The Second Inheritance

20250701

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

“Let’s skip the pleasantries, shall we? You and I both know we’re not here for small talk.”
Madam Brent looked over her spectacles and sniffed. “I’m also not here for cream buns, but I’ll be damned before I let you rob this festering meet of its tiny joys. So.”
Her fingernails rapped against the dainty flowery plate in perfect time with the words she spat through clenched teeth. “Would. You. Like. Tea. Brother. Dearest?”
Carlos heaved that disgruntled sigh which made him sound far too much like father.
Well, father when he’d been alive. She was still adjusting to that. While she’d always assumed that when it did happen it wouldn’t change anything, it… had caused a great many shifts in the family web. Nothing clear. Nothing drastic. Just a hundred tensions loosening or tightening or twisting. Nobody knew quite where they stood right now.
And of course Carlos wanted it to be her problem.
His broody gaze was no match for her frosty one. Never had been. The fool had no stamina, his fickle emotions ebbing as quickly as they flared. No wonder he’d never mastered magic.
“Fine.” He huffed. As if he was doing her a favour by being here.
She held the gaze for a moment more. Just to make it clear she could keep this going as long as she liked. Then she turned to the lovely teapot and poured them both a dainty cup.
This cafe was delightful. She made a mental note to return for a nicer visit.
“Sugar?”
“Three.”
She fixed her gaze on the small cups and quirked an eyebrow. But he didn’t amend, so she loaded three lumps into his poor tea.
“Milk? Lemon?”
He’d already picked up his cup and started squashing the sugar with a spoon. Honestly.
She sighed and added a squeeze of lemon to her own before cupping it in her palms. Summon that deep calm from inside… gather it in your chest… purse your lips and let it blow…
Her steaming tea cooled to the perfect temperature - and the leftover hot air buffeted Carlos’s face. He glared. She put on that sweet innocent look which had gotten him stuck with so much blame throughout their childhood.
Tsk. That glower. He really did take after father.
“So.” She took a sip. Mm. Must visit this cafe again. “You want me to officially sign away any claim to father’s magic practice?”
“What? No, I-”
“Because you know I can’t possibly manage two workshops.”
“But-”
“Especially given the distances involved. Impossible. We’ll simply have to let it go. A shame. But necessary.”
“Necessary??” He spluttered. “Lavvy, you-”
“Lavinia.” She hissed, her teeth clenched once more.
He ignored her. Of course he did. “You can’t throw away four centuries of family history for some silly little start-up!”
“Oh, I can.” And will.
“Are you really going to chain yourself to that man’s dream forever?”
“It was our dream. It’s still mine.”
Their gazes locked again. This time she didn’t blink.

Prompt was the first line.