Overall, I feared I was only a novelty. If it weren’t for the fact that I was the only living person who could charm earth, I would probably be of no consequence at all.
But I was an earth Charmer, and the title lent itself to higher praise than I was worth.
“Have you made any new friends?” Aunt Francis asked, and her eyes tightened.
“A few,” I lied.
“And… Mr. Shop?”
“Is one of them.”
She shook her head slightly with a deep breath. “I see his father often, you know. In the papers. Most believe he will be next in line if Lord Tanner ever relinquishes his position.”
I nodded. Swallowed. I had a sudden ridiculous fear that she might forbid me from speaking with Theodore anymore. “He doesn’t know anything,” I told her. “I swear it.”
Aunt Francis blanched. We usually obeyed an unspoken
