Free Seduction by Molly Cochran

dessert was finished, all the entrée and appetizer dishes had washed themselves. Fabienne tiptoed into the kitchen just as the last platter slid into the cabinet.
    “Oh, but you are so marvelous!” she said, hugging me.“Thank you for such a wonderful dinner, Katy. I wish you had joined us.”
    “I couldn’t. There was too much to do here,” I said.
    “And thank you, Madame Hattie.”
    “My pleasure,” Hattie said. “Hope you enjoyed your dinner party.”
    “It was perfect,” Fabby said. She turned to Agnes. “And thank you, too,” she said shyly. “So much.”
    Agnes took her in her arms and patted her shoulder. Then Fabby left the kitchen, looking as if there were tears in her eyes.
    “What was that about?” I asked.
    Agnes smiled. “We were in Hawaii,” she said softly. “I met her there. I’ll bet you didn’t even notice I was gone.”
    “Well . . .” It was true. In the rush of magical food preparation, I hadn’t paid any attention to Aunt Agnes.
    “Fabienne is a teleporter,” she went on, “an astral traveler, like me. She just didn’t know it until tonight. Every time she feels stressed, she winks out, but she can’t control it.”
    I was stunned. “Winks out?”
    “Travels.”
    “You mean she’s a witch?”
    “Of course she’s a witch. Cowen can’t do what she does.”
    “But . . . the others . . .”
    “She may be the only one in her family,” Agnes said sympathetically. “Perhaps after your experience here in France is done, you’ll bring her back to Whitfield. I’ll teach her how to use her gift to best advantage.” She washed her hands. “Well, Hattie and I must be off.”
    Hattie grinned. “We’re leaving the glasses and dessert dishes for you.”
    “That’s okay. I appreciate your help.”
    “Don’t expect it every day,” Hattie grumbled.
    “Actually,” Agnes said, “we probably won’t be able to come back at all, unless it’s an emergency. Gram and I are going to Hakone, Japan. The hot springs will be good for her bones.”
    “Oh,” I said. “Japan sounds wonderful.”
    “But you have Paris, dear.”
    Hattie snorted. “And your French cooking school.”
    I felt abashed. I hadn’t served one dish that Hattie couldn’t make in her sleep. And without her magic, not even one dish would have been served on time.
    She lifted my chin with her strong brown hand. “Still, you did well tonight,” she said. “And you’ve got a job waiting for you back home, whenever you’re ready.”
    I closed my eyes. Back home. Yes. “Thanks, Hattie,” I said. “Thanks for—”
    But just then Agnes gave a curt nod of her head, and the two of them winked out.

CHAPTER
    •
    ELEVEN

    Even though most of the dishes had already been washed and put away, there were still a lot of glasses, coffee cups, and dessert dishes on the table. By the time I got around to clearing everything away, the diners had all gone into one of the sitting rooms.
    I don’t know what I’d expected—maybe that I’d be called out to take a bow. I mean, even if they didn’t like the food, the meal had been an awful lot of work. I thought at least Peter would have said something, maybe sent word back with Fabby. Something.
    But I didn’t remember seeing Peter when I’d served the dinner. True, I’d had a lot on my mind just then, but I would have noticed him. After all, I’d really cooked the whole meal for him.
    I peered into the library. Fabby spotted me and came over to help me clear away the dishes.
    “Better not,” I said. “Your mom—”
    But she just shook her head and kept working. I guessed Sophie had already gotten to her.
    “Er . . . have you seen Peter?” I asked when we were back in the kitchen. “I don’t remember seeing him at the dinner.”
    She blushed a deep red.
    “What’s the matter?”
    Fabby took a deep breath. “I am sorry, Katy,” she said. “Peter did not attend.”
    I looked away. That hurt more than anything anyone could have said about