Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book One: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

smile. She knows I won’t fight back magically, I never do, but I’m hard-pressed not to lean across the table and slap her.
“I trust you’ve all heard about the new governess?” Father sits at the head of the mahogany table with Tess and Maura on one side and me on the other. By rights I’m the lady of the house now and ought to sit at the foot, but I still think of it as Mother’s place.
Tess and Maura nod, and Father continues. “She’ll be arriving on Monday. I’ll stay until Thursday to see her settled, but then I’ll be traveling for several weeks. I may not be back until the Feast of All Saints.”
Tess drops her spoon with a clatter. “That’s more than a month! What about our Ovid?” They’ve been reading the Metamorphoses together. It’s banned by the Brothers—too many strange gods and goings-on—but Father has a copy secreted away.
My heart sinks. After Mother died, after it became obvious that he would have no sons, Father started reading with Tess and teaching her the dead languages he loves. She gobbles up his lessons like a starving kitten, thrilled with any scraps of knowledge or leftover bits of affection he tosses her way.
Father gazes at an empty space on the wall. “I’m sorry to postpone our lessons.”
He isn’t, not truly. Maura’s right; all Father cares about anymore is his books and his business. Anger rises through me. Does he even notice how Tess adores him? He isn’t here to see how she mopes around the house after he leaves. It’s left to me to cheer her, to entertain her with magic lessons in the garden and impromptu theatricals. It’s always left to me.
“Will the governess teach us anything interesting?” Tess asks. “Or only stupid things like drawing and French?”
Father clears his throat. “Er—I imagine the latter. Your curriculum won’t include anything that hasn’t been approved by the Brotherhood. I know it’s not what you’re used to, but drawing and French—those are useful accomplishments for young ladies, Teresa.”
Tess sighs and fiddles with her spoon. She’s already fluent in French, Latin, and Greek. Father’s been promising to teach her German next. “Won’t you be lonely?” Maura goes to the sideboard and pours Father a glass of port from the crystal decanter. “Away from home so long?”
Father coughs. Has he been coughing more lately? He says it’s only the change of seasons, but his face is as tired as his eyes. “I’ll be quite busy. Meetings all day.”
“But wouldn’t you like company? Someone to take meals with?” Maura gives him a bright, wheedling smile. She looks very much like Mother when she smiles. “You’ve been working too hard. I could come and look after you. I’d love to see New London.”
Tess and I both swivel in our chairs. Maura has to know he’ll never agree to it. He doesn’t know what to do with us at home, much less in New London.
“No, no, I’m right as rain. And I wouldn’t have time to look after you properly. New London is no place for a young lady without a chaperone. It’s much better for you to stay here with your sisters.” Father takes a spoonful of soup, oblivious to the way Maura’s face falls. “Now, about this governess. Sister Elena comes very highly recommended by Mrs. Corbett. She was Regina’s governess.”
And Regina married very well . Father doesn’t say it, but it hangs in the air, heavy as the evening fog. Is that what he wants for us? Regina Corbett is a simpering ninny, and her husband is religious and rich and of good standing. He’s sure to be considered by the Brotherhood the next time they have an opening. There are always twelve members on the town council, ranging in age from ancient Brother Elliott, Brenna’s grandfather, down to Brother Malcolm, twenty and handsome, married just last fall.
Brother Ishida, the head of the council here, reports to the National Council in New London twice a year. Generally, however, the National Council does not involve