Page 26 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)
Cassian entered the drawing room to find all the chairs from the dining room had once again been moved in here and placed in rows, an aisle separating them similar to a church, that led to an arch filled with flowers nearly ready to bloom.
The vicar from Christ Church was at the front and spoke quietly with Chedworth.
Beside the groom was Chedworth’s brother, Simon.
Near where the bride would eventually stand was Petra to also serve as witness.
Many of the relations for Chedworth were slowly entering the drawing room to take their seats for the wedding, but it was Samantha who he looked for, but she had not yet arrived.
In fact, he waited to sit because he wanted to speak with her but as the chairs filled and the bride appeared just outside of the doors, he had no choice but to slide into a chair at the back, noting that one on the opposite side of the aisle remained empty.
Was she going to miss the wedding?
Was she so terribly ill from last night?
Yes, she had been drunk, but maybe he should have been more concerned about the fairy grog. If a human drank too much, supposedly they could die.
Except, if Samantha was deathly ill, there would not be a wedding right now.
On the other hand, Chedworth was so anxious to wed Antonia that he would not be put off another day.
Would Antonia wed while her friend may be in mortal danger?
He looked around the drawing room at everyone who had gathered.
Several of the family did not look their best, and likely from a night of overindulgence, but nobody appeared worried.
And Samantha’s parents and brother were here so he was making far more out of her absence than was necessary. Yet, Cassian could not help but worry.
Blast!
He needed to find her to make certain that all was well. He did not care that Antonia was just about to walk down the aisle. Samantha was missing.
Cassian turned and started to rise from his seat when Samantha slipped in and quickly found a chair in the back row on the opposite side of the aisle. He would have gone to her except the seat beside her was not empty so he sat back fully in his and then studied her.
She was, of course, beautiful as always, though a bit pale.
More than a bit. There was no color in her cheeks.
She slowly glanced around the room and when she saw him, he was certain she suffered an intake of breath before she quickly looked away and nearly turned green.
She was ill!
If she felt so poorly, then she should be in her bed, not attending a wedding.
He was just about to go and insist that she retire when Antonia entered and started down the aisle to Chedworth.
He glanced back at Samantha again, but she was watching Antonia meet Chedworth in front of the vicar. There was a sadness about her. Or maybe she was tired. The greenish tint was gone and maybe that had only been the lighting. Regardless, Samantha was pale and he was concerned.
He returned his focus to the couple reciting their vows, which was thankfully a short ceremony, and then the two kissed. He was surprised Chedworth didn’t haul his wife out of the drawing room right then and there, but at least he showed some restraint.
As others gathered to congratulate the couple, surrounding them as they retreated down the aisle, Cassian tried to reach Samantha instead, but by the time he was where she had been seated, she had gone.
Maybe she had returned to her chamber upstairs, and if that were the case, he would speak with her tomorrow. Or maybe she had gone on ahead to the terrace where tables had been arranged under the moonlight and delicacies set out to enjoy while more wine and champagne flowed.
He would find her and they would speak.
First, he would determine if she truly was ill and second, how much she recalled from the night before and if he needed to explain.
* * *
Samantha spent the wedding celebration avoiding Cassian. Her stomach had revolted with humiliation when she first saw him. She then made certain not to remain in one place for long. Whenever he saw her on the terrace and took a step in her direction, she retreated.
She could not have a conversation with him. She did not want to hear excuses for his rejection of her last night or to hear that he liked her very much but only saw her as a friend, or worse, a sister. For to hear those words from his lips would surely break her heart.
Maybe she could claim that she had no recollection of even talking to him.
If she thought that she had any chance of him believing her, Samantha would attempt such a deception, but she did not know how to lie and wasn’t even certain she could pretend enough that he would believe her to be ignorant of the events.
One thing was for certain, avoiding him was tiring and he eventually gave up when he turned and looked at her, sadness in his eyes, then he shook his head and turned around.
Why should he be sad. She was the one who had asked for a kiss and he had rejected her.
Eventually, she could not remain any longer and pretend happiness when talking with her friends and as the bride and groom had disappeared, Samantha thought it safe to do so as well.
There was only one thing that she must do and then she could go above stairs, finish her packing and be prepared to leave in the morning where she hoped to forget the humiliation suffered while at Nightshade Manor.
After retrieving the amethyst and the black tourmaline from the dresser in her chamber, she returned to the main floor, then took the stairs down to the cellar, passing the magical vault until she came to the cupboard that held the crystals.
She was about to open it when she heard the music again.
This was the third time and she needed to know from where it was coming.
The notes were almost haunting, a sadness.
Was someone playing in the music room? She stood and listened, then followed and if she were correct, she was walking the corridor directly beneath the music room, which meant that the music might be filtering down to her. Maybe there was a vent of some kind.
She supposed that she could go up and see, but it would be just as easy to find the source so that she would know for certain.
As she walked farther, past the corridor that led to cells from an earlier time in history, light began to flicker from a room beyond.
Maybe it was coming from the servants.
Some did have their chambers below stairs or in a separate addition to the house.
She had been told they had their own drawing room, parlor and a place to relax when they were not at their duties.
Maybe they were playing the music since most were not needed with the wedding celebration coming to an end.
For a moment she hesitated because she did not want to disturb them during their free time, but she needed to know who was playing such a mournful song.
It spoke of pain, sadness and loneliness, calling out to her and she wanted to give comfort to whoever was playing.
As she neared the door, the music quieted, but that did not keep Samantha from entering the room that was brightly lit with candles, walls lined with bookshelves, settees of red velvet, mahogany tables, chairs with gold upholstery, and a candelabra casting light and shadow on a dark wooden floor.
“Is anyone here?”
She stepped further into the room and noted a door on the other side. Maybe they had gone out that way.
Doing a slow turn, she took everything in, noting the richness of the room, and oddly, a tree in the corner decorated with garlands, bows and candles, though those were not lit.
She had heard of trees being decorated at this time of year but in Bavaria, she believed, certainly not England, unless some servants were from the Continent and this was their tradition.
It was quite lovely and she enjoyed the fresh, resinous, sharp and refreshing scent of the evergreens that filled the room not only from the tree but the greenery along the mantel.
And then, she saw it. An ancient piano of cherry wood, ivory keys yellowed with age, and a stool with a worn and faded upholstered seat.
The piano may be very old, but she knew that it was still in tune because it was clear that this was the piano she had heard and not echoes from the music room above.
She stepped forward and ran her hand along the smooth wood, her fingers aching to play, to strike the keys and release the emotions that have been building inside for the last day and a half, but did she dare?
Samantha looked around again, but nobody was here and if this was for the servants, they may have gone upstairs to clean up after the celebration, which meant they may not be back very soon.
She would just play for a little bit and then leave.
After slipping the crystals into the hidden pocket in her skirt, she settled onto the stool and placed her fingers on the keys, closed her eyes and began to play a tune that came from deep in her soul.
And, because she was alone, Samantha did not bother to be mindful but released all her emotions.
She was certain that by the time she was done that she would feel much better and hoped that the servants did not mind if they caught her.
And just maybe, her heart would heal and she might be able to put Cassian behind her.