The Carriage Ride

Ballgowns made from silk and other fabulous fabrics took over the dance floor. My mother ushered me around until I collided with a handsome stranger. He bowed and offered me his hand, and with little else to do, I accepted.

With a flick of my wrist, the young man focused entirely on me, and he spilt all the secrets he knew. The juiciest one about my rival acting scandalously with the very man who twirled me around the floor.

After the dance, my magic didn't wear off this guy as quickly as I'd prefered. He followed me until I cast a misdirection spell under my breath, sending him away. A few other young men vied for my attention all of them in want of my dowry. None of them worth my time, so I left the ball in my brother's carriage that took me home.

When I walked through the door, a maid took my coat and informed me my sister had arrived. That explains the loud, raunchy sounds coming from the top floor. I rolled my eyes and climbed the stairs to go to my room and my little black notebook to journal about the ball.

As I spoke, my quill recorded everything down while I paced the carpeted floor. Twenty minutes later, I put everything away in time for my sister to storm into my room wreaking of body odour.

"You shouldn't have left the ball! Mother is in hysterics and thinks you're never going to marry."

"Right because every young woman must marry to be happy. Why can't I be like you with a new gentleman every night, or better yet a lovely young woman? Red lips are in fashion right now, and they look delicious."

My sister groaned, "you need to stop saying such things like that. If mama heard you, she would flip her lid!"

"Oh please, the men want my dowry, and most of the women only pretend to want the men. Now, are you finished lecturing me because I have some gossip you might like?"

She gathered her robe and posed herself on my bed like a cat waiting to hear what I had to share. Her laughter vibrated through my room.

"You could always marry an old man like me then fool around when he dies. I mean it sounds like you have many suitors that would fit your fancy."

"They give you a free pass because you're a rich widow, but they expect me to marry well and have children."

My sister stared at me in disbelief as she stood and came around to sit beside me.

"Marriage is not so bad, you know. I have a fortune, a home and servants. I have my fun, but I am planning to marry again."

"Pathetic you won't use your magic, and you want to marry a mundane. What will he say when your children show signs?"

With a puff of her chest and a great harumph, my sister left my bedroom.

"You shouldn't tease her like that."

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard my brother's voice.

"Then tell me why she chooses to live the way she does."

"She refused to marry a warlock, so mother took her magic from her. She is bound to this house until mother can make you marry the warlock mother is in debt to."

"Who is the warlock you speak of?"

"Lord Swallowsbrook or as you know him, Lord Sheldon, the Duke of Castleridge. Leave with me tonight, and we will never return here, and you will escape our wretched mother's grimy hands."

"You can't be serious-"

"Indeed, I am. My carriage is ready. I have a room for you in my home, and I have a dowry that is more than anything mother could give you. You have one hour to decide, but if you stay in a month, you will be Lady Swallowsbrook."

On that note, my brother turned on his heels and left my room. Ten minutes later, my mother entered my room beaming.

"I have found you a match! You will be a dutchess, can you believe it! Oh, of course, you cannot you probably don't even remember my friend the duke of Castleridge."

My mother prattled on for another few minutes then feigned a headache and left. Anger tried to take hold of me, but sense defeated it and allowed magic to do my packing.

I found my brother's carriage waiting for me downstairs. He assisted me with my trunks, and with one last look at my childhood home, we pulled away.

A month later, I was settled with my brother under his protection and allowed to do as much magic as I wanted. We did not need any servants after I enchanted everything to do their jobs. Our chef kept quiet about my gift and always served the best dishes.

We heard my sister married through the grapevine of society, and our mother was looking for me.

One night at a ball, a fine young man escorted me to the dancefloor and twirled me around. All eyes were on us, and instead of casting a spell on him, I attempted my hand at a regular conversation.

"You're a peculiar young lady, and I'm surprised you didn't try anything on me," he said with a smirk.

"Your effort to provoke me has not gone unnoticed, and neither has your cat-like eyes. You're a warlock," I whispered.

"Let's skip formalities. You are an heiress of twenty thousand dollars or more since I know your brother is a wealthy man. I will not accept your dowry, but I would give you a better life away from your family."

"Sir, what is your name?"

"Lord Sheldon and I am an old friend of your mothers."

My hands went cold, and my mouth suddenly parched.

"I wish to return to my brother."

"He is not the saviour he pretends to be," he spoke in hushed tones as he led me off the floor.

My brother offered his arm and looked worried when he saw my face. We returned home, and he went to bed, but I couldn't sleep. I went to his office and searched every drawer for information but found nothing.

A chest on his bookshelf shuddered. I went to pick it up when I heard someone coming downstairs. Terrified, I grabbed the chest and hid in the closet, enchanting the door, so I could hear what was happening.

The front door opened, and I heard my mother's voice.

"Is she ready?"

"Soon mama she's been practising and has turned into a divine little witch. We almost got caught tonight that damn Lord Sheldon must have hired a sleuth."

"It is no matter her sister has been taken care of. I'll make him disappear then we can finally be free."

I brushed off the fear I felt coming on me and opened the chest. It was stuffed to the brim with letters written in a hand I didn't recognize. My world shattered. The woman who I thought was my mother wasn't even related to me, and neither was my brother.

Sparks flew from the palms of my hand as I came out of the closet and confronted them.

"Liars!"

"You don't know what you're talking about darling, you must-" she stopped when I revealed the chest.

My brother, no Darien, rounded on my and reached for the chest but I backed away.

"You said you put a charm on that box she couldn't open!"

"She's grown since I did that spell ages ago! Keep calm dearest, losing your temper will do nothing."

I tripped on the stairs, and before I knew what was happening, they were on top of me and knocked me out. I woke up in an anti-magic chamber, and I could only see out of my left eye. My head throbbed, and I found it hard to breathe while laying on my back.

Two weeks later I awoke to shouting above me. The door blew open, and in a cloud of smoke, a man charged in and scooped me up. Coughing hurt, but once I was out of the chamber, I healed myself as the man placed me in a carriage. The seat across from me embroidered with a golden L.S. instead of buttons.