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J ulep thought about his response over the next couple of days. She'd expected Artur to be apologetic, to sympathize over her past goblin troubles. He praised her instead. It was very goblin.

She realized that he was never going to apologize for someone else's behavior. Didn't matter if it was his race that was responsible. He wasn't going to apologize for them or for who he was. It was very...practical. No, that wasn't the word.

“What do you think of this one?”

Julep blinked, recalled to the present. She was sitting in her room, preparing for a barbecue. She had on one of her pretty sweaters and a burgundy skirt. Gal had insisted on doing her makeup.

Gal held up a shallow tin of brown and gold powder for inspection. “Well?”

Julep pondered the makeup. “Are you trying to hide the freckles?”

She scoffed. “Why would I want to do that? They're one of your best features! Might as well flatten your chest if we're going to hide things. Maybe shave your head?

“No, we're going to do the eyes and the lips.” She held the powder next to Julep's face and studied it critically. “Definitely the gold and brown.”

She set to work with a tiny brush. “Uncle is so lucky! You're a vast improvement over the witch he had before.”

“Do you mean his first wife? Was she pretty?” No one talked about her. Julep gathered that she wasn't popular.

The girl made a derisive noise. “Sure, like frost on a flower...if you like that sort of thing.

“You're prettier, though, plus I don't feel like I have to watch my back.”

“So the flower was dangerous?” Julep joked. “Was it poisonous?”

Gal laughed. “Like a purple tree frog! Although I bet you can poison someone if you put your mind to it. You're an herbalist, after all.” She said it with admiration. It wasn't clear if she admired the herbal knowledge or the poison potential more.

“I certainly wouldn't try to poison someone, but you do have to know what herbs are harmful to avoid using them. I have treated a few poison victims, though. Most of them lived.”

“Were they poisoned on purpose?”

Julep laughed. “No! A surprising number picked the wrong mushroom for dinner. A bright colored mushroom in the woods looks tasty, I guess.”

Gal rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows the pretty ones are poisonous.” She stood back and looked at Julep. “And aren't you a pretty little mushroom! Good thing you're on our side. Uncle won't stand a chance.” She smirked in satisfaction.

“Are you playing matchmaker?” Julep asked, amused.

“Of course! I like you, and Uncle could do worse,” she said frankly. She peered at Julep. “What do you think of him?”

“Nice try,” Julep said dryly. She was not about to divulge her feelings to a curious teenager. Especially since she was still figuring them out.

The girl shrugged. “It was worth a shot.”

Artur greeted them downstairs. He smiled warmly when he saw Julep, his eyes traveling from her hair to her feet.

“Very nice. I'll have the prettiest wife there.” He took her hand and kissed it.

“Are you ready?” His voice was very deep and warm.

It sounded suggestive somehow, as if they were talking about intimate things.

Julep smiled and took his arm. “When you are.”