“Good evening,” said the Magess. “Mistress Clovis, do introduce your friends.”
“Miss Gynelle Retton and Miss Cassia Retton, of Longbourn, in Hertfordshire.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she bowed her head.
“Your cousins, Master Clovis?” She raised one brow.
“Yes, indeed, your Ladyship.”
“Delighted,” she said, not condescending to a curtsy, but inclining her head a degree. Cassia couldn’t help but think the woman was already unimpressed.
The Magess raised her arm, exposing a sinewy hand, boney and riddled with veins almost as blue as her dress. She paused to note the footsteps in the foyer and called “Come in.” They were to have other visitors? Had Cidel known as much? Cassia’s conscience filled with concern. She hadn’t seen her full self in the gown but it was much less conservative than she usually employed.
As soon as she saw them, Cassia registered a very familiar dark head of hair and shrewd eyes. Fortunately a head of tight curls and amiable smile accompanied him.
“Allow me to introduce my two favorite nephews, High Mage Gaius Darkwood, of Derbyshire, and Mage Colonel Phineas Caliazo of London.”
The two gentlemen’s gaze had been focused on their aunt but when they rose from the ceremonious bow, High Mage Darkwood’s eyes met her own. For one moment his shrewd gaze expanded slightly, then returned to their sedate stare.
Master Clovis could not contain himself. He bobbed twice. “Your Ladyship, we have met your esteemed nephews lately in Hertfordshire. Did I not mention it? The Colonel especially has shown exceeding kindness to myself and my dear bride…” he made to continue until the Magess held up her hand.
“Have you gentlemen met these young ladies?”
“Yes, all ma’am,” said Colonel Caliazo, with a friendly smile that outshone his cousin.
Cassia couldn’t believe her eyes. Weren’t they to be in London? Keeping their beloved Blythesome out of her sister’s way? It was one thing to endure Magess Degowyn, now Darkwood too? At least Caliazo’s presence softened the blow.
“I see,” said the Magess, her eyes pulling tight. Was the woman intrigued?
Cassia mused if she could endure such close proximity to this clearly self-important lady womanandact civil to her nephew at the same time. Haughtiness seemed to come to this family in spades, excepting of course, Caliazo.
“Well,” the Magess continued wagging her brows toward them, “let us make our way to the lake. At sunset we will watch a spectacle over the water’s edge and enjoy a picnic.”
* * *
Gaius couldn’t be sure how many friends the new Mistress Clovis had, but he should have realized the visitors would of course be the Retton sisters. It was a miracle that Blythesome remained in London. Truly, for in Aunt Hepsabah’s dresses, he had never beheld any young ladies more beautiful. It had been nearly two months since he had been in Hertfordshire, but the sisters seemed even more pretty than he remembered. The seafoam green of Cassia’s dress complimented her especially; he took care to avoid her eyes.
The group prepared to move outside. Aunt Hepsabah’s shimmering gown seemed to transport her down the hill. For such an aged lady, her person boasted a fine gate. She moved as smoothly as her incessant speech, which allowed for only a “to be sure” and “of course” from Master Clovis.
Master Clovis and his wife simpered at each other, whispering quietly. “Iwashoping she’d invite us to the lake someday,” he said.
“I don’t believe you and I had the pleasure of speaking at the Netherfield ball,” Caliazo said as he offered an arm to Miss Retton. “The lake my aunt speaks of is a quarter mile this way.”
Gaius watched all of this and shook his head, embarrassed that his aunt insisted on the pomp and flare. It wasn’t necessary to watch a lake nymph perform during dinner, and even if her ability was crafting fine gowns, she didn’t have to make all her guests dress in them. A simple round of soup, inside, would have sufficed. Especially if Miss Cassia was one of the guests.
His eyes drew to Cassia, though he had sworn they wouldn’t, and he found she hadn’t followed the Magess with as much alacrity as the others. She probably preferred being alone. He hadn’t forgotten the last time she had refused his arm. But shehaddanced with him, though even that hadn’t helped him learn why his magic didn’t work. He strode quickly to try his hand.
“May I escort you, Miss Cassia?”
She cast her eyes about. “It appears we are the last two.” By some miracle she took his arm, and a warm sensation spread throughout him.
They were touching, elbow to elbow, for the short puff sleeves of the borrowed dress left her arm quite exposed. He ought to try his persuasion on her again. “I trust you find as much delight in the fine gowns and evening entertainment as your sister?” He rubbed his fingers together and tried to direct his power toward her.
“Not in the slightest, sir.” He felt the rush of air come brushing back at himself as she spoke her riposte. She had resisted his suggestion again, somehow. But he hadn’t employed real conviction in his thought, for he himself also believed this whole evening a bit much. Perhaps that could account for why his force hadn’t had an effect.
“I am afraid,” Miss Cassia ventured, “that you and I will never feel the same about anything.” She flashed a smile, which he interpreted as an invitation to reply.
“I pride myself on being taciturn and disagreeable. Perhaps we should try our temperaments against one another?” He spied her lips turn upward and liked the effect of his words.
Her eyes danced and he couldn’t believe that she would, of her own volition, consent to a battle of opinions. This was where he excelled. Not to mention it would help him discover why his magic hadn’t yet worked on her. He nodded.
