Page 10 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)

“I am certain that she already does,” Cassian assured her. “And even if she did not, it would not matter as she understands that nearly every woman at Nightshade Manor is and is not bothered. In fact, they have often sought Madam Boswell’s guidance during difficult times.”

“I have brought tea,” Iza announced as she exited out of the back of her vardo carrying a tray with three cups. “Drink it all and then we will see what the leaves reveal.”

As she was rather parched, Samantha had no difficulty doing as instructed.

“You too, Cassian,” Iza instructed when he simply sipped and watched as if he were taking afternoon tea.

“Why?”

Iza looked up and grew serious, her eyes darkening. “You have your own troubles that must be resolved.”

He pulled back, shaking his head. “I am certain that I do not. Besides, we are here for Lady Samantha.”

“Then you lie to yourself.” Iza tilted her head. “I also find it odd that Lady Samantha had not already noticed herself.”

He shifted his eyes to Samantha and tilted his head in question, studying her a little too intently.

She simply shrugged and wondered how much Iza already knew of her gifts.

Once her tea was gone and nothing remained but a small amount in the bottom of the cup, she returned it to Iza who instructed Samantha to pour the remaining liquid onto the ground, right the cup and then give it to her.

She followed the instructions and then waited.

Her tea leaves had never been read before, but she was not unfamiliar with the practice and sometimes questioned fortune telling without a magical artifact to assist. However, she didn’t fully discount Iza’s gifts either.

For the longest time Iza stared into the cup, turned it one way and then another, and sometimes frowned.

Maybe there was not much to see and her soul had only lived this one life with her.

“Your soul has had many journeys,” Iza said. “I am beginning to understand, but all is not yet clear.”

This is something that Samantha would expect to hear if she had brought good coin to sit down across from a fortune teller at a village fair.

Coin!

She had not brought any with her. Hopefully Iza would let her return with payment.

“We must consult the cards.” Iza stood and once again disappeared into the vardo only to return with another tray upon which there was a stack of cards that she handed to Samantha. “Please shuffle.”

Samantha took them and did as asked then returned them to Iza who placed them on the tray and asked Samantha to cut them. Only then did she turn the cards over and place them in a pattern on the tray.

For the longest time she did not speak, as had been the case with her tea leaves and Samantha tried not to grow anxious.

“Your soul has enjoyed many lives. It is ancient indeed.”

“Do you know what those lives were?” Maybe she had been Cleopatra or Queen Elizabeth who ruled England for forty-five years. Samantha nearly laughed at her own humor but as Iza was very serious in her task, she did not do so.

“I only see your soul through time and it accomplished much, and lacked only one thing that it still longs for.”

She could not imagine what she was missing. “What would that be?”

“Your soul never found its mate in all that time.” Iza finally looked up from the cards. “It has loved many but never met the mate to your soul, the one true love.”

The stuff of fairytales. Samantha nearly dismissed and managed not to snort at the absurdity.

“It is not nonsense,” Iza chastised, as if she’d read her mind.

“There is a mate to every soul, but it is also a very rare occurrence when the two happen to meet. Most accept the love they have for another being the one true love, and while they may live a happy life, it could have been so much more had the marriage been to the mate of the soul.”

“A soulmate?” Cassian questioned.

“Yes. The true and deepest love of all and Lady Samantha’s ancient soul did not find hers.”

Samantha wanted to ask if she had met one in this life but wouldn’t she already know?

Perhaps she would have asked if Cassian had not been sitting beside her, but she was also afraid of the answer. She may only be infatuated with him, which was not love and certainly not a soulmate attraction, but he was also the only man she had ever wanted beyond a friendship.

“It is not only your past that I saw, Lady Samantha, but a future as well,” Iza offered in an ominous tone that sent a chill down her spine.

She then reminded herself once again that Iza was a Romani and practiced in their art and craft, meant to thrill and scare, which Iza had managed to just do. Scare her, that is.

It was a performance even when they truly had the gift of sight.

Did she dare ask?

“Be careful where you wander,” came the warning.

“Why?”

“Something lurks. It is not clear, but there is danger.”

Goosepimples formed on her arms.

“Do you know what it is?” Samantha asked.

“I can assure you that Lady Samantha is safe at Nightshade Manor,” Cassian insisted.

“Be careful where you wander,” Iza warned again.

“I will,” Samantha answered though she couldn’t imagine what she needed to fear.

She had already visited the whole of Nightshade Manor except for the forbidden part of the forest and she had no intention of going there.

But, if for some reason the opportunity arose, she would remember the warning and stay away.

“Thank you, Iza.”

“You are very welcome, Lady Samantha.”

“What do I owe you? I promise to return with the funds.”

Iza smiled gently. “It was my pleasure to assist you, Lady Samantha. Just heed my warning.”

“I will. Thank you again.”

She stood, ready to return to Nightshade Manor, a bit unsettled by what she had been told, though she really had nothing to fear for she did not wander, and there was little she could do about finding a soulmate and if she did happen to fall in love, hoped that he was the one her soul had been searching for.

She then realized that one question remained. “Is it true then, that the silver in my hair is because of an ancient soul?”

“Do not view them through the eyes of vanity because you are young but celebrate the gift that your soul can provide if you simply listen to what it is telling you,” Iza chastised.

“I do not dislike the silver,” Samantha quickly assured her. “It has simply been a curiosity and if what I had been told was true.”

Iza smiled. “Each strand is wisdom gained through time. As you grow wiser and rely on intuition that comes from deep in the soul, more will appear.”

Samantha had always listened to her instincts and now wondered if that was her soul leading her.

Cassian stood and offered his arm to Samantha.

“We are not finished,” Iza said.

She thought for certain that there was nothing else the young woman could tell her and then she realized that Iza was staring at Cassian. He held her gaze for the longest moment then slowly took his seat again as if Iza had somehow forced him onto the stool.

Samantha stepped around him and sat on the other side because she did not want to be between the two.

“Your teacup.” Iza held out her hand and Cassian passed it to her.

She looked inside and frowned. “Finish it and we will discuss what troubles you.”