The Spell of Rosette - Kim Falconer [22]
Her gaze was drawn directly overhead, and she started. ‘Nell!’ She shrank back. ‘What’s that?’
Hanging from the rafters, its body draped in serpentine loops around the wooden beams, was a huge yellow-and-black-speckled snake.
‘Who is that,’ Nell corrected.
Rosette swallowed, not taking her eyes off the animal. ‘Who, then?’
‘It’s Mozzie.’
‘Mozzie?’
‘Short for Mosaic. He’s a carpet snake, of course, a python. Don’t you have them in Lividica?’
‘Not like that.’
‘Like what?’
‘Not like that big. And not in the house.’
‘Well, Mozzie lives inside.’
‘He was there last night? Watching me sleep?’
‘More likely he was under your bed. You’ll get used to him.’
Rosette didn’t reply.
‘He keeps the rodents down, among other things.’ Nell ladled porridge into blue ceramic bowls. ‘Still hungry, aren’t you?’
Rosette cleared her throat and nodded.
Nell swept away her books and notes, stacking them on a small desk before laying out the bowls, fresh milk, bread and honey.
Rosette sighed as she turned her attention to the meal. ‘Very hungry,’ she answered, glancing back up at Mozzie.
Nell smiled, toasting her with a mug of spiced cider.
‘To warm reunions.’
Rosette raised her mug and smiled, the cider sweet on her lips.
‘I see you got away with your travelling charm,’ Nell said, studying her necklace.
‘Jarrod got it out of the house for me.’
‘Who’s that?’
‘Jarrod Cossica—he’s my best friend…What’s wrong?’
Nell’s brow was knitted. ‘I remember a man with that name many years ago. Is he…’
‘Old?’ Rosette laughed. ‘He’s my age—just a boy really. He grew up next door.’
‘Not him, then.’ Nell blew on a spoonful of porridge. ‘Is he Cossica’s oldest son?’
‘No, that’s Liam. Jarrod is the youngest.’
‘I don’t remember him.’
‘He’s a foundling.’
‘And is this foundling of yours the only one who knows you’re here?’
‘Him, and possibly Liam. There are few secrets between them, though he said he’d tell no-one.’
‘What about your sisters?’
Rosette shook her head. ‘Both married. Leea’s on a sheep farm near Dumar. She probably hasn’t even heard yet.’
‘And Sasha?’
‘Under Mount Pele, with a glassblower. Three kids now.’
Nell was silent, her eyes drifting to the window. ‘I warned your mother that it wasn’t safe.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Rosette, your mother may have had enemies too.’
Rosette stopped eating. ‘I don’t understand. She was just a matron, looking after the estate. How could she have enemies? She’d turned her back on witchcraft.’
Nell raised her brows. ‘Had she?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Do you really believe she repressed her power to mould herself around John’ra’s life?’
‘She didn’t?’
‘No, my dear Rosette. She was hiding, and she wanted to hide you, too. I told her it would go ill if John’ra caught the public eye. If he was noticed, so would she be. There was no controlling him though, it seems.’
‘I thought someone was after John’ra. He owed money, I think.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘Who would want to hurt mamá?’
Nell shook her head. ‘We can’t know for sure. The temples are not all at peace.’
‘Did she have some magic they wanted?’
Rosette thought she saw Nell stiffen, but when she looked again she was relaxed.
‘Anything’s possible. Meanwhile, you’re here and presumed dead. That’s as safe as it gets.’
‘Am I in danger, though?’ Rosette looked out the doorway as if at any moment someone would be coming up the path.
‘We’ll be vigilant. Besides, no-one gets to me without my knowing.’
‘That’s what Jarrod said.’
‘Did he?’
Nell lifted up her mug again. ‘A toast to a new life—for both of us.’
‘To a new life.’ Rosette clanked her mug against Nell’s. ‘Can I ask you something?’ Rosette felt heat rise in her face.
‘Anything.’
‘Since I’m here, and ready for a new beginning…will you teach me the things mamá forbade?’
‘Forbade?’ Nell stopped. Her spoon, laden with food, hovered halfway to her mouth.
‘She said I wasn’t ready, but I am,’ Rosette went on. ‘And I want to learn so