Millie had to lean out to catch sight of her youngest —and closest to her own age— cousin joining them, risking a glance over at Calla as briefly as she could. Did anyone else know? The young witch tightened her lips, only glancing down mournfully at Sissie Thompsett's mention of a second cup of hot cocoa. She wanted to ask for another, or join the sixth-year on her quest. Only that would mean opening her mouth, or wading back through the kitchen full of adults. Millie knew there was no way she could keep her guilty conscience from the rest of her family if she did that.
She tried to busy herself rearranging her skirts instead, piling the gingham skirt so its pleats would lie carefully across her knees without bunching. Then her cousin stood up so quickly that Millie nearly lost her grip on the cup, rattling her concentration. A new pair of figures was before them already, silently proclaiming the couch to be the most popular locale in the Potts house today. Her hazel eyes looked up to see Dahlia there, greeting her, and introducing her to...
The young witch had to swallow hard before she choked on her last sip of the hot cocoa, barely catching the name of Honeyduke on her cousin's lips. The way Dahlia said it, the way she practically glowed brought a crimson fire to Millie's own cheeks. Even without meaning to, Millie realized that she must have invited this confrontation as so much of a test to her own willpower. Dahlia was counting on her not to reveal her secret!
Millie wasn't even certain if Dahlia was aware of her cousin's sacred knowledge!
Dahlia had smiled at her, that must be her answer. The young witch nodded as meaningfully as she could, reassuring her cousin. Of course the secret was safe with her. All Millie had to do was keep it to herself for the rest of the party. Perhaps at home she could pass it quietly to her mother, or ask Dorothea if she should. Until then, the young witch decided and furrowed her brow in deep concentration, she would stick to what she learned in her etiquette forms. A simple greeting, a compliment to the man her cousin was meeting with in private —no, don't think about that part!— and a quick curtsy would do it.
She managed to stand, her skirts rustling with only half a mind paying them attention. Millie reached down to smooth them, trying to let it double as a curtsy with the dip of her head. Her eyes caught the cup in her hands, and her spirits soared, knowing she had the power to succeed today. A brilliant smile lit her lips, and the young witch opened them to mention just how wonderful the hot cocoa was and that she would love nothing more than to take a second helping if only to savor the taste for the whole ride home.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Honeyduke. When are you going to marry my cousin?"
Millie was struck dumb at the sound of the voice speaking those words, hardly believing it could be her own.
She tried to busy herself rearranging her skirts instead, piling the gingham skirt so its pleats would lie carefully across her knees without bunching. Then her cousin stood up so quickly that Millie nearly lost her grip on the cup, rattling her concentration. A new pair of figures was before them already, silently proclaiming the couch to be the most popular locale in the Potts house today. Her hazel eyes looked up to see Dahlia there, greeting her, and introducing her to...
The young witch had to swallow hard before she choked on her last sip of the hot cocoa, barely catching the name of Honeyduke on her cousin's lips. The way Dahlia said it, the way she practically glowed brought a crimson fire to Millie's own cheeks. Even without meaning to, Millie realized that she must have invited this confrontation as so much of a test to her own willpower. Dahlia was counting on her not to reveal her secret!
Millie wasn't even certain if Dahlia was aware of her cousin's sacred knowledge!
Dahlia had smiled at her, that must be her answer. The young witch nodded as meaningfully as she could, reassuring her cousin. Of course the secret was safe with her. All Millie had to do was keep it to herself for the rest of the party. Perhaps at home she could pass it quietly to her mother, or ask Dorothea if she should. Until then, the young witch decided and furrowed her brow in deep concentration, she would stick to what she learned in her etiquette forms. A simple greeting, a compliment to the man her cousin was meeting with in private —no, don't think about that part!— and a quick curtsy would do it.
She managed to stand, her skirts rustling with only half a mind paying them attention. Millie reached down to smooth them, trying to let it double as a curtsy with the dip of her head. Her eyes caught the cup in her hands, and her spirits soared, knowing she had the power to succeed today. A brilliant smile lit her lips, and the young witch opened them to mention just how wonderful the hot cocoa was and that she would love nothing more than to take a second helping if only to savor the taste for the whole ride home.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Honeyduke. When are you going to marry my cousin?"
Millie was struck dumb at the sound of the voice speaking those words, hardly believing it could be her own.
![[Image: Aoane36.png]](https://i.imgur.com/Aoane36.png)