Clunk.

The carriage rattled as it rolled along the road.

Another carriage trip, but this time, we didn’t opt for a carriage with an anti-shake enchantment to save money. What was different, though, was that instead of sitting across from me staring at the ground, Mirabel was perched right on my lap.

No matter how many times I told her to sit comfortably, she stubbornly stuck to this position. Maybe this was what she found comfortable. Not that I minded, since I could hold her like a stuffed toy.

With my arms wrapped around her slim waist, I hugged her …