Of course, his family would be awake. It wasn’t as if what was happening to him was a secret, thus she’d not be able to keep her presence unknown either.
With a heavy sigh she entered the parlor expecting to find Chedworth, but only his aunt, Maia and Petra were within.
“Did you get sufficient rest, Lady Antonia?” Lady Wharton asked with concern.
“Yes, thank you for asking. I am sorry if I inconvenienced anyone.”
Her smile was kind and gentle. “I can understand why you were overwhelmed.”
Could she? Ah, yes. Her mother had explained her need for a veiling spell.
“Does everyone else?” she asked looking about the room.
“No,” Lady Wharton answered. “Just us, which is why I was not overly alarmed when you did collapse.”
“Thank you for not saying anything. This power tends to make people very uncomfortable, even though I have no control.”
She nodded and perhaps Lady Wharton did understand.
“This veiling spell or potion that the four of you have been seeking is for you, is it not?” Lady Wharton asked.
Antonia nodded. “It is selfish, and perhaps I should not even attempt such, and should simply avoid large gatherings.”
“In some instances, I may agree that a witch should not diminish a gift that has been bestowed on them, except in your case, it is too much to endure and not the least bit beneficial since it reduces you to exhaustion.” Her smile was gentle. “We should have taken more care in our emotions with you so close.”
“No. Nobody should guard because of me,” Antonia insisted. People had tried in the past and it never worked. She would have still experienced their emotions had they whispered or said nothing. “Where is Lord Chedworth? I wish to help and apologize again.”
“He has gone to the cove to be alone and didn’t want his changes to be displayed to gawkers like ourselves as if he were a beast in a menagerie.”
If such were happening to her, Antonia might feel the same. “Oh, of course.” What did she do now?
“Though I do not believe my son would mind if you were there and it might be beneficial to help with a spell to reverse the process.”
Antonia quickly turned to the voice from behind and dipped a quick curtsey. “Lady St. Alban. Please forgive me.”
As with Lady Wharton, her smile was gentle. “You did not possess malicious intent in your heart, and my son should not have been sneaking about.”
How could she not blame her?
“We will get the right of it figured out, but for now, you will find him at the water’s edge.”
Antonia glanced at the old clock on the far wall and noted that it would shortly be midnight. She offered a nod then exited to the terrace and then down the steps to the beach where she found Lord Chedworth pacing.
“I am sorry,” she said again.
He did not turn and look at her, though Antonia should not be surprised. He likely hated her, and she could not blame him for doing so.
However, his aura was rather curious and not what she expected.
Orange, though closer to the tangerines she’d seen, and a color of thoughtfulness, mixed with dark purple, which wasn’t a surprise since it indicated a challenging situation and decisions that deviate from true desires, and lastly, the murky white remained, which usually meant fear and uncertainty, and of course, the three colors were a sign of changes. But there was no anger or hatred toward her. His emotions were all connected to how he felt about his situation.
They could just as quickly change, and hatred could be focused on her. Right now, he was waiting to see if his hands would change again.
He winced and put a hand against his ear.
“Should I go? Do you wish to be alone?”
“You can stay. It is the rest I wanted away.”
