This could not be put off and once she stepped into the ballroom, Antonia would know what to expect for the rest of the Season. And, just maybe, she might finally be able to enjoy it as much as her husband had. If not, she would know to constantly remain by his side.
The footman opened the door and Philip assisted her to the walk.
She took a deep breath and allowed him to escort her inside.
Antonia prepared and waited for the onslaught of emotions, but they were only mild.
Of course, they had not entered the ballroom yet, and that would be the true test of whether her gift had finally been masked even though she did nothing intentionally to make it so.
Philip patted the hand that rested on his arm, and they stepped into the Earl of Wharton’s ballroom that was already filled with people who were talking, dancing, and laughing.
She felt them, but not as before. Except, she still had her hand on Philip’s arm.
To truly test, she needed to be away from him.
Antonia stepped away and clutched her hands together.
Philip offered an encouraging nod.
Nothing changed, but perhaps she was still too close to her husband.
Antonia glanced around the ballroom. She could not walk to any spot where his family may be standing as she already knew their effect on her. Instead, she spotted a group of misses, standing and giggling. They were new to London, and she had not seen them before. If they were no different than other debutantes new to London, they’d be experiencing hope and fright, nerves and excitement. A bundle of contradicting emotions for the night and their future.
Antonia walked toward them, putting more and more distance between her and Philip. She glanced back. He watched and his eyes were full of encouragement.
She bit her lip and came to a stop beside those anxious misses and waited.
Yes, their emotions were everything that she had expected, but they were faint and easily ignored if she wished. In fact, she only felt them because she had been searching and waiting. It wasn’t until she looked into the eyes of one of the women that the emotions grew stronger, but not so uncomfortable, and those of her friends completely disappeared.
Relief and hope filled Antonia and she wanted to cry with happiness. This gift could now be used to help.
She turned back to Philip and couldn’t help but smile as tears filled her eyes.
His mother stood by his side, both watching.
Antonia couldn’t help but laugh as she returned to him and then swiped a tear from her cheek.
“I feel, but I do not,” she said. “It is what I had always hoped that my gift could be one day. A gift that I could use for others.”
“As it should be,” his mother said. “I am happy for you.”
“Antonia never really needed the veiling spell, did she?” Philip asked.
His mother chuckled. “No. In fact, had you used the mirror that Lady Samantha found, your gift would have manifested to twice what you experienced before.”
When Samantha had first found the item that may have been used for masking, Antonia had told her that they’d return to it after they were able to free Philip from the spell. Antonia had even forgotten about it until Philip’s mother went to investigate what it was.
“Why?” Philip asked.
“The gods saw it as a rejection, so when an early witch used the mirror to transfer her powers to the object, to be held by her reflection and not her, they replicated back twice as powerful.”
“You could have told us before now,” Philip said.
She smiled. “The veiling that Antonia needed had already been found in you, Philip. Because the two of you were already fated to be together, you calmed her magic before either one of you knew.”
“Had this witch not found her fated mate?” Antonia asked.
“Yes, and she had rejected him. She had been angry that no choice was given to her by the gods and wished to be independent of their interference. Once her spell was complete, not even her fated mate could calm the emotions she experienced from others, and she had to live in seclusion.”
