Amusement flickered in his eyes. «Is it true? Are you indeed a sorceress?»
She thought a moment. If she told him the truth, he would doubtless be appalled, as well as angry, thinking she’d deceived him. But her forthright nature decreed she could not do otherwise than be completely honest. She looked him in the eye. «I don’t think of myself as a sorceress, but yes, I have certain magic powers. I have only used them once while here in England and wasn’t planning to use them again. But»—
To her surprise, Richard burst into laughter. «You know magic? But that’s priceless!»
In amazement she asked, «But aren’t you angry? Aren’t you frightened I might cast some sort of evil spell on you?»
«Would you?»
«No, of course not.»
«Well, then, I have nothing to worry about.»
She protested, «But your mother is horrified, and very angry. She can hardly wait to get rid of me.»
Beaumont’s laughter died. He gazed around the tiny room and frowned. «You have been treated abominably. I shall see you are moved immediately.»
«Stop,» she said with a raise of her hand. «Your mother is right. It’s best I leave Chatfield Court as soon as possible. Better for both of us.»
A look of anguish crossed his face. «I love you, Evleen. Those days I spent in London made clear to me how empty my life will be without you.» He stood, pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. «You don’t have to find another position,» he whispered in her ear. «I could set you up in London. You would never have to want for anything. You could»—
«I will not be a kept woman!» She pushed away from him.
«Of course.» He swallowed hard. «I am so sorry, Evleen. I should have known you would never allow your reputation to be compromised. It’s just. I love you so much. The thought of spending the rest of my life without you is an agony.»
«I feel the same, but what can we do?»
«Nothing. Honour binds us both.» Beaumont took up her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it. «Goodbye, my love, my dearest love. I shall remember you always.»
He left then, leaving her to sit in her room and contemplate the lonely years that lay ahead. She knew they’d be lonely because she would never find another man like Richard Beaumont, and she would never settle for less.
The next morning, two piercing screams awoke Evleen from her sleep. They were screams so loud, so terrorizing, she leaped from her bed. Was the house on fire? Had someone been murdered? She flung her robe over her nightgown. Joining the alarmed-looking servants who had also heard the screams, she rushed downstairs to discover bewildered wedding guests, still in their night clothes, milling about, all looking for the source of the curdling shrieks.
When someone said they appeared to have come from the drawing room, Evleen, along with guests and servants, crowded inside, where she saw a strange sight indeed. Bettina’s mother, the renowned Duchess of Derbyshire, lay in a swoon on the sofa, a letter clutched in her hand. A maid held smelling salts under the Duchess’ nose. Lydia knelt beside her, waving a fan. Lady Beaumont looked on, her face so white and drawn Evleen thought she, too, might swoon at any moment.
«What is going on here?» Lord Beaumont, half dressed in breeches and a white shirt open at the throat, entered the room. «Mama, you don’t look well. You had better sit down and tell me what’s happening.»
«What’s going on is beyond belief,» Lady Beaumont said in a voice that rose to near hysteria. She plucked the letter from the Duchess’ fingers and handed it to her son. «It’s a letter from Bettina. Read it.»
With a curious frown Beaumont took the letter and began to read aloud.
Dearest Mama,
It is with deep regret I am cancelling my wedding to Lord Beaumont. I cannot marry him under any circumstances because I have fallen madly, passionately in love with Algernon Kent. Please don’t follow me. By the time you receive this, my dearest Algernon and I will be well on our way to Gretna Green, Scotland, to be married.
Know that I deeply regret the sorrow this must cause you, as well as Lord Beaumont—
Bettina
«Oh, dear God!» Lady Beaumont’s legs buckled. Her son caught her and helped her into a chair. «There won’t be a wedding?» the distraught woman cried. «I cannot believe this is happening!»
«It would appear that it is,» Beaumont equitably replied. He looked over at the Duchess whose eyelids were fluttering. «I shall go after them, of course. Perhaps it’s not too late.»
«Don’t bother. That ungrateful girl!» The Duchess sat up straight, waving the smelling salts away. «The butler told me they left last night. There is no way in the world you could catch them now, nor would I wish you to. Algernon Kent? I cannot believe it!» She exchanged incredulous glances with Lady Beaumont and Lydia. «How could my Bettina fall in love with the most loathsome man in the world? I apologize for my fickle daughter, Lord Beaumont. You must be devastated! Heartbroken!»
Evleen watched, secretly amused, as Beaumont placed a properly sombre expression on his face and make a gracious little bow. «Love works in mysterious ways, your grace. I shall do my best to contain my sorrow. Meanwhile, I want you to know that despite Bettina’s shocking defection, I forgive her and wish her all the happiness in the world.» He caught Evleen’s eye from across the room. In the fleeting moment their eyes met, he sent a message that contained a mixture of astonishment, vast relief, and, best of all, his undying love and joy that at last they could be together.
Her heart full of gratitude, Evleen turned and left. Life was wonderful again! With joyous steps, she climbed the stairs to her room. Richard was not going to marry Bettina. Such a miracle! But how in the world could the silly girl possibly have fallen in love with the likes of Algernon Kent? Hadn’t she said she loathed him?
An astounding thought struck her. Could Merlin possibly have had a hand in this? But no, it wasn’t possible. The wise old wizard had promised he would not cast a spell.
When she stepped into her room, she stopped and gasped. A black feather lay on her pillow. From Merlin? Who else could it be from? Why the feather? What message did it convey?
She picked up the feather and went to her window. For a long time, she stood clutching it in her hand. Finally, as she knew it would, the message came clear. Of course! Merlin had promised he would not cast a spell on Lord Beaumont. And he hadn’t. He had kept his promise. But he had not promised to refrain from putting a spell on poor Bettina.
«Why, Merlin, you old rascal,» she said aloud and started to laugh. «What kind of spell did you use to make a woman fall in love with Algernon? I’d wager it was the strongest spell you had.»
She touched the blue pebble. No more magic from now on. Absolutely not. Tomorrow she would throw the pebble into the nearby creek.
But then again. perhaps she should think about it first. No need to rush.
Claire Delacroix
The Ballad of Rosamunde
Galway, Ireland — April, 1422
The hour was late and the tavern was crowded. Padraig sat near the hearth, watching the firelight play over the faces of the men gathered there. The ale launched a warm hum within him, the closest he was ever likely to be to the heat of the Mediterranean sun again.
He should have gone south, as Rosamunde had bidden him to do. He should have sold her ship and its contents, as she had instructed him. Galway was as far as he had managed to sail from Kinfairlie — and he had only come this far because his crew had compelled him to leave the site of disaster.
Where Rosamunde had been lost forever.
Instead he returned home, to his mother’s grave and the tavern run by his sister.