Page 2 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)

Cassian looked about and strained to listen but he heard nothing out of the ordinary and certainly not music. He would have thought Lady Samantha daft, except he had been raised in this magical world where anything was possible. “What music?”

“The fairies are laughing.” She chuckled herself.

“Fairies?” He knew that there were many magical beings in the grove but the fairies liked to keep to themselves.

“Yes, fairies,” Lady Samantha answered. “Have you not seen one?”

“No, I have not.”

“They are quite joyous today.” She wandered over and settled onto the steps that looked out at the lake. “I do not know if they are celebrating or if they are simply happy.”

“Can you hear what they are saying?”

“I can hear the music in laughter. I can hear the music through the trees or when a flower is unfurling. Music in the wind and music from the ocean. I can hear it all, just not the words being spoken.”

“Does that mean that you could hear someone from across a ballroom even if nobody else could?”

“No, not in the same manner as you might hear laughter whether it was near or far, though I do have excellent hearing, and likely better than most people, but I can hear music from a greater distance—the notes from the heart as it dances on the air.”

Cassian was certain that he did not understand.

“The same with sadness when I hear someone crying. Those notes are lower and bring a heaviness that pulls on the heartstrings whereas those of laughter are higher, lighter and can fly further.”

He was not certain what to think. Yes, laughter and crying evoked emotions and anybody that heard was affected, but he never described it as music.

“Do you know how Antonia can see auras?” Lady Samantha asked.

“Yes.”

“For me it is music…the sound…it is what I hear and not what I see, but a similar gift. The same as someone pretending to be happy when they are not. Most everyone would believe what they see and hear except Antonia would see the difference in the aura and I would hear it in the music of their tone.”

“Ah, now I think I understand.”

“It is difficult to explain, I suppose. Everyone understands auras, but not music.”

“Is that your gift?” If it was, it wasn't a very active one, unless there was more involved. Then again, being able to tell if someone was being deceptive could be a valuable ability.

Then a more disturbing thought occurred. “Can you hear the music of everyone just as Antonia can see auras?” If so, what did she hear from him? Cassian was very careful not to reveal his inner turmoil about his future and his attraction to Lady Samantha and preferred to keep it private.

Lady Samantha tilted her head and studied him. “Not everyone,” she answered.

“Me?” he asked.

“No, Mr. Jourdain. I do not hear your music, so your inner secrets are safe.” She smiled as her blue eyes lit with teasing while he was simply relieved.

Lady Samantha’s smile slipped as she grew thoughtful, almost serious. “There is power in music and I must always be mindful when I play so as not to affect the emotions of others.”

“How would you do so?”

“I would not.” She answered emphatically.

Was she afraid of her power? “If you were not mindful, what could happen?”

“My music can ease the pain of loss, calm the anxious, sooth a distraught child…To dull any emotional state, if I wish.”

“How is that bad?”

“Because people need to experience all emotion, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant. It is not my decision to take that away from someone.”

“What if they were to ask?”

“They would need to know I am a witch to make that request.”

“If they did?”

“It would depend on the reason, but I have yet to grant a request.” She glanced away.

“Sometimes it is the most difficult thing to do, to refuse a request then hear the pain, stronger than before, and experience it much as they do.” She looked back at him.

“But we were given our emotions for a purpose; even if sometimes it is beyond our comprehension of why we must feel such, it is still necessary that we do.”

“Your magic is in your music.”

She smiled. “Also, in the wind.” Lady Samantha waved her hand and the breeze temporarily gusted before it died away.

“Or fire.” With a snap of her fingers, flames emerged from the tips.

When Lady Samantha placed a hand over the fire, Cassian had assumed it was to put out the flames.

Instead, she rolled her hand and when she opened her palm, she held the ball of flames.

His eyes grew wide as she tossed it in the air. A moment later she simply blew on it and then it was gone.

“Each of my powers can be used more as a weapon than anything else. It is why I must always be mindful. It is one thing to toss a fireball in the air. It is quite another to throw it at someone.”

“A breeze can bring comfort on a hot day. Flames light the way in the darkness. Your music can soothe if you wish.” He hated that Lady Samantha thought of her gifts in such a negative manner.

