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The phone rang and, even though I was closer, Winter sprang up to answer it Nice While he spoke to whoever was on the other end, I glanced round There was a cardboard box sitting beside the coffee table, which didn’t look fa in a breath when I saas inside I reached in and carefully pulled out the delicate apparatus, peering at it fro system And when I say old, I mean antique – and probably very, very valuable No doubt it was a Winter family heirloom I paused and frowned Except Winter’s family weren’t witches

It was heavier than it looked so, rather than drop it and smash it into smithereens, I placed it on the table These ite after the Second World War, soether and worked out that a pinch of salt was ical herbs so they were safe to use in spells Most witches who use herblore regularly si about it It wasn’t that big a deal; in fact, even if the salt was forgotten and the herbs were technically i a deal The worst that could happen was that the herbs would be less effective

Herblorists enjoyed long-winded arguments about which type of salt was most effective I had heard that the Order even employed a selmelier, like a sommelier but for salt instead of wine so the end result was far less enjoyable but there was less need for several ibuprofen afterwards I had a sneaking suspicion that whether you used pink Hiins in the foothills of Nepal or table salt from the supermarket shelf, the end results were the same

‘I’ to ask her that,’ Winter said into the phone in a slightly raised voice ‘You decide I’m sure it will be fine either way’

Pulling my attention away from the purifier, I raised an eyebrow My h for Brutus to take a flying leap towardsknocking the precious heirloo for me He landed on all fours inside the cardboard box with the satisfied expression that I only received from him when I had the weekend off and no plans

Winter sighed ‘No, Mother I won’t’

Even ued, I slowly lowered my arms ‘Go on,’ I said ‘Ask me’

Winter’s face was expressing abject misery He cupped his hand over the receiver ‘My mother wants to know if you would mind if the dinner is black tie’ He licked his lips ‘Sorry She can be a bit of a stickler for propriety’

Idress codes, especially when they are for dinner What on earth is the point of getting dressed up to eat? I can eat on my sofa in my ancient stained tracksuit with the frayed cuffs and hole in the knee and the food will still taste the sareed to attend, I couldn’t back out now If it would make Winter happy, I could iven that Cobweb Lady was doubled over in hysterics, apparently at the thought ofdressed up

‘Fine,’ I said

Winter blinked ‘Are you sure?’

I bit back the sarcastic comment that popped into my head and smiled ‘No problem’

Confused, but obviously relieved, Winter relanced down at Brutus as still inside the box His whiskers were quivering as if he were trying hard not to laugh I flipped the lid so he was no longer visible ‘Noe don’t knohether you’re dead or alive,’ I said in a hushed voice Brutus responded by re-opening the lid in a blur of motion, then a paith outstretched claws snapped out and scraped down my skin

‘Ouch!’ I pulled back and glared ‘Okay, okay, you’re alive’

Winter hung up and glanced at me ‘Sorry’

I shrugged There was no point getting upset about it ‘It’ll be fun,’ I said ‘And noe know that you’re not a throwback Your ic comes from your mum’s side’ He stared at reed to come, that’s why she called now She’s probably not even aware of it herself I know, though, because I’m Ivy Wilde, super-sleuth extraordinaire’

Winter’s eyes flashed in amusement ‘If you say so’

I gestured to the herb purifier ‘This is pretty darn fancy I’ll scrub the shower grout every day for the next month if it’s not been passed down on your mum’s side of the family’

He pressed his lips together ‘Ivy, look at the box again’

I could hear the faint rurowl from Brutus ‘Er…’

Winter pointed to the side of the box There was an address label I cranedcare this tiers; I didn’t want to lose any to my pissed-off cat