The Spark of a Feudling by Wendy Knight

Author:Wendy Knight [Knight, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2014-04-12T16:00:00+00:00

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“We are ruined,” Vivian wailed as they escaped to their carriage and the horses raced them toward the townhome. “No one will invite us to anything ever again. We are social lepers.” Turning wild eyes on Ada, she screamed, “Who will want you now?”

Ada barely heard her, despite the sheer volume at which Vivian screeched. She was lost in her own thoughts. What had happened to the boy she loved? When had he become frightening and cold? How could one man change so much over the course of a few months?

“We will have to return to Adlington. In shame.” Vivian broke down in sobs and Ada watched her without pity. She didn’t like her mother. The knowledge should have surprised her, but it didn’t. She was just too tired to deny it any longer. Where she had always craved her father’s affection and his pride, she hadn’t craved anything at all from Vivian — except peace.

“No one will want me, Mother. So all these years, you have been right.”

Vivian wailed harder. Disgusted, Ada turned and stared out the carriage window.

I will be in the garden at midnight.

Once home, Vivian called for a doctor, certain her heart was broken. The doctor gave her something to help her sleep and left, clucking his tongue. Ada sat in the parlor and watched him go. “There will be no more callers, Charity. Thank goodness.”

Charity sat across from her. “You seem relieved.”

“I am.” Except for William. I will miss William. “But this means we will return home. I will have to come up with a new plan to protect you.”

Charity paled and abruptly changed the subject, a tactic that Ada didn’t miss. “Tell me about my brother.”

“He is different, as I said. Angry. And bigger.” She frowned. “How is that possible?”

Charity looked down, trailing her fingers across the soft velvet cushions. Ada noticed her long, pale fingers shaking. “He asked me to meet him in the gardens at midnight.”

Charity looked up, eyes widening. “What did you say?”

“I didn’t get a chance to say anything. I don’t even know which gardens he meant.” Suddenly Ada was overwhelmed with exhaustion. “And… he frightened me, Charity. He is not the Christian I know.”

Charity bit the inside of her cheek, as if reigning in some inner turmoil. “But you are a powerful Edren, Ada. What could he do, against you?”

Ada stared out the window into the darkness. “I could be the most powerful sorceress in the world, and it would mean nothing. I cannot fight him, Charity.”

Charity nodded, relief flooding her delicate features. “I believe it wise that you not go. If your reputation was not ruined already, it would be after a midnight meeting with a dangerous stranger.”

“It doesn’t matter. My mother says no one will want me. I will be free to live my life in Adlington. I will be a warrior, as I was meant to be. I will never set foot in London again.”

Charity gasped, raising a hand to her mouth. “You can’t really mean

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