If one thought long and hard on the matter, it truly made no sense, yet what she needed and wanted came from inside without a rational reason and it happened the moment she had seen him across the ballroom at the Witches’ Ball.
She really should put him from her mind. If he had an interest in her, he would have shown it by now. In the weeks since she had been here, they had barely conversed until a few days ago, when they finally spent time together—in the grove and on the cliff. Neither of which had been his idea.
It was all rather disheartening. Of all the men she had encountered in London or since she arrived here, beginning with the ball, he was the only man to whom she felt an immediate attraction.
Not even Maia’s brothers or cousins were of interest and they were certainly suitable, especially since she would not need to hide being a witch, unlike with most of the gentlemen she met in London.
Maybe there wasn’t anyone for her.
If that were the case, then so be it.
With a sigh, Samantha stepped out and into the darkness of the terrace.
Except, she wanted to one day wed. She wanted to experience love. To love someone who loved her and have children to love. But, if the only man for whom she had developed an infatuation had no interest in her, then she would simply need to look harder come spring.
Or maybe pay closer attention to the bachelor males within Nightshade Manor.
Had she dismissed them as possible husbands too quickly? Neither Maia nor Petra had spoken of their male relatives in a positive manner. Then again, they were relatives, so her friends would not view them in a flattering light, or at least as potential husbands, when others may.
Had she let their opinions color her attitude toward them? Should she have been listening to their music instead of trying to hear if Cassian had any?
Still, there were only three of Maia and Petra’s relatives who would do and that was simply because they were the only ones older than her—Simon Cardwell, who was five and twenty, then there were the twins, Ajax and Ares Norcott who were six and twenty. As she was two and twenty, their ages weren’t so ancient.
“Good morning, Samantha.”
She nearly jumped at the voice from behind and quickly turned to find Ajax exiting the manor along with Ares and their cousin Simon.
Her magic wasn’t such that she could conjure people by simply thinking about them.
Besides, the three were up to something. There was mischief in their music, but that was all she could determine.
“We were talking last night that we have never enjoyed a sunrise,” Simon offered. “We have seen sunrises but never took the time to pause and enjoy them.”
What were they up to?
“We were usually quite deep in our cups when we were out during a sunrise,” Ajax tried to explain. “Having not gone to sleep yet and usually on our way home from a night of…enjoyment.”
“But since this is your favorite time of the day, and Cassian recommends the same, we thought we would join you and watch the sunrise,” Ares explained.
There was some truth to their words but also hidden meaning in their music that she decided not to try and understand.
“I hope you enjoy it for the sun will rise very soon.”
“This is what we do? Stand and watch?” Ajax asked.
“Not from here since we are facing the wrong direction,” she chuckled. “Come with me.” Samantha created a ball of light so that they would not trip in the darkness then led them to the rise on the hill within the Witches’ Garden and to the stone bench.
“Now we stand and watch?” Ares asked.
“It is what I do,” she answered. “And I listen to the music of nature awakening.”
“Music?” Simon asked with curiosity.
She had assumed they knew her gifts, but apparently, they did not or they would already understand. Though in truth, only her friends knew the depth of her hearing because it tended to make others uncomfortable, such as Antonia seeing auras.
“Yes, the birds,” she answered. “And if you listen closely, sometimes you can hear the animals foraging for food.” That was the most that she was going to confess.
As much as she wanted to wonder why the three of them were suddenly here, and to come to know them better, unfortunately, she still pondered where Cassian had disappeared to yesterday and if she would see him today.
