Pulling The Wool: A Magic Garden Mystery (Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

charms. Until today. Each time she had tried the sun charm, it had only lasted for a few hours, before it faded. Yesterday, she tried once again, fully expecting to see the same result today, but this was a wonderful surprise! Even better was the array of bright colours and perfume that filled her senses from the young plants, which had sprouted overnight.
    Fern spun around the room, enjoying the feeling of the warmth on her skin. She let out a loud giggle – if she closed her eyes, she could very well be on a beach in the Caribbean!
    Walking over to her temperature dials, she looked over the instruments, making a few notes along the way. She had thankfully set it to the optimal temperature for the seeds to germinate quickly and she recorded these for the next time. The next time she’d do a sun charm! She grinned at the thought becauseso far, this was the hardest weather spell she had invoked. Fern felt immensely pleased with her success at last and she couldn’t wait to show Zinnia. Even though she had pleaded with her aunt many a time to set the sun charm, Zinnia had firmly refused, insisting that Fern needed to learn it for herself. And now she could do it! Leaning down and gently kissing a young tropical hibiscus, she wondered around the rest of the nursery checking on the other plants. Another day of heat would be good for them, before she’d lower the temperature slightly. It would be fantastic when the flowers would be ready to be sold in the shop – Fern was sure she’d draw customers from even further afield, once word spread about her tropical ornamentals. It would be great for attracting new business to The Magic Garden. She just had to keep her fingers crossed that her power was strong enough to set the sun charm once again.

    H appy with the progress and feeling incredibly proud, Fern finally retreated from the nursery, stepping out and into the back room once again. She immediately missed the warmth of the sunshine. A shiver ran up her spine at the sudden drop in temperature and she sighed heavily. Closing her eyes, she reluctantly whispered the incantation and opened her eyes, facing the wall once again.
    “ Signantes litteras ostium .” Seal the door.
    Fern watched as the wall slowly creaked and moved into motion, sliding across the concrete floor. A minute later, the sun was fully blocked out as the wall resumed its original place. No trace of any movement in the wall or floor could be detected. Satisfied, she turned around. And stopped short.
    Fern had been practicing her gift of reading peoples’ auras but so far, she had little success. Alana had told her she just looked plain weird as she tried to concentrate, which gave her an almost glassy look. Unfortunately, when she tried to experiment discreetly behind a pair of sunglasses, that didn’t work either as it made the colours difficult to read. But something caught her eye by her desk.
    Fern slowly walked over, afraid to disturb anything. There, in front of her, as plain as day, was a bright blue, small band of vibrating energy. Fern blinked a couple of times, recognising the personal signature that didn’t belong to her. If she recalled correctly, it was Lady Pince-Wittington’s! Fern let out a gasp. What on earth was she doing snooping around her back room ?
    Tapping her fingers against the desk, Fern quickly tried to remember the last time Cecily was in here buying flowers. She always felt intimidated by the older lady, who would mostly turn her nose up at the ornamentals. Most were apparently “ too common ” for her Manor estate. Fern clicked her fingers. Of course! Cecily came in last Thursday enquiring after one of the more rare type of plant that Fern stocked. She recalled their conversation.

    “ G ood morning , Lady Pince-Wittington. May I help you?”
    Cecily Pince-Wittington had eyed Fern up and down before bothering to answer. Fern bristled but kept the smile plastered on her face.
    “I’m not sure, dear. I’ve heard you