Philip completely understood the reasoning and even knew how some of his own cousins would react if they had this information, so it was better to keep it from them. “I will say nothing, but I do hope I am near when it happens to my brothers.”
Epilogue
London, England ~ 5 months later
* * *
“I must find a way to sneak you into Tattersall’s,” Philip said as the carriage rumbled along the street. “I will not purchase another horse without you first speaking to them.
Antonia giggled. “Women are not allowed at the auction.”
“Thus, the disguise.”
Philip had truly loved his Arabian and had a difficult time parting from him. But the horse had grown old and was tired of being ridden, and his back ached. All of which he had told Antonia when she asked why Philip believed him to be stubborn, and the horse was now free to graze in the country, which meant that Philip needed a new one to ride.
The carriage pulled to a stop before the London home of the Earl of Wharton and any humor dissolved replaced with a bit of anxiety. This would be the first ball she would attend since she had married Philip.
He sat beside her and squeezed her hand, but it was hard to let go of the nervousness and prepare herself for walking into a room full of people again. She had enjoyed such peace being with Philip and did not want it disturbed.
Gaia hadn’t taken anything that Antonia had been willing to sacrifice, except her empathic powers had dimmed.
At least they had when she was with Philip’s family and her own. They were completely gone where Philip was concerned. With one kiss she could no longer feel what he was experiencing. That was a true gift because she didn’t want to sense him before he spoke. Feeling the emotions of others without their permission was intrusive and she was glad that Philip was now blocked from her.
Her mother said it was because her magic would not work on her fated mate.
However, this would be the first time that she would be in a crowd. What if the powers really hadn’t lessened at all? Maybe they simply weren’t so suffocating because Philip’s family was smaller, and everyone was happy for the most part. Those in Society pretended. What was displayed rarely matched auras and emotions, and Antonia wasn’t certain if she was prepared to feel them all again. To be engulfed until she couldn’t breathe or think.
“I will be by your side,” Philip reminded her.
“I know.” He was her calm, the veiling of the noise.
Antonia had also promised Gaia that she’d not seek veiling if this gift remained as part of her punishment, so was it right to use Philip to block those around her? Except he wasn’t a spell, but her husband, and he had been her comfort last year, so was it the same?
“We can wait and attend another ball, at a later time,” he said.
“If I do not do this now, I will keep putting it off.”
“And, it may not be as bad as before,” he reminded her.
His mother had said the same. Lady St. Alban had gone back to look at the spell and antiquity that had to do with veiling, even though Antonia had begged her not to. She hadn’t wanted to anger Gaia, but Lady St. Alban said that since it wasn’t Antonia searching for the answer, Gaia should not be angry.
However, she would not tell Antonia what she had discovered until after she had attended a ball so that she could be certain. Tonight was that ball.
“My mother may be correct, and all will be well,” Philip reminded her.
If she was, then Antonia would not need to remain close to her husband, hand on his arm so that she didn’t suffer the emotions from everyone in the room.
Antonia took a deep breath and looked into his warm, loving eyes.
Philip leaned toward her and pressed his lips to hers.
Warmth and love filled her as she corrected her earlier thoughts. All of Philip was hidden from her except his love when he kissed and held her, and especially during intimacy. He could take her to spiraling heights before stars burst around them. Or at least they did when she closed her eyes. She craved him and needed him every time they kissed. That pull, need, and desire, stronger then when they had been under a spell, had bound them once they became one.
Antonia placed a hand against his cheek. “Maybe we should return home.”
He turned his head to kiss her palm, then smiled. “After the ball, then we will return home, and if you need to remain in bed for twelve hours, I will be more than happy to stay with you.”
“It is a bargain,” she finally said.
