Page 49 of Haunted Hearts

“In case you’re forgetting, I just inherited the title,” Blaze reminded her. “If things aren’t the way you like them, don’t blame me. Father was the one who let things go, ever since you left. Whether you believe it or not, your leaving here affected him so much that he was never the same after that day.”

“Really. Well, nice to know that,” she said, being as cool as she always was and showing little emotion. Lillith had said Blaze didn’t show emotion. Mayhap that was one thing he’d inherited from his mother after all. “Don’t ruin the holiday for everyone else with your decision, Blaze.”

“Please. Listen to your mother,” begged Lillith. “A few more days isn’t going to make a difference. Let’s try to forget about all our troubles and for the next few days just enjoy the time we have together. All of us.”

Blaze took in his surroundings. Everyone hurried around the great hall with smiles on their faces. Children giggled and chased each other while one of the musicians played the hurdygurdy, filling the room with cheery music. His cooks brought large trays of freshly baked soul cakes from the kitchen and placed them atop a table, shooing the children away from them while the cakes cooled.

The women chatted while they decorated the great hall with garland strung from acorns, seeds, and dried flowers. The men worked together hauling in dried stalks of barley and wheat that they bundled and placed in every corner of the room. Blaze’s raven had flown in through an open window and sat atop a beam, inspecting everything going on below her.

Everyone seemed so happy and was working together. This is the way it was supposed to be. He hadn’t seen anything like this in a long time now.

“My lord, the men want to know if they can start building the bonfire in the courtyard for tomorrow’s festivities,” asked Emery, walking up with Barnaby.

“The alewives will be bringing spiced wine and cider from town later today as well,” said Barnaby.

“Oh, I hope they added lots of cinnamon and nutmeg,” said Lillith, looking so excited. “It gives it such a good flavor.”

“Yes, make sure they add the spices tonight so it has time to be absorbed into the liquid before it is used,” agreed Minerva.

“My lord?” asked Emery again.

Blaze felt like he was in a dream. Lillith looked like lady of the manor, and she was getting along so well with his mother. Everyone was happy. There was no quarreling or anyone whispering bad things behind his back.

“Yes. Yes, go ahead,” he told his men, swiping his hand through the air.

Lillith walked up and laid her hand on his arm. “Does this mean you’ll let us stay for the celebration?” she asked.

“I guess so. But only for a few days. Then, you’ll leave as planned.”

“Thank you, Blaze.” Lillith stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Do you really think you should have done that, Lilly?” he asked in a low voice. His eyes scanned the room.

“No one saw it. Besides, I’m sure no one really cares,” she said, with a wink.

A little girl tugged on Lillith’s skirt. “Will you help me pick out a turnip to carve?”

“Well, I suppose so.” Lillith looked up to Blaze as if she were silently asking permission.

“Go ahead,” said Blaze, holding out his arm. “I don’t want to stop anyone from enjoying themselves.”

“Will you join us?” asked Lillith with hope in her voice.

“Yes, Blaze, carve a turnip. You used to love doing this as a child,” said Minerva.

“I remember,” said Lillith, her eyes lighting up. “One year, Blaze carved a heart in a turnip and gave it to me. When it was lit from inside, a beautiful heart shape lit up the ground.”

“I’ll join you,” said Blaze, longing to spend more time with Lillith. “But I was a child then. I’m not carving hearts into a turnip now.”

“What will you carve?” asked the little girl.

Blaze reached out and swooped up the child, making her giggle as he held her in his arms. “Well, now, you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”

When he looked back at Lillith, he swore he saw her wiping a tear from her eye.