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The warmth of the sun bathed Elizabeth’s face as she wound through the stones, her fingers trailing along the varied textures of the weathered rock.

The stone circle was her favourite place to idle away a morning.

Here, in the middle of Oakham Forest, she was surrounded by the trees and the gentle caress of the breeze.

Few ventured into this wood without reason, and it was a rarity for someone not magical.

Most outside of their circles had forgotten this place existed.

Over the centuries, the Bennet family had ensured that those other than the people of Meryton had ceased to come here.

Outsiders now believed this wood to be haunted.

The enchantments and charms she had spent so many hours learning as a child had been successful.

Now, she spent countless hours here. Why would she not?

This place brought her a solace nowhere else could.

A gentle breeze wound through the forest surrounding her, tickling her flesh while it whispered its secrets into her ear.

Here and there, she closed her eyes and listened more diligently in the hopes of catching every nuance.

The trees added their own voices with the rustling of the turning and falling leaves, which contributed further to the discourse.

While she meandered, the huge white stag she called Herne stood in the centre watching her.

Several sizeable hares also bounded about the clearing.

They enjoyed the soft, verdant grass that grew near the edges.

Now that autumn approached, their favourite meal was not as abundant as during the warmth of the summer, but that did not deter their search.

During some early mornings, she was joined by the local pheasants, but this morning, they seemed to be elsewhere .

When she neared the middle, she pressed her hands on the largest of the stones that appeared to be lying on its side. The enormous rectangular altar hummed under her fingers, which made her flesh prickle. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she allowed the sensation to wash over her.

The stone, whose source of power deep inside the earth ran along the same vein as that at Stonehenge and Avebury, only hummed unless the equinox or the solstice were near.

The surrounding rocks here were not as grand as the other stone circles; they barely protruded from the earth, though their magic was no less powerful.

The Autumn Equinox was in three days, so the altar should be readying itself.

So why was the vibration stronger than she could ever remember?

She straightened and faced Herne. “Time to return.”

The stag threw his head up and down with a snort before he followed her from the ring.

Every time she left for one of her solitary rambles in the forest, he was her most faithful companion.

He met her at the first of the trees where she entered the wood and followed her back when she departed for the day.

She was never alone, and at times, he almost appeared to watch more of their surroundings than he did her, but deer often kept an eye out for danger, did they not?

Her bare fingers trailed along the bark of the great oaks as she wound through the trees, her ear still trained on what the earth was willing to reveal.

Soon, she met the brook that trickled towards Longbourn and the willow where she spent many hours hiding from the world and reading.

How she loved this place! The boughs provided a respite when her home and her four sisters became overbearing.

The stone circle did as well, but it did not provide the sense of solitude and security the trailing leaves of the willow provided so generously .

When she reached the edge of the wood, she held up her hand and closed her eyes to whisper the incantation she had recited every time she left Herne.

He did not blend into his surroundings like others of his type, and his size and almost silver-white fur made him an obvious target for those brave enough to disregard the tales of ghosts and spectres and seek to kill their dinner within.

Since she first found Herne, she had shielded him from the sight of others for his protection.

Those who were magical would see him as a messenger from heaven and leave him unharmed. To anyone else, he was easy prey.

Herne touched her hand with his nose and allowed her to stroke his head.

He was the most stunning creature she had ever beheld.

They had both been young when they first met fourteen years ago, but he had become old while she had merely grown to adulthood.

She did not want to consider the day when she came to the forest and he was gone.

Her eyes burned at the thought. He was her best friend.

What would she do when that day finally arrived?

“If weather permits, I shall return on the morrow.”

He nudged back against her palm, then she turned to begin the walk through the field. While she made her way down the well-worn path that led to Longbourn, sheep grazed on what was left of last year’s wheat planting, which had been threshed a month prior.

