She needed Kiara.
Around lunchtime, Aurelie headed out into the city. The streets were crowded with last-minute shoppers, so blithely unaware of everything swirling through Aurelie’s head that she resented them their trivial worries. If only finding the perfect gift for her uncle was her biggest concern.
The Morels lived in an apartment above a carpentry shop Mrs.Morel managed. It was closed for the week, as were many businesses. Aurelie rang the bell, hoping that Kiara would be the one who answered, because it would lead to far fewer questions.
Unfortunately, it was Mr. Morel who came down the stairs and unlocked the shop door. “Aurelie! It’s so lovely to see you. We were very disappointed when Kiara said you couldn’t spend the week with us.”
She ducked her head, hating to add another lie to her teetering pile. “I was, too. But I decided it was better for me to focus on my studies this week. I’ve gotten rather behind in everything this semester.”
“I see. Is that what brings you here today? I assume you want to see Kiara?”
Aurelie nodded. “I was wondering if she could help me with something at school. Is she free?”
“Is she free? That girl hasn’t lifted so much as a finger for a week! I’ll send her down. Give us a few minutes. I think she might still be in her nightclothes.”
Aurelie thanked him and stomped her feet to keep them warm while she waited. She was watching a family of five navigate an icy patch, laughing to herself behind her gloved hand, when she saw a familiar tall, spindly figure walking toward her.
Attached to Miles’s arm was none other than Lavender Applebaum, pressed against him in a way that was clearly more than friendly.
“Hello, Aurelie!” Lavender said when she saw her. “We wondered if that was you! No one has seen you in ages.”
Aurelie cringed and did her best to turn it into a smile. “Yes, it’s been a busy few weeks. What are you doing this afternoon?”
“Shopping for Lavender’s Yule present,” Miles said, straightening his fogged glasses with his index finger. He didn’t seem particularly pleased to see Aurelieorto be out shopping with Lavender.
“Oh,” Aurelie said. “Are you two...”
“We’re engaged!” Lavender exclaimed, pulling off her glove to thrust a massive diamond ring in Aurelie’s face.
Aurelie could only blink in response.
“Well, congratulate us,” Lavender prompted.
“Of course. Congratulations to you both.”
Miles was watching Aurelie as though expecting... disappointment? Envy? Honestly, one would think he’d know her better than that by now. “And you?” he asked. “What are you doing at a...” He glanced up at the sign. “A closed carpentry shop.”
“Just waiting on Kiara.”
“Oh yes, the groundskeeper’s daughter.” Miles peered down at Lavender over the rim of his glasses. “Aurelie works with her. Don’t you, Aurelie?”
“Yes, I do. We’re both bricoleurs.”
Lavender cocked her head as though the very idea was foreign to her. “I thought you said you were a student?”
“I am. People can work and study, you know.”
Lavender laughed. “Well of course theycan. I just can’t imagine wanting to!”
Aurelie couldn’t read Miles’s expression behind his glasses, but his derisive tone of voice made it clear what he thought of her. “No one is as industrious as Aurelie Blake.”
To her extreme relief, Kiara chose that moment to open the door to the shop and step outside. “True enough! And now she’sforcing me to join her.” Kiara twined her arm through Aurelie’s and waved over her shoulder. “Happy Yule!” she called. Then, leaning into Aurelie, she said, “Now tell me what the hell we’re doing today, oh industrious one.”
“I will. As soon as we’re back on campus.” Aurelie wondered if she wassupposedto be jealous of Miles so quickly turning his attention to another girl, but she only felt profound relief. He wasn’t going to waste his time spreading rumors about her when he had found someone who clearly relished his attention.
“I’m surprised to see you,” Kiara said as Aurelie unlocked the campus gate. “Does this mean things are going well?”
So much had happened that Aurelie wasn’t sure where to begin, but she recounted as much as she could, including what had happened to poor Mr. Willoughby. Kiara didn’t know the guards personally, but she welled up just the same. “Oh, Aurelie.”