“No pressure,” I mutter.
Mathilde waves for the bill. “Kate’s right, Nat. I suspect that your presence in the college is keeping the magic strong despite the bigger problem. Your bloodline is helping to reinforce the magic that is there. And, as you know, ceremonies are important. The more you can do to engage the Eternals, and the further you can go to encourage people to enjoy themselves, to make the gala evening itself as memorable as possible, the better off we are.”
Reaching over, Kate gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “One step at a time, Nat. The gala will be here before you know it. We can all get together afterwards, dividing up whatever work needs to be done to get to the bottom of the problem with the magic after that. Mathilde and I can put our heads together in the meantime, seeing if we can’t make a start on a plan for more investigation.”
“I was hoping for a day or two in the sun after all this,” I moan.
Mathilde beams, “Cheer up, Nat. You’ll never be able to complain that your life is boring.”
Rolling my eyes, I reply, “I’m not sure that’s a good thing, Mathilde, but thanks for the thought, anyway.”
Chapter Eighteen
The smoky pink drink worked its magic on me last night. I came home, fell into a dreamless sleep, and I am fairly certain I didn’t move between 10pm and 7am. When my alarm goes off, I roll out of bed, taking a quick shower before promising to get H a sausage bap in the dining hall if he’ll stop hanging off the refrigerator handle.
As soon as I turn the key in the lock, closing up my flat, H bolts off, hollering that he’ll charm a bap out of Beatrice and will meet me in my office shortly. Happy to have that errand sorted, I wave goodbye and watch him run off.
Even though it hasn’t even been two weeks, it is strange to walk my daily path through the college grounds alone. I hadn’t realised how quickly I’d accepted H as a permanent sidekick. Now I understand why my grandfather’s stories so often included the mischievous Humphrey. Except for my few trips outside of the college grounds, H has been by my side day and night.
A few steps from the main building entrance, I remember that I forgot to ask him whether he got the rest of the Eternals on board with our plan to tell Harry about the magic. My impromptu trip into the Cotswolds with Edward, followed by gala planning and then Kate’s urgent text all combined to wipe my morning discussions completely out of my mind.
I’ll ask H first thing when he gets back from the dining hall. That decision made, I carry on into the building, heels clicking on the wooden floor as I travel the route to my office. My spirits are buoyant this morning, lifted by a goodnight’s rest and the cherry red colour of my peplum jumper. I am ready to take on whatever life throws at me.
I open my office door to find total chaos. Catherine Morgan - free from her portrait in the main entrance - is arguing with a trio of ghostly young women. My papers are in disarray, and is that Bartie hiding under my desk? Oh god, it is.
I lied. Easing the door closed again, I step back, determining that a cup of coffee is necessary before I wade into whatever is going on in there.
Before I make tracks to the Senior Common Room, the door to a nearby office opens and my assistants Jill and Will come tumbling out.
“Nat, you’re here. That’s great.” Jill launches straight into an update, barely pausing for a breath. “I booked the band you wanted.”
“Finally, some good news. What else do you have for me?” I ask.
Will jumps in, “The decorations have arrived. I stored them in the events cupboard and locked the door tight. They should be safe there until they set up the marquee in the garden.”
I hunt through my handbag until I find my notepad. I cross two things off my list and wait for the next update. “Can I cross anything else off? Maybe a caterer?” I cross my fingers.
Jill and Will’s shoulders fall in unison. Not good.
“If it’s any help, the Mediterranean fish truck is free that night and can do all you can eat fish and chip dinners?” Will offers. I have to force my face to remain neutral.
“Is that the best option we have, team? After all your calls and web searches?”
“It’s the only option we have,” Will confirms. “Unless you can pull a rabbit out of your hat, I fear the dinner will be greasier than normal.”
“A rabbit out of a hat, did you say? Hmmmm.” The beginnings of an idea take root in my mind. “Tell you what, you can leave the chef challenge with me.”
Jill and Will sigh in relief, once again in unison. I’m thinking they’ve been spending too much time together. I wrap up our impromptu hallway chat and send them off for coffee and a pastry. I make a quick dash to the common room, grabbing a fresh latte and downing it as quickly as possible. Tongue scalded but now properly caffeinated, I push up my sleeves, march back to my office and shove open the door.
I set my bag and notepad down on the table, dust off my hands, stick two fingers in my mouth and let loose with a piercing whistle.
“Excellent, now that you’ve all wrapped up your conversations, maybe one of you can tell me what is going on in here? And Bartie, could you come out from underneath the desk or do I need to send out a rescue party?”
All five of them, Catherine, Bartie and the three young women display a flushed neckline despite being semitransparent.
One of the young women speaks up first. “I’m very sorry, Ms Payne, but me friends and I
