“Much of the same except it is also a time to set intentions and an excellent time for banishing anything negative, breaking curses, or using a spell that needs the additional energy that comes from the eclipse,” Samantha answered.
Cassian had been around witches most of his life but it had only been in the last few months that particular attention had been paid to the phases of the moon.
“Do you intend on casting a spell?” he asked with a smile.
“That all depends,” she teased. “I intend to seek guidance and clarity while setting my intentions.”
He wanted to ask if she knew what those intentions were. It was something witches often talked about but he never really understood. Intentions for what?
He was certain Samantha would explain without condescending, which he feared may come from those who he had been raised with. He could already hear Gretchen demanding to know why he waited so long to ask. And, if anyone heard him question Samantha directly, they may assume that his intentions were more than he let on.
Malcolm certainly would and Cassian did not want to be warned away a second time.
“I still do not see why we cannot celebrate Haloa and then the lunar eclipse,” Ajax demanded, reminding Cassian that he was not alone with Samantha. “Or we can begin the celebration of Haloa, do the meditation for the eclipse, then finish celebrating Haloa.”
“Because you would be too deep in your cups by the time the eclipse happened,” Petra chastised.
“I do not see why that should matter. I do not need to meditate nor do I have magic that needs to be renewed.”
“Chedworth needs to prepare and he will not be able to do so if all of you are drinking to excess. It will make it impossible for him to concentrate or reflect as he should,” Maia reminded.
“I still think it’s foolish,” Ajax grumbled.
“Do not let your mother or mine hear you say such,” Petra scolded.
“You are correct. I just hate that it will take so long to get to the most enjoyable part of the evening.”
“I know for a fact that your evenings rarely start much earlier when in London, so you will survive a late evening here.” Maia was not going to let her cousin rush through the night.
Because festivities were put off for so late the following evening, the men were even more determined to remain awake all night so that they could sleep all day. Cassian remained with them, and so did most of the women. They talked, teased, laughed, remembered childhood, and gossiped about magical mishaps, especially those that involved Harcourt’s wife, Clara, who had a tendency of causing him to disappear and reappear in another location.
Her face grew bright red, but it was good-natured teasing and now she only sends him away when he is bothering her, which often lands him in the middle of the lake on the estate, depending on her level of irritation.
Cassian’s heart ached to watch his friends with their spouses and he did not need to have Antonia’s gift for reading auras or Samantha’s for hearing music to experience the warmth of their love.
A love that he may never have because he could not afford to give his heart to any woman or ask for hers. At least not until he was wealthy enough to support a lady in the manner in which she was accustomed, such as the daughter of a wealthy earl with mahogany hair, light blue eyes, a gentle soul, warm heart, and perfect kissable lips.
Such a wife would fit in well in his world. Her friends were already here and she knew most everyone and was comfortable in the teasing and laughter.
Samantha was perfect and he was far from worthy of her.
“We have been up long enough,” Petra complained and rose from the settee. “Even if we wanted to sleep the day away tomorrow, I am certain that mother will send servants to wake us so we can finish preparing for…well…everything.”
“No servants,” Simon said.
Petra frowned.
“Boxing Day. No servants and why the kitchens were so busy today, and yesterday.”
“All the more reason that mother will be banging on our doors,” she grumbled and left the room, followed by Maia and Samantha.
Cassian decided that he too should find his bed. Tomorrow would be busy, once everyone was awake.
Samantha started for the stairs then glanced at the clock, shocked to realize that they had been up most of the night. Then again, when one was gathered with friends and family who love each other and enjoy playful teasing and sometimes embarrassing a sibling because of an incident when they were younger, it always made the time go more quickly.
Thank goodness Malcolm had not shared any stories of her or she may have never forgiven him.
Since it would be only an hour before the sun rose, Samantha turned from the stairs and exited to the terrace and the quietness of the early morning.