“My music, if I choose, can increase a person's anger, make them enraged. Or I can cause someone to believe they are in love, no different than a potion.” Her eyes darkened as her eyebrows drew together.

“Every witch has the power to use their gifts for good or evil. One must also make certain that it is not in a self-serving manner.”

“Are you afraid to use your powers?” Cassian asked quietly.

“Not the wind or fire.”

“The music?”

She gave a short nod and he sensed her discomfort or concern by the way her shoulders had stiffened.

“Why?”

“Because emotion should not be controlled and sometimes, I cannot control my own, and why I must be mindful of everyone around me as well as myself before I set to play.”

“What do you play?”

“Piano, violin, harp, and cello.”

“What happens if you are emotional when you play?”

“Whatever I am feeling inside can flow out on the chords and notes and wash over those who can hear and then they will experience what I am feeling.” She waved a hand in the air, her long fingers to demonstration of music going out in the world.

“For a person who is private, such as myself, when I play, that can be stripped away.”

“Unless those who hear you do not realize.”

“That is true, but music is emotional even without magic in the notes. My playing makes it doubly so.”

Cassian had only heard Lady Samantha play a few times, but he would start paying closer attention to see if he could hear her soul. If he was not mistaken, that was what she was telling him.

There was something quite fascinating about Lady Samantha. The joy she had experienced since they entered the Sacred Grove was nearly infectious. While he might not reveal so on the outside, he definitely felt her joy internally.

“Is everyone in your family a witch?” Cassian asked.

Samantha turned to face him. “I have spoken enough of myself.”

“I apologize if I have pried.”

“You have not.” She grinned. “I have few secrets, but I think it is only fair that you tell me something about you.”

All Cassian could do was stare at her. There was absolutely nothing of interest about him. “I am quite boring. I am not magical nor was I born of a magical family.”

“Magic is not what makes one interesting,” she insisted. “Tell me about your education.”

To which he frowned. “I went to Eton and then Cambridge.”

“I had a governess, so already you are more worldly than I.”

He wouldn’t consider himself such, but he supposed the non-magical world was opened to him whereas the same was not afforded a female.

“Did you have a favorite area of study?” she asked, then frowned. “Though, I am to understand that many sons of lords did not take to their studies well and simply attended university the number of years required and then their education was complete.”

“I was not in such a position to do as little as possible. I studied hard, read, and learned.” Though, Lady Samantha was correct. Heirs to titles spent very little time in classrooms or reading and did only the minimum requirements.

“Which areas of study were your favorite?”

“I wanted to learn everything that I could about business-related matters, estates, and such. For a short time, I considered pursuing the law.” He had only changed his mind because it would require that he be in London and attend the Inns of Court and Cassian needed to return to Nightshade Manor.

“Not the military?” she questioned.

“I had no interest,” he answered and hoped that she did not see him as weak, or worse, a coward.

“Clergy?”

This time he snorted. “I would make a very poor vicar, I assure you.”

“So, what is it that you do, Mr. Jourdain?” she asked with a grin.

For a moment he considered telling her the truth, but he did not know Lady Samantha well enough to be assured of her keeping his secret.

“If you were to ask anyone at Nightshade Manor, they would claim that I do nothing, much like them.” Of course, none of them really needed to do anything since there was so much wealth that it couldn’t be spent over three lifetimes.

But, as he was not someone of Drakos blood, the wealth did not extend to him.

“Does that mean that you actually do something?” She grinned at him.

Again, the need to tell her the truth rose within but he pushed it back down. “I am searching,” he finally said. And while it was not a falsehood, he simply did not clarify what he was searching for.

She studied him for a moment then her blue eyes warmed and crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “I believe we all search for something, Mr. Jourdain, and I wish you much success.”

Her words were almost a balm to the disquiet when she had no idea what he sought.

What was it about Lady Samantha and why was she so important to him? He had been drawn to her from the moment he saw her across the ballroom and had been unable to put her from his mind. There were times she had even haunted his dreams. A longing, desire…a wish that would never be granted.