Disclaimer: I am not JKR.

Author's Note: Since I am so tired that I can barely type I will leave you with this: Next chapter on Wednesday. Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen

Thursday, July 14th 2022

Corigliano d'Otranto, Puglia, Italy

Grace withdraws into the room she shares with Helen and Ashlyn just after dinner. She doesn't feel like making conversation, so she pleads a headache and holes up in the room. The others let her, even if Helen casts a curious glance her way, and Grace sits on her bed with a book, waiting for another letter to keep with that first one.

She doesn't have to wait long until an owl is tapping against the window to be let in. She opens and the bird hops inside. It sits on the back of a chair, staring at her imperiously and she smiles slightly as she unties the letter from its leg (and her fingers are not shaking, not at all). She opens the envelope and unfolds the piece of parchment inside.

Grace,

I am well, thank you for asking. So is everyone else. I'm just afraid my feet might fall off, because Eva seems to think we're all as invincible as she is when it comes to shopping trips. Other than that, I really am fine, though. What about you?

And how is Italy? I've always wanted to go, but for some reason we never have. Dad seems to believe France is more sophisticated or some such… I have to admit that it is gorgeous. You should see the water here! The Côte d'Azur is doing its name justice, that's for sure. And I do enjoy seeing the towns and cities when Evie is not dragging us from one shop to the next. You have to promise me to go shopping with her in Paris, I'm afraid of what she will do if you don't.

Speaking of Paris, there's this museum I read about, the Musée Carnavalet. It's a history museum and I'd really like to go see it. Would you come?

Lysander keeps talking about night clubs and how he looked up the laws and it's apparently perfectly legal for all of us to go to one. I'd rather not actually, but he doesn't really care. Scorpius is pouting because he's too young, but Eva is almost as excited about the idea as she is about shopping with you in Paris. I figure, you deserve a warning, so… you've been warned.

We all agree that we should have dinner at one of those pavement café's, though. I kind of like the idea that we could go just the four of us. What do you think? Either way it'd be easier to find a table for four instead of a table for eleven (or even thirteen if we go on a weekend and your Dad brings Granny), wouldn't you say?

I just re-read this letter and I realized I didn't thank you for writing me. Your letter made me smile. Thank you for that.

I miss you, Gracie. Paris can't come soon enough where I'm concerned.

See you there,

Lorcan

Grace smiles and re-reads the letter twice before walking over to the small table and finding a quill and a pot of ink.

Lorcan,

First things first, I'd love to go to the Musée Carnavalet with you. You're going to Versaille with me, after all.

I'm fine. Italy is fine, too. I love it, actually. It's absolutely stunning, and the people here are lovely. There is this wonderful old lady who hangs around the hotel, I think she's probably the oldest person I ever met. She told me it was hers originally. It's her granddaughter's now, but she still comes every day and helps out where they let her. She laughed when she told me that. She laughs a lot. And she smiles just like Granny. That one smile that says, "I am old and wise and know more than you." You know the one, I'm sure.

France sounds wonderful, too. I can't wait for Paris! Are you taking pictures? I want to see everything! And of course, I'll go shopping with Evie. I'm not so fond of the nightclub idea, though. Do you think we could get out of that one?

Also, you have to sign me up for dinner in Paris with just the four of us. We need to do that! Are the pavement café's as adorable as I imagine them?

I miss you, too. But it's only two more weeks until Paris. That's less than last week at least.

And don't thank me for making you smile. It's something I do because I like it when you smile, so you see, it's rather entirely selfish. No need to thank me.

See you in Paris,

Grace

PS: Your letter made me smile, too.

She sends the letter off with the owl that gives her another imperious look before it takes off into the darkening sky.

When Helen and Ashlyn join her some time later, she is still smiling.

Thank you for reading :) Review?