章 15: Chapter 15
Virginia lowered her head as close to the girls as possible and whispered.
"I heard women say about a real existent witch."
And yes! The girls glanced at her with wide-opened eyes. But, of course, they would never suspect such a thing. Indeed, their mother would react critically.
Aunt continued with her story. "They said she lives somewhere in the forest all alone and accepts customers."
"What kind of customers? For what?" Adela asked with keen interest.
"From what they were saying, she prepares for them various magical stuffs like as amulets, magic filters and who knows what else."
"And how people find her?" Adela asked with undiminished interest again.
"I don't know. However, from what I heard, in order to find her, you must head west. West only. You must not deviate because otherwise you will never meet her. That only they said. That's why I believe that is all nonsenses."
"Maybe. But this really sounds like magic," commented Adela.
"We have long heard of a witch. Haven't they all been burned?" Emily asked naively.
"There will always be survivors. As if I don't believe that all these unfortunate women who burned were really witches." Aunt replied.
"And what do you think about her now? Could she be a real witch? "Adela asked her.
"I don't know that. Basically I don't think there are any real witches."
"I agree. Anyway what do we care?" Emily said indifferently.
"Of course not. We don't care. I only hope that this unfortunate woman doesn't end up in the fire too," said aunt with compassion in her voice.
"But I do care," Adela thought excitedly, and an idea began to turn over her mind. A risky idea. But she was determined to take the risk wherever it may lead her.
At that moment, Margaret appeared, and the discussion had to be stopped.
"Well girls, we stayed quite long. Shall we go? It is almost noon. I don't want your father to go home and not find us there for lunch."
"Yes, mother, let's go." Girls agreed and got up. They greeted their aunt with a kiss and left the house. Their mother followed them after saying a dry-cold 'goodbye' to Virginia.
The aunt stood at the open door and watched them enter the carriage. As the carriage began to move, the two girls turned their heads to her. Then, they greeted her again by waving their hand. The aunt reciprocated the greeting and stood there watching the carriage disappear from her sight in turn of the road.
Then she entered her house and closed the door.
On the way back at home, for the two girls, was the first time they didn't bother by their mother's endless muttering.
And the worst part was when the mother got to the point where she had nothing else to add; she kept repeating the same things over and over again. About how right she was accusing Aunt Virginia of being gossiping and that it was the only occupation she was good at. How unacceptable it was to talk to two little girls about something so filthy and shameful.
The two girls looked at each other, with bright eyes full of delight and with a heart that was pounding with excitement from everything they had heard today.
"Oh, mother, if only you knew what else we talked about today with Aunt Virginia," their eyes said.
At one point, the carriage finally stopped outside their house.
The girls breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, at last, their torment was over.
The two girls hurried out of the carriage and walked towards the house, leaving the coachman to care for their mother.
Their mother often said: "Noble women don't fall! They are not allowed to fall! And especially with their face down on the ground."
That was also her greater fear. Not fall. Mainly in front of people.
"I'm going to my room to relax for a while. Our mother will be here soon, and she will ask me to continue embroidering." Emily told Adela as soon as they got into the house.
"Of course, Emily, go. I understand. I am going find Agnes."
Emily climbed up the stairs quickly. If she were lucky, she would rest for about ten minutes.
Adela started the search from the kitchen. It was the most likely place she could find Agnes, and she didn't fall out. Instead, she accompanied the cook, cleaning the kitchen after preparing lunch. They were chatting and laughing. Agnes sat in a chair as her leg had not yet 'healed.'
After the alleged twist of Agnes's ankle and the care of Mistress Nina, there was no more enmity. Mostly on Mistress Nina's side, because Agnes never saw Mistress Nina as an enemy.
When they saw Adela standing at the entrance, they stopped talking immediately.
"Would you like something, Miss Adela?" the cook asked her, wiping her hands on her apron, ready to satisfy any wish of the little lady.
"Yes, I need Agnes to come with me for a while."
"Yes, of course. Go, my child. When your lady asks for you, you should go right away."
Agnes stood up and, with a fake limping, started approaching Adela.
They climbed up the stairs and entered Adela's room, closing the heavy door behind them.
Agnes spoke first. It was apparent she could not control her curiosity. "You look somehow different. Did anything happen?" Agnes asked her.
"How different? Explain to me."
"Your eyes are shining mysteriously, your cheeks are pinker than usual. Your walking is... how I can explain that… cheerful. So, something is going on here and I loved to know what it is."
"You know me very well," Adela said, cupping Agnes's cheek and smiling at her. "You have right though, it is something going. But, before I tell you, I want to ask you if you returned the maid's clothes."
"No, I didn't have the opportunity."
"Great, I will need them for at least one more time." Adela said, relieved.
"What do you have in mind this time? What made you change your decision?"
"I heard of something really big today."
"Which is?"
Adela told her everything she had heard from her aunt about the witch.
Agnes's eyes opened wide.
"And now I guess you want to go and find this witch?"
Adela smirked. "Don't guess."
"Oh, thank God!" Agnes said in relief.
"Be sure about it!"
"What?!" her eyes circled so big. She felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on her back.
"We will go find her together. Don't tell me you will leave me alone in this."
"Did you lost your mind? This is very dangerous." Agnes protested.
"Please, Adela," she continues with a soft voice, "Come to your senses." Agnes, confused, started pacing up and down into the room. "I insist. It's perilous out there, and we are just two girls all alone? This is crazy!"
It would be utter madness doing this!"
"Maybe, but I will do it even if I have to go alone. So, are you coming with me or not?" Adela asked her stubbornly.
Agnes looked at her in despair, realizing she would not be able to change Adela's mind, and said: "I can't leave you alone. You know that."
Adela smiled. "Actually yes, I do know that. We are leaving tomorrow at dawn."
"Okay. I will prepare something to take with us. Water, something to eat. Who knows when we will be able to return and mostly, if ever coming back."
"Oh, Agnes, of course and we will come back. Don't make bad thoughts. Instead, make some happy ones."
"Anyway, okay." Agnes said.
She had decided to escort Adela and had no intention of overturning her decision. But fear was already burning inside her.
"I knew you would not disappoint me," said Adela happily.
"And how are we going to go? On foot?" Agnes asked just into the point.
Adela looked at her. "I didn't think of that!"
"That's great!" said Agnes, rolling her eyes.
"Two horses would be very useful," Adela stated.
"Yes, I think it's the best." Agnes agreed. "Shall I go and tell Stefan to have ready to go two horses tomorrow at dawn?"
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