Page 93 of The Women of Wild Hill

“Morning to you, too, darling. Your ghost let me in. I think she likes me.” He presented Brigid with a giant bouquet of wildflowers and bent down for a kiss. “Ladies,” he greeted Phoebe and Sibyl, who were both peeping around the corner.

“You’re awfully chipper for someone who watched a friend of his die a gruesome death last night,” Sibyl said.

“Vernon?” Liam asked as though he could barely recall the incident. “I wouldn’t exactly call him a friend. More of an occasionally useful monster.”

“What are people saying?” Sibyl asked, fishing to see if he’d seen any of the gossip.

“Some are miffed that Vernon ruined a perfectly good party. Others wish he could have bitten the dust a little more gracefully.”

“You’re kidding,” Phoebe droned.

Liam winked at her. “I am. People are sad, but everyone knows the best thing to do is hop right back on the horse.” Liam turned to Brigid. “So I’m throwing a party tonight in honor of my gorgeous goth girlfriend.”

“It’s awfully soon.” Brigid couldn’t believe that she of all people had to point this out. “You really think your friends will come?”

“They wouldn’t miss it. We’re the most popular couple in town. I’ve been on the phone all morning. They’re all dying to mingle with the Queen of the Dark. Don’t worry, though. There won’t be any clingy fans. I’m keeping the list short. Only a few dozen of the biggest names.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Sibyl. “I hope it’s not too late to ask, but would you be interested in some light catering?”

Sibyl looked at her mother, who nodded.

“Any requests?” Sibyl inquired.

“Do you think you could forage some more of those mushrooms?” Liam asked.

“Yes,” Sibyl told him. “I think I could.”

THE THREE OF THEM STOODin a line on the porch and watched Liam leave. Once they were sure he was out of earshot, Phoebe turned to the others.

“This might be our last chance. If the rumors about Brigid go viral, we’ll never get another invitation.”

“But we don’t have the poison ready,” Brigid pointed out.

“We don’t need it,” Sibyl said. “You came up with the solution when you accused me of attempted murder. We don’t need to extract the poison. We can just use the mushrooms. All I need to do is cook them.” She didn’t wait for a response before heading off toward the mansion.

“We can’t use the mushrooms!” Brigid shouted after her.

“Everyone will know it was you who poisoned them!” Phoebe added.

They chased after Sibyl, only to catch up with her halfway across the lawn, where she’d stopped to marvel at the mansion. The vines and briars that had covered the house for well over a hundred years appeared to be in retreat. They now reached only as high as the second floor, as though something deep down in the earth was pulling them into the ground. Bessie was not at her usual window.

“What does it mean?” Sibyl asked.

“An era has passed,” Phoebe said. “Another is beginning.”

“Is that a good thing?” Sibyl asked.

“For the planet,” Brigid told her niece. “For us? There’s no telling.”

“We need to find Bessie,” Phoebe said.

INSIDE THE MANSION, THEY COULDall feel the ghost’s presence. It wasn’t until they opened the cellar door and shone a light into the darkness that they found her. Bessie was kneeling among the mushrooms, her white gown still pristine despite the damp soil. A large basket sat beside her on the ground. She dropped two handfuls of mushrooms on top of a growing pile.

“There you are!” Bessie seemed pleased to see them. “I thought I’d best get started. Sibyl will need these to make her signature dish.”

“You already knew?” Brigid asked.

“Certainly. People will eat anything Sibyl makes. That’s her gift. It’s what she’s always been meant to do.”