Page 68 of Magic Touch
"I used her masking spell that surrounded them and turned it into a cage. I saw it and made it happen just as you suggested."
"Remarkable. We leave in the morning," she tells the three at the door. "I'm sorry for the short notice, but we must bring this." She points to Trina, whose face is twisted with hatred. "We must bring this to the coven."
Esme eases back from my arms. "She said that he would forgive her if she brought him my blood. She was mad with her purpose, as if she were possessed."
"She didn't say who he was?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
Shaking her head, Esme breathes raggedly. "Just that she wouldn't fail again. He was angry, and the drowning was a warning. She would bring my blood, and all would be forgiven."
Henry says, "Let's get everything packed. Samuel, get the carriage and horses ready. I think we'll need to take the cart we use for market, if that's okay, madam."
Prudence nods. "Get the tarp out, too. Trina can ride like potatoes to Windsor. William, do you think you can hold this cage you made?"
"I believe I can." In fact, it took little effort to manage the bubble around Trina.
Henry, Samuel, and Anne rush out, their bounding footsteps ringing on the stairs.
At the door, Prudence turns back. "You can put her in the foyer for now, William. We wouldn't want to forget her here and leave her to starve to death in that thing."
Trina's ferocious glare turns to panic before she screams and clutches at the cage.
Once Prudence leaves, I push Trina into the hallway and lift the door into place with a thought. Clutching Esme's shoulders, I find it hard to catch my breath. "Are you sure you're unharmed?"
She cups my cheek. "I'm shaken. I'll not lie. But I'm not injured."
Pressing my lips to hers gives me the solace I need. "I'm going to put Trina in the foyer and pack my things. I'm sure Henry is busy getting everything else in order. Shall I help you pack?"
Her smile is like a spring day here at the end of September. "I can manage. Thank you for hearing me, William. Thank you for knowing I needed you."
I take her hand and press it to my heart. "You live in here, Esme. When your heart pounds, mine follows."
Chapter
Eighteen
ESME
Not one of us found any more rest. William tried to convince me to sleep, but when that failed, we got up and packed our things. I’m tired, but my mind will not quiet after such a night.
In the still room, I gather the bottles and jars, and bundle them into a crate. Leaving the cottage is more difficult than I expected. William and I found something beautiful here. Will it carry over to the city? Can our love survive all we must face to stay together?
Prudence calls from the back door as the sky turns from black to gray. “Come and break your fast, Esme.”
With one last look at the stillroom, I lift the crate and return to the cottage.
An hour later, day breaks in full, and Samuel brings the carriage around. Behind him, Henry drives the cart that belongs to the cottage.
"I never suspected a thing," Anne mutters into her handkerchief.
"None of us did." Prudence pats Anne's knee.
Taking one last look at the cottage as we roll down the lane, I try to remember all the good that happened here. Last night’s terrors push forward, and I replay the scene for the hundredth time. "Great Mother, what would anyone want with my blood?"
As old as Prudence is, she has generally seemed spry. Today, she looks tired with dark circles under her eyes. "Blood magic is forbidden and powerful. Maybe he hoped to control you."
"Is it possible that whoever controls Trina has her bespelled in such a way?" William asks as he takes my hand in his. His touch soothes me, and despite the others in the carriage, I allow him to rub the back of my hand and ease my tension. His brow furrows. "Will the coven bind her?"
"That is for the coven to determine, William. If she is found guilty, there will be punishment. I don't know if she is under some spell of dark magic, or if she went willingly to the dark." Prudence's sigh reflects exactly how I feel.
