Thwarting Magic
by: Ann Tracy Marr
Adrian Hughes would love to turn tail and sail back to the Antipodes. He can't. He promised to act as groomsman at James Treadway's wedding. It sounds straightforward, stand up at the altar with the man while he says his vows, but James stupidly blurted out that he likes the sister better. The bride, Margaret, heard. And James can't -- or won't -- understand why she is furious. It is going to be a hell of an arranged marriage. James is cutting off his nose to spite his father. Because Mr. Treadway demanded the marriage, James won't acknowledge that Margaret is sweet. No, she's more than sweet -- she is winsome. Her father pushed the marriage as hard as Mr. Treadway, but Margaret still manages to act the lady. Pretty, even tempered, and whimsical; any man should be proud to have her on his arm. To be her husband. If only Adrian could… No, he can't. There is a vital task to be accomplished. Adrian has to take on the role of hero and that precludes rescuing James' bride. Something is tearing holes in the atmosphere. The little holes burning into the tablecloth illustrate the danger. Is the atmosphere like a sheet -- rip and it falls into rags, or is it like slapping water -- whack, and it heals. If the atmosphere shreds, England might be doomed. A magician himself, Adrian knows the damage is caused by magic. That means a rogue wizard is making trouble, and it is Adrian's quest to ferret that person out. All the signs point to the wizard being female. Worse, Adrian analyzes the signs and they lead to Margaret's home. There is only one conclusion to draw. The rogue wizard must be Margaret or one of her sisters. The oldest, Christine, is a man-eating widow, seductive and wicked. Emma is the youngest and still in the schoolroom. Adrian has little opportunity to get to know her. From what he can see, she promises to grow up a harpy: sullen, sharp, with Margaret's beauty and none of her charm. Neither Christine or Emma can hold a candle to Margaret. So he can't flee to the Antipodes. Adrian can't avoid serving as groomsman at the wedding, awkward as the occasion is. He can't evade the newlyweds in London, though watching James slight Margaret tears his heart. Christine, Margaret or Emma. Adrian has to deduce which of the sisters is the rogue wizard. Then he must neutralize the magic before disaster strikes. All he can envision is people with holes in their foreheads. With magic holes forming in the most unexpected places, Adrian’s quest throws him into the void of a loveless marriage.
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