Once she had slipped through the break in the hedgerow, the sounds of her family became discernible. Elizabeth meandered through the herb gardens towards the door to the kitchens. Her mother’s high-pitched tone was the most prominent. As soon as she entered Longbourn, Mrs. Hill shook her head.

“Your mother is in a right dudgeon this morning. She has already broken two teacups and sent a muffin flying at your father’s head.

The teacups I can repair, but unfortunately, I can do naught about your father’s pride.

Jane has been making every attempt to calm Mrs. Bennet, but your mother is volatile today.

If Jane continues to exert herself as she has, she will be worn out before noon. ”

Elizabeth smiled. Mrs. Hill had been housekeeper at Longbourn since before Elizabeth had been born and had been more of a mother to her than her own. “Papa has not attempted to soothe her?”

“No, he sent for a potion from the apothecary. You know how wearing he finds it to temper your mother’s moods.

He is not as young as he once was, and I am willing to vow that her fits take more out of him than some of the more powerful magic.

” Mama had been losing her wits since she had carried Elizabeth, though her father’s weariness at tending to his wife’s capricious behaviour had stemmed more from his inability to hide himself from the strife rather than to temper the disturbance in the first place.

“I shall see what I can do,” said Elizabeth as she made her way to the door.

“Your father will not be pleased if you interfere. Without him in the room to mask your magic, your mother will sense who is inhibiting her, and he will be forced to manipulate her memory once again. You know that only makes her condition worse.”

Elizabeth sighed and scrubbed her forehead. “I shall speak to him first then.”

The servants’ passages of Longbourn were narrow and dark, but she had memorised the way long ago. As soon as she opened the door to the breakfast room, the light from a nearby window blinded her for a moment before she could continue into the parlour.

“Where have you been?” screeched her mother as she entered.

The tone was ear-splitting and made Elizabeth wince.

Mary took her stack of books and made her escape while Kitty and Lydia giggled as they skipped from the room and out of the front door with titters about the new groom at the inn.

Once again, Mama was letting them venture to Meryton alone.

Why would Papa not exert himself to stop them?

“I took a walk, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “I hope you are well this morning.”

A fork from the tea tray rattled then flew at her face. Elizabeth shifted to the side, the fork missing its target and embedding into the wall. Mrs. Hill would need to repair that later as well.

Jane, Elizabeth’s elder sister, placed a hand on her mother’s arm. “Lizzy walks every morning unless the weather is poor; do you not remember?”

Mama’s countenance made a gradual change before she blinked and nodded. “Yes, I suppose.” Her forehead furrowed as she turned to Jane. “Why is my mind so muddled?”

Her sister’s hand squeezed ever so slightly. “You must not have slept well last night. Perhaps a nap would do you good.”

Before her mother could utter a word a maid, hurried over and helped Mama stand. “Come, Mrs. Bennet. I am certain Mrs. Hill can send up one of her nice draughts for you to drink. That should help you sleep.”

As soon as Mama departed, Elizabeth sat beside her sister.

“You cannot keep exerting yourself on her so. She cannot be dependent upon you to subdue her rages. One day, you will meet a gentleman, fall in love, and wish to marry, and if you continue as you are, you will feel compelled to remain at Longbourn to care for Mama instead of following your heart.”

Jane exhaled. “She is losing control more and more. The effort it takes to soothe her agitation has become exhausting. I fear cannot calm her wrath for long anymore. What will become of her if Papa is left to care for her alone?”

“Maybe if I had been a boy. . .” said Elizabeth. “This all began when Papa told her I was to be the heir. Perhaps her lack of control before my birth had been more like excitement, then when she learnt I was a girl, that anticipation became anger.”

Her sister’s hand landed on her forearm, and she took a quick glance behind her.

“Do not even think such a thing. Mama cares for you in her own way. How was she to know you would be the first female heir? Can you imagine? Centuries upon centuries of powerful male magicians, then you shock what everyone has believed for all that time. She was bound to dismiss you at first glance. ’Tis unfortunate she cannot be trusted with the information now. ”