Page 7 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)

“Whales return in the summer,” Cassian answered. “Perhaps you can come back for a visit so you can see them.”

He should have considered the possibility that Galene, Maera and Eunice might be out this morning. He knew they enjoyed swimming and playing with the dolphins.

Their enjoyments were swimming around the docks in Bocka Morrow in the evening and keeping an eye out for a handsome sailor to seduce, sunning themselves in the afternoon just below where they stood, or frolicking with dolphins.

They had little else to do for entertainment or any pressing matters that they must attend to.

Their lives, while easy, must be very boring.

“Maybe I will be given the opportunity,” she answered absently as she watched the dolphins, a gentle smile about her coral lips.

The sun had reached a height behind them enough to cloak her with rays that enhanced the darkness of her hair and highlighted strands of silver that he had not noticed before.

Samantha was too young to have silver, white or grey hair, yet it was there.

When she turned and noticed what he was looking at she placed a hand upon her head and smoothed her hair. “The result of an old soul, or so I have been told.”

“Old soul?” Cassian asked.

“Yes. Apparently, I have lived before. Or my soul has.” She laughed.

He always believed in one soul and one life and in the end that soul went to heaven or hell.

At least, that was the upbringing of his family, but he was raised by a woman who also gave thanks to a Greek Goddess, even though she believed in the Almighty God.

Sometimes it was rather confusing and now to be told a soul can live more than once just added to the perplexity.

“Are you certain souls return?”

Samantha shrugged her shoulder. “It is what I was told. Or maybe the old woman only said so to make me feel better about my silver hair.” She laughed.

“I like it.” And he did. Cassian wasn’t just giving a compliment to make her feel better but loved how the silver almost sparkled against the darkness of the rest of her hair.

There weren’t many silver strands, but enough that they could be seen if one was looking.

“I gain more every year and will likely be silver before I reach the age of thirty.”

“That would be quite striking,” he offered with all honesty.

“Shocking,” she corrected. “And I would likely be mistaken for someone’s grandmother.”

“That is not possible,” Cassian assured her.

He would like to sit out here all day with Samantha, but she could develop a sunburn before long. It may be December but sitting this close to the water on a sunny day without a hat or parasol to protect her face, she’d likely end up with a red nose and cheeks.

Besides, he was bone tired from the night before. And, after he rested, he would need to return to Hollybrook Park to begin his inventory.

“Thank you for bringing me to see the dolphins,” she said again.

“It was my pleasure, Samantha.”

“I should return…”

He didn’t want her to go yet. In fact, he wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t dare.

“I will escort you back,” he offered, then led the way back down the path, holding tree branches out of the way and pointing out exposed roots so that she did not trip just as he had done when he escorted her to the edge of the cliff.

By the time they reached the dining room, many of the inhabitants of Nightshade Manor were already breaking their fast. A few raised eyebrows at their entry, and there were half smiles.

He would need to make certain those who showed the most interest did not start meddling in his affairs or Samantha’s.

* * *

Samantha had hoped to see more of Cassian, but after breakfast, he left again. Not up the stairs but out the doors to the terrace. She had assumed that after not sleeping the night before he would want to go to bed. Instead, he left the manor and did not return.

For the rest of the day, she assisted Antonia, her mother and Lady St. Alban make plans for the wedding celebration.

Not that Samantha had anything to offer.

She simply took notes. However, that did not stop her from glancing at the door each time someone entered, hoping that it was Cassian, except it never was.

And as much as she tried to suppress the disappointment, it would not go away.

Why did she want someone who clearly did not want her?

Why was she fascinated and drawn to Cassian when he had done nothing to encourage her affection?

If one thought long and hard on the matter, it truly made no sense, yet what she needed and wanted came from inside without a rational reason and it happened the moment she had seen him across the ballroom at the Witches’ Ball.

She really should put him from her mind. If he had an interest in her, he would have shown it by now. In the weeks since she had been here, they had barely conversed until a few days ago, when they finally spent time together—in the grove and on the cliff. Neither of which had been his idea.

It was all rather disheartening. Of all the men she had encountered in London or since she arrived here, beginning with the ball, he was the only man to whom she felt an immediate attraction.

Not even Maia’s brothers or cousins were of interest and they were certainly suitable, especially since she would not need to hide being a witch, unlike with most of the gentlemen she met in London.

Maybe there wasn’t anyone for her.

If that were the case, then so be it.

With a sigh, Samantha stepped out and into the darkness of the terrace.

Except, she wanted to one day wed. She wanted to experience love. To love someone who loved her and have children to love. But, if the only man for whom she had developed an infatuation had no interest in her, then she would simply need to look harder come spring.

Or maybe pay closer attention to the bachelor males within Nightshade Manor.

Had she dismissed them as possible husbands too quickly? Neither Maia nor Petra had spoken of their male relatives in a positive manner. Then again, they were relatives, so her friends would not view them in a flattering light, or at least as potential husbands, when others may.

Had she let their opinions color her attitude toward them? Should she have been listening to their music instead of trying to hear if Cassian had any?

Still, there were only three of Maia and Petra’s relatives who would do and that was simply because they were the only ones older than her—Simon Cardwell, who was five and twenty, then there were the twins, Ajax and Ares Norcott who were six and twenty.

As she was two and twenty, their ages weren’t so ancient.

“Good morning, Samantha.”

She nearly jumped at the voice from behind and quickly turned to find Ajax exiting the manor along with Ares and their cousin Simon.

Her magic wasn’t such that she could conjure people by simply thinking about them.

Besides, the three were up to something. There was mischief in their music, but that was all she could determine.

“We were talking last night that we have never enjoyed a sunrise,” Simon offered. “We have seen sunrises but never took the time to pause and enjoy them.”

What were they up to?

“We were usually quite deep in our cups when we were out during a sunrise,” Ajax tried to explain. “Having not gone to sleep yet and usually on our way home from a night of…enjoyment.”

“But since this is your favorite time of the day, and Cassian recommends the same, we thought we would join you and watch the sunrise,” Ares explained.

There was some truth to their words but also hidden meaning in their music that she decided not to try and understand.

“I hope you enjoy it for the sun will rise very soon.”

“This is what we do? Stand and watch?” Ajax asked.

“Not from here since we are facing the wrong direction,” she chuckled. “Come with me.” Samantha created a ball of light so that they would not trip in the darkness then led them to the rise on the hill within the Witches’ Garden and to the stone bench.

“Now we stand and watch?” Ares asked.

“It is what I do,” she answered. “And I listen to the music of nature awakening.”

“Music?” Simon asked with curiosity.

She had assumed they knew her gifts, but apparently, they did not or they would already understand. Though in truth, only her friends knew the depth of her hearing because it tended to make others uncomfortable, such as Antonia seeing auras.

“Yes, the birds,” she answered. “And if you listen closely, sometimes you can hear the animals foraging for food.” That was the most that she was going to confess.

As much as she wanted to wonder why the three of them were suddenly here, and to come to know them better, unfortunately, she still pondered where Cassian had disappeared to yesterday and if she would see him today.

Blast!

Her favorite time of the day had now been ruined by four men—three of whom were present—all equally bewildering.