Page 72 of The Viscount at Midnight
Goodness! Her purpose in being at Nightshade Manor with Petra, Maia and Samantha was for a veiling spell so that she could finally enjoy being in larger groups.
“Had we…”
“Do not think about it, Antonia. You did not, and my daughter, her cousin and friend learned a valuable lesson not to try and alter gifts that have been given.”
This was all too much. A part of her was happy that she could now enjoy Society as Philip always had, and also disturbed by what could have happened.
“If you had not turned me into a wolf, we might be living quite alone.”
“We?” she asked. “We likely would not have met again for I would have been driven away from people.”
Philip chuckled. “The draw and connection were always there, and I would have gone into seclusion with you. We would have likely taken up residence in the run-down house in the forest with only animals for company.”
“There is a house?” his mother asked.
“According to Amarok,” Antonia answered. She hadn’t given thought to the wolf after Philip had begun to change.
“Did he ask you to make him human? Is that how everything came about?” his mother asked.
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Because he was changed once before and being the alpha, sought to do away with every male at Nightshade Manor to have all the women for himself.” Lady St. Alban laughed. “The witches were not happy with his intentions and changed him back into a wolf but also gave him immortality. That is why the forest is off limits.”
“For fear that another witch may come along that can speak to animals, and he might charm her into making him human again,” Philip guessed.
“I am feeling rather lucky that things had not gone worse during my visit,” Antonia said. Had she granted Amarok’s wish…She did not even want to think about it.
“From what my nieces told me, you barely gave his request any consideration.”
“It didn’t feel right. It made me uneasy.”
“And no harm was done.”
“Except spells involving wolves did affect someone,” Philip reminded them.
Antonia took his arm. “I am so sorry, and always will be.”
“I know,” he said gently and leaned closer. “But your guilt is so easy to manipulate,” he whispered into her ear.
Antonia chuckled. “You know you need no manipulation with me.”
He simply grinned.
“Enough!” his mother hissed. “You are not alone.”
“Can we go home now?” Antonia didn’t want to remain at the ball where guests pretended to be what Society expected.
She wanted to be alone with Philip.
A violin tuned and announced a waltz.
Philip held out his hand. “Not until you waltz with me.”
She took his hand and looked up into his eyes. “And I promise, this time I will not run away from you when it ends.”
