Rosemary for the Holidays (Consulting Magic) Read Online Free PDF

Whitby, and they spent a while talking about the family assets and how they'd been divided, mostly centring on things like the china and crystal that Julian obviously had no use for in his current life outside of special occasions. They'd pack it up and take it back with them when they went to the St. Albans Solstice celebration so that Emmeline could use it again in her home for the holiday. Eventually Grover gently steered the conversation back to their tour, and they took their leave of the faeries and wandered through the rest of the flat, including a quick peek in Alex's work room to meet the flower fairy.
    They couldn't stay, having another party after this to attend, but they did settle long enough to eat a meal's worth of treats and meet Julian's other friends, including a happy reunion with Chudleigh. Things got even more crowded when Mary Margaret showed up with her husband, but the humans split up into several smaller groups in the kitchen and living room, and Nat vanished with Con and Betta into his room while Alys stayed out with Jacques to deliver dinner in the form of yet more nibbles, plus soup for those who hadn't had any earlier.
    "Your guest-gifts seem to have gone over well," said Mary Margaret, admiring the half-empty stand of rosemary pots. She'd brought some interesting magical hothouse-grown spices for her guesting-gift, part of all the batches she was starting for the nursery, which Alys had been very happy to see.
    "They have, even the earth sprites like them," said Julian. "I'm not sure Alex's family quite got the point, but they all took one."
    "It's a good thing you're doing, letting all those blessed plants out into the world," she said, echoing what Father Stephen had told him earlier. "Rosemary's good for warding off unwanted energies, not to mention all sorts of cooking."
    Julian grinned. "It is, that's why I picked it, so people who wanted the magic could keep it for that and people who just wanted to eat it could use it up that way."
    "And take in the magic as they did," said Mary Margaret shrewdly. Her phone beeped, and then Mr. Stone's did as well, and she sighed. "That's our cue. We managed to sneak away for proper dinner but there's a mort of family in wanting us for the celebrations right now."
    "We got out of it by hosting," said Julian, "but I'm certain next year we won't be so lucky."
    Mary Margaret kissed his cheek and went to find Mr. Stone and their coats, and Julian waited by the door to give them each a plant. "I'll bring one back for the nursery after the holiday," Julian promised.
    "You'd better, I'm counting on this to start our magical rosemary patch," said Mary Margaret with a wink. "These two are going to the house, one for the kitchen and one for the yard."
    Julian felt something very warm indeed in his chest at that, and he hugged her hard. "I'm very happy to hear that," he said. "Happy Solstice, I'll see you soon." They left and Julian went over to find Alex and hug him very hard, appreciating now more than ever how much he'd finally allowed himself to grow this past year.
    Whitby and Grover came over to make their own goodbyes before Julian could get too maudlin and introspective, and then Con and Betta emerged from Nat's room for their own farewells. Four more rosemary plants left with the guests, leaving less than a dozen on the stand that had once held thirty pots.
    Nat strolled over to where Julian was rearranging them in a more pleasing manner and said casually, "We'll have to see what else will go on here in the new year. Perhaps some of your Master Stone's gifts would fit nicely."
    Julian grinned. "I had a feeling this wasn't a temporary installation," he said, touching the warm wood of the stand with gentle fingers. "It's perfect as always, Nat. You and Alys have been good additions to the family."
    Nat looked surprised and then he puffed up with pride. "You've been a good family for us to care for," he said, which Julian took as a very high compliment