NovelAppAurelia plucked a cherry tomato and dropped it into her basket. The weight of thoughts was also as tangible as the fruit in her hand.
"You mean to tellLisbeth doesn't truly love Raines? The guy's a catch, comes from old money, and could charm the socks off a statue. Lisbeth couldn’t only be after his wallet, could she?" If Lisbeth’s affections for Raines were a facade, motivated by the allure of his prestigious family nand wealth, then it was possible she had been compromised by Geoffrey, becoming a pawn in his scheming game.
Beverley twisted her lips in disdain. "Who knows? You get all sorts in the big forest of life, and the human is the trickiest puzzle of all. But the tarot cards don't lie, sweetheart. If the Betrayer card shows up, you bet there's a Judas at the table." She had unwavering faith in her tarot readings, especially after her predictions for Aurelia proved uncannily accurate. Her belief in her divine connection with the cards had only solidified.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAurelia sighed softly, "Raines and Lisbeth are already hitched. If she’s playing him, it'll break his heart when he finds out." "Exactly," Beverley replied, "which is why the cards that followed were all doom and gloom. If Raines gets wind of this, it’s curtains for their marriage." As Beverley spoke, a crafty glint sparking in her eyes. "Why don’t we test Lisbeth a bit, see what she’s really made of? If she's a phony, we'll unmask her sooner rather than later and save Raines from a world of hurt. The Shadow Venom card is the direst. I'm worried sick Raines might not handle the blow and end up like his mother with bombarding blues, which could lead to something tragic. Better to give him a heads-up before he's in too deep." Aurelia pondered for a moment.
It was indeed crucial to figure out Lisbeth’s intention and gauge whether Raines who returned was genuine or not. Geoffrey was ruthless. And if it was his doing, the real Raines could be in grave danger.
"How should we test her?" Beverley curled her lips into a sly smile. "Leave it to me. I'll hatch a plan." Paz had the turkey pie stewed to perfection.
The servants dished it out to everyone, with the rich aroma of apple and turkey lingering enticingly in the air.
Aurelia took a bit and, as an apple enthusiast, found it delicious.
Paz watched Raines bite his pie with motherly concern.
Raines ate slowly in measured bites.
"Mr. Raines, does the pie not meet your fancy today?" Paz inquired with a hint of worry.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmRaines shook his head, "No, it's quite good." But Paz couldn't identify the satisfaction she used to see in him, the way he previously would gulp down his favorites with stars in his eyes.
Aurelia, sensing something was amiss, joked, "Maybe Raines’ taste buds are off from downing that ljuice and cilantro extract this morning." Paz chuckled, "But Mr. Raines loves those. How could they possibly spoil his taste?" Aurelia hadn't noticed Raines' affinity for such flavors.
Still, tastes changed. She remembered her first encounter with apples with the off-putting smell, but now she relished it.
Lisbeth interjected, "Ever since he fell seriously ill, Raines' palate has shifted." Aurelia mused that perhaps it wasn't the palate but the person that had changed.
Whether Lisbeth loved Raines could provide indirect evidence for the authenticity of the man. True love would surely notice an imposter in one's bed.
If not, then Lisbeth might be in cahoots with Geoffrey.
Skyler slurped up his pie with gusto, "Delicious. Who knew apple could make such a great turkey pie?" Paz cast a glance his way. Mr. Raines used to enjoy the food she cooked just like that, and now he barely touched it.
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