Free Susan Spencer Paul - [Enchanter 01] by Touch of Night

their delay in returning, thanked her ladyship for allowing him the company of her niece for such apleasant length of time, and asked if he might make amends by bringing them refreshments.
    Lady Eunice eyed Niclas up and down, her expression very solemn.
    “Thank you, Mister Seymour, but I believe you’ll be far too busy for such minor activities as fetching drinks. How quickly can you be ready to leave for Wales? I should like the journey to begin no later than three days from tonight.”
    Fifteen minutes later Niclas was ready to thank his hosts and make his good-byes. First, he found Malachi, and pulled him outside to a quiet balcony.
    “What the devil were you about on the dance floor?” the earl asked just as soon as they were safe from being overheard. “I was about to come and rescue you before Miss Linley took you in hand.”
    “Have you thought any further about why I can’t feel her?”
    Lord Graymar shook his head slightly. “I haven’t really had the chance. I’ve been dancing, too, you know, and—”
    “I’ll be leaving for Wales in three days,” Niclas interrupted impatiently. “I need to know before then whether we’re related in any way, or whether she possesses some magic that we aren’t related to or aware of. Can you find out for me?”
    Lord Graymar’s handsome face lit in a sudden smile.
    “You did it, then. You convinced Lady Eunice to take a chance on you. Well done,
cfender
.” He took Niclas’s hand and shook it. “Now we must only hope it does the trick in clearing up your trouble.”
    “Malachi, this is vitally important to me. Can you find out about Miss Linley?” Niclas repeated.
    “I shall do my best,” his cousin promised. “But what’s happened to create such an urgency?”
    Niclas gave a slight shake of his head, still reeling from the discovery he’d made.
    “I can’t feel her at all—you already know that—but there’s more.” He lowered his voice slightly, and drew nearer to the earl. “When I danced with her, held her, my senses were all dimmed. I still felt the emotions of those around me, but it was as it used to be, and I was able to keep it all within my control.”
    Even in the darkness, Niclas could see his cousin’s eyes widen with surprise.
    “Are you certain? Perhaps you were merely confused by the music, or your weariness?”
    “Entirely certain,” said Niclas. “It all came shouting back at me the moment I let her go—then dimmed again when I took her back in my arms. Even her hand upon my arm had an effect, though much less so. Malachi,” he said, gripping his cousin’s arm, “you’ve got to find out why. No one among our relations, not even you, possesses that kind of power.”
    “No,” the earl said slowly. “We don’t. Certainly not when a blood curse is involved. I can’t promise you that I’ll have the answer before you leave for Wales, but I’ll try.”

Four
    T his is ridiculous.” Lady Eunice sniffed loudly and looked down her long, straight nose at the missive she held. “Of course you must stop for tea each afternoon.” Frowning, she thrust the note back at her butler. “I’m surprised that any well-born gentleman would even consider forgoing so necessary a respite merely for the sake of gaining a few additional miles,” Lady Eunice went on, turning to Julia, who sat across from her, pouring tea. “You will arrive in Wales in perfectly good time without making such sacrifices.” She accepted the cup Julia held out to her. “Bring me paper, pen, and ink at once, Puckett, and tell Mister Seymour’s boy to wait for a reply. I shall have it ready for him shortly.”
    Puckett bowed and quit the room.
    “I’m sure Mister Seymour is merely anxious to make good time, Aunt,” Julia said gently, setting the teapot down with care. “And I do think we should try to be sensitive to his feelings on the matter. He’s already been so kind as to give way on so many other of our demands.”
    “Kindness has nothing to