Spellbreaker (Spellbreaker Duology, #1)(50)

“You’ve been absolved?”

“Apparently so.”

She nodded slowly. Tugged on the curtain, hoping for more light. She got little. Rain pattered against the carriage roof.

“Will your man be all right out in this?”

“He insists he will be. He doesn’t like tight spaces.”

She smiled at that. “You went to this auction? For an opus, or something else?”

A soft growl came up Bacchus’s throat. “For the same opus that was stolen from him. It contained a master spell I wish to learn.”

“You’ve tested already?” Something in her abdomen squeezed. Master aspectors were eligible for titles. Upper class. Just like the rest of the toffs.

But he shook his head. “Not yet. I wish to advance with that spell in particular. Because I know you’ll ask, it’s an ambulation spell.”

“Ambulation?”

“It would allow me to move the objects around me without touching them.”

She blinked. “That’s . . . fascinating.” To think how much easier it would be to organize the shelves! She wouldn’t even need a ladder. But no amount of aspiring would ever grant Elsie such a spell—spellbreakers were unable to learn aspection.

“I’m sorry you lost,” she offered.

He shrugged. “It is something I’ll revisit after we meet with Master Pierrelo.”

She licked her lips. Glanced to the opposite window. “Are you sure he won’t ask after my certification?”

“Does anyone ask after Mr. Ogden’s?”

“Well, no . . .”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll ensure it.”

“Thank you.” She looked at him, the way he filled a good half of the carriage. “Why is your hair down?”

His eyebrow quirked. “Why are you concerned with my hair?”

She bristled, embarrassed, forcing her eyes away from the long, dark, sun-kissed waves. “Well, you certainly aren’t. It’s hardly fashionable.”

He snorted. “It’s annoying to wear back for long trips. I can’t rest my head against the wall.”

Elsie rested her head back to test the statement. Before her hair could get in the way, however, the back brim of her hat hit it. Yes, that would be aggravating for a trip of this length, wouldn’t it? Elsie hadn’t taken a multiday ride in a carriage since the workhouse had burned down.

She pulled the pin from her hat and removed it, setting it on the bench beside her. She rested back. It wasn’t too bad, but a hairpin jabbed her scalp. “I see what you mean.”

“Hmm.” Bacchus glanced out the window. They were passing by a squat little village with sad houses. Elsie wondered whose stewardship it was to maintain. “Thank you,” he added, “again, for agreeing to this.”

“The women’s school offer was quite clever. But I’ll need to have some sort of new math skill to show off when I return, if it’s to be believed. You also owe me five shillings.”

His lip rose into a half smile. “I’ll see what I can teach you, and you’ll be reimbursed. I’m also more than willing to cover your services, this time around.”

She smirked at that. “Also, you’re welcome.” She stretched out her legs as much as the cramped space would allow. “I admit I’m curious to know about the spell myself. You’ve really no idea what it could be?”

“None.” He sighed. “It’s kept me awake at night, trying to sort it out. If it’s beneath the temporal spell, then it happened in my youth, before . . .” He touched his chest.

“You have seemed tired.”

“I usually am. It’s a symptom.” His eyes took on a brooding look as he dropped his hand.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“I can be sorry if I want to be, Mr. Kelsey. It’s a nice change to have the upper hand, besides.”

His lip quirked again. “I suppose that’s what this is. I’m in your debt now.”

A tremor of guilt wound between her breasts. “I didn’t mean it that way. I . . . want to help you. Truly. I won’t even charge you for it.”

He glanced at her, his eyes almost the same color as the hedges outside. “You are a confusing woman, Miss Camden.”

She mulled that over. “I think if you leave off the part about trespassing, I’m rather easy to understand.”

He chuckled. “I’d have to agree.”

Content, Elsie rifled through her bag for her novel reader. There was just enough light to make out the words.

She finally managed to finish it.





CHAPTER 15



Aspecting was different from other professions in most European countries. It was the only means for a poor person to change his fortune completely.

That is, few members of the lower class could afford the tutelage, let alone the drops each spell cost. But if a man showed enough promise, and showed it to the right people, he could get a sponsor. And if he excelled to mastership, he could make a good deal of money doing magic, and even earn himself a title.

He, Elsie thought, because women of the lower class were never given such opportunities. Only elite ladies were considered for aspecting, as with the Duke of Kent’s daughter.