“I think this might help with veiling,” Samantha said. “Within the velvet pouch is to be a mirror of sorts.”
“Remember where it is and we will come back and look again.”
“But that is why we were here to begin with,” her friend reminded Antonia.
“Reversing the spell Lord Chedworth is under is our priority. I don’t care if I must experience the emotions of England as a whole for the rest of my life. If we cannot help him, then I don’t deserve to experience peace.” She turned and picked up the next journal.
“I will make a note and we can return to it,” Samantha said.
Antonia could feel her friend’s sadness and she’d hurt her feelings when Samantha was only trying to help her. “I am sorry. My words were harsh,” she said. “I am so afraid that I won’t be able to help Lord Chedworth. As it is my fault, I must fix this. What happens to me no longer matters.”
“It does, Antonia,” Maia said.
“Only after we have helped him.” She’d not argue it further. Even they must realize that they would soon be out of time. If they found nothing by the full moon…Antonia couldn’t even consider that option, though he was. Chedworth may not be in the vault, but he was in the house, maybe only a floor above, but she could still feel his fear, panic, and determination as strongly as if he were standing next to her.
Her chest tightened, as did her throat. Breaths were coming short, so Antonia closed her eyes and focused on peace and calm. Except, she couldn’t find it. Not within herself, or from anyone else in the vault with her. She knew her breath was growing short but had no control. And her heart, it wanted to pound right out of her chest, and hurt.
This was panic. She had experienced it before.
And it wasn’t just hers. It came from everyone. It surrounded her.
They all feared what was to come and were losing hope that an answer could be found.
Oh, if only she could block each one of them, but without a veiling spell, it was impossible.
For a moment she was torn. Did she stop looking for a spell or artifact to revert the spell Chedworth was under and try a veiling spell for herself or keep working. If their emotions were hidden from her, she would be able to concentrate. But Antonia also knew that much of the panic came from within her being, and there was no way to hide from herself.
She grasped the shelf, determined to push past this, but if she could not, she’d need to leave the house, but only for so long as it took to calm, and then she’d come back.
“Please excuse me,” she murmured and nearly ran from the vault, then up the stairs, and ran right into the hard chest of Chedworth.
He placed steadying hands about her upper arms, and she gazed up into his cobalt eyes. Instantly her panic fled, yet the fear did not. That was from him and her. The peace that she had hoped to retain was missing and she feared that he might not ever know it again.
“What is wrong?” he asked softly, his tone warm with concern.
“I need to step away from…” she gestured to the cellar. “They are so afraid, as am I.”
Philip drew her close and placed his arms about her. Her head was now against his chest and Antonia wasn’t certain what to do. Did she put her arms around him?
It was want she wanted to do, and even as she was questioning her response, her arms acted on their own, as if she had no control over them, and soon, they were wrapped in each other’s embrace.
Antonia dearly hoped that nobody came upon them because this could harm her reputation and at the very least, create gossip, which none of them needed right now.
Thank goodness nobody knew where he had slumbered last night, and Antonia could only assume that Philip had snuck away before a maid found them.
He simply held her, arms tight, as if he couldn’t let her go and his heartbeat was steady in her ear. Soon, hers matched his, and her fear lessened to what he experienced. Odd that she feared more than him. As for her panic, it subsided as all tightness left her neck and chest.
He was her calm, still. Yes, he was frightened, but Chedworth was the calm and strength to her soul.
“Are you better?” he asked. His chin rested on the top of her head.
Antonia didn’t want to speak, instead she nodded.
“Do you think you can return below, or do you still need to go outside?”
She wanted to go outside for fresh air, and to simply be alone with him, but it was no longer necessary. “I should return.”
“Then I shall go with you.”
