The building anxiety of needing to right something out of place and the need to unsee the verse now vivid in her mind had Hermia's eyes darting from the floor to the forbidden parchment. "I most certainly did not know what was coming, but I wholeheartedly wish I wasn't going to remember what I just saw." Hermia could heat the room from the flush of her cheeks. This predicament was horrifying.
The offending parchment had no business here, Mr. Montgomery was right about that, but it was her and, so it happens, were they. "Perhaps it is a joke of some sort? A personal jest or a hidden message? It couldn't be for sale." Hermia tightened her arms around her middle, as if that would erase the moments the cursed thing occupied her hands. "I cannot imagine its origins, but I brought you into this and I will get us out. There is no need for you to take any blame." While she meant what she said, Hermia had no intentions of becoming the book martyr today.
Being escorted by her brothers today, Hermia had more leeway than she would if her parents were with her, but she didn't need Silvius and Charles teasing her for the rest of her life. With a deep breath, Hermia reached for the offending parchment pages and slipped them inside a book with a bland enough title. "No one need know what is never seen. If I can get this to the appropriate section, then wonderful. Worst case scenario, this finds its way accidentally into my brother's basket. He's better equipped to handle such things and it would not be the first time he bought books without taking notice of what had slipped into his stack."
Offering a quick smile Hermia tucked the book beneath two others she found and intended to purchase. "As far as we are concerned, it was wonderful to see you Mr. Montgomery. I am glad you enjoyed the performance." A quick wave to her unexpected accomplice, and Hermia was on her way.
The offending parchment had no business here, Mr. Montgomery was right about that, but it was her and, so it happens, were they. "Perhaps it is a joke of some sort? A personal jest or a hidden message? It couldn't be for sale." Hermia tightened her arms around her middle, as if that would erase the moments the cursed thing occupied her hands. "I cannot imagine its origins, but I brought you into this and I will get us out. There is no need for you to take any blame." While she meant what she said, Hermia had no intentions of becoming the book martyr today.
Being escorted by her brothers today, Hermia had more leeway than she would if her parents were with her, but she didn't need Silvius and Charles teasing her for the rest of her life. With a deep breath, Hermia reached for the offending parchment pages and slipped them inside a book with a bland enough title. "No one need know what is never seen. If I can get this to the appropriate section, then wonderful. Worst case scenario, this finds its way accidentally into my brother's basket. He's better equipped to handle such things and it would not be the first time he bought books without taking notice of what had slipped into his stack."
Offering a quick smile Hermia tucked the book beneath two others she found and intended to purchase. "As far as we are concerned, it was wonderful to see you Mr. Montgomery. I am glad you enjoyed the performance." A quick wave to her unexpected accomplice, and Hermia was on her way.
![[Image: 8hJrlbS.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/8hJrlbS.jpg)