He was kind, and likely the reason she had fallen in love with him.
Tears welled again, but Samantha swiped them away.
She would not think about what would never be but be comforted that he was here now and that she was not alone.
“Everyone knows what they must do,” Lady St. Alban announced as she returned, Samantha’s mother following.
“Samantha, is there anything you need?”
Cassian looked at her. His silver eyes were intent and focused, searching hers for truth, or maybe distress.
“I am rather hungry,” she admitted, surprised that she could be given the state of her emotions. “And thirsty. I am very thirsty.”
Cassian relayed the message to Lady St. Alban and she promised to return soon with sustenance.
“Oh, Samantha, I wish my magic was enough to free you of this.” Her mother’s hands were clutched, one finger picking at the nail on the other hand, revealing the depth of her concern.
She hated to see her mother in this state especially when she was normally the most composed woman she had ever known.
“Tell her that she does not need to remain, especially since we cannot talk to one another,” Samantha said to Cassian. “She is a powerful witch and they will need her magic.” It would also give her mother something more productive to do than stand around and fidget because she believed that she should remain by her daughter’s side. This was a magical curse, not like when she had been a child, running a fever, and when her mother refused to leave her side.
Cassian relayed the message.
“Yes, I suppose I need to go help. Fretting never solved any difficulty.” Her smile was thin and uncertain. “I will return later, Samantha.”
Samantha wanted to assure her mother that all would be well, except she feared that this may be her permanent state, and she couldn’t tell her directly anyway.
“I wish there was more that I could do,” Cassian offered as he sat beside her.
“Your being here and being able to hear and see me is more than enough.”
“It is odd that I am the only one though,” he voiced something that she had also wondered about but since they did not know anything about the piano or if she could be separated from it, it was impossible to know why it was Cassian. It could be as simple as he was the first to find her and if it had been Petra who first walked into the room it would have been her.
“When magic is involved…” She blew out a heavy sigh without finishing the statement. Cassian knew as well as Samantha that magic could be unpredictable, especially when they knew so little about the artifact.
The silence stretched between them.
Before she had gone to his cottage and asked for a kiss, Samantha rarely had to struggle for a topic of conversation and neither did Cassian.
Now…they were not even comfortable with the other.
What good did it do to have him here if they weren’t going to talk, other than he could speak for her?
“I came to see if there is anything I can do,” Cordelia announced as she entered the room. Cordelia was married to Damon Norcott, Viscount Bentford, who was the son of the Marchioness of Chandos. From what Samantha understood, Cordelia was not magical.
“Eugenia has gone to retrieve food and drink for Samantha,” Cassian answered. “Why are you not searching with the others?”
“The magical vault is crowded with witches and I was too afraid of accidentally touching the wrong thing and cause another difficulty to be solved.” She shrugged.
“You could do me a favor?” Cassian asked.
“You do not need to remain here if there is something you need to do,” Samantha insisted.
He reached over and the warmth of his hand closed around hers.
Samantha let out a breath. It was wonderful to be touched. She feared that it would never happen again.
“I already said that I am not leaving you. I promise.”
