. Because she did a colossal stupidity, and now its unknown how to get out of it.
The already large blue eyes widened, but, to give credit where credit is due, this amazing woman did not drop the cup or exclaim something like Oh my God! and didnt even conduct an interrogation on the spot.
I think, Miss Blair, we need to talk. But a fashion salon is not suitable for such conversations.
But you wanted something here
Hell wait, Miss Norwood stood up, and I jumped up after her.
I was ready to leave without waiting for my order sometimes even eternal skeptics like me believe in signs of fate! But here is the master or is it the mistress? came out to us with a voluminous package of my new clothes. The old Charlotte probably never thanked her so warmly. Why else would there be such amazement?
Sorry, Grisella, Ill come by tomorrow morning. Suddenly I remembered an urgent matter. Memory Miss Norwood waved her hand, opening the portal, and added quietly, inviting her to enter first: The only thought when you see this: split personality.
But this is not it, and I stepped onto the fluffy cream carpet in the small living room.
***
I sunk into a soft chair, clutching a cup of tea, and didnt know where to start. Miss Norwood was in no hurry. She sat opposite me, looking out from under her eyelashes, as if she was looking for ten differences between me and the real Charlotte.
There was no point in beating around the bush, but it was worth starting with the main thing.
Charlotte died. I was possessed by her body, and she is now a ghost. He flies nearby and repeats how sorry he is. ? What's the point of being sorry? I messed something up in the ritual. I paused, wondering if it would be possible to also bluntly reveal that Im not the only one in head-over-heels problems. Still, as an adviser, I liked Miss Norwood much more than the ghost Charlotte. In a love spell ritual. On her and Professor Norwood.
To Dougal?! But, Bran the Blessed! For what? After all nothing connected them.
You said it yourself there, in the salon. He is a world-class luminary, and together we light the stars. Becoming the wife of a luminary is much more prestigious than being a simple assistant. Which they notice only when they forget to close the doors behind themselves or show up to the laboratory with their hair down. No, she was not in love with the professor. But she really wanted his attention.
Right. Too much ambition and empty bravado, Miss Norwood stood up and grabbed herself by the shoulders, as if she was freezing or trying to control herself not only figuratively. She knew that such dark magic requires sacrifice. Always! We all know this!