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  “Davidson’s a slippery one,” Chad told her. “He keeps popping up, so I can’t help but believe we will see both him and Patrick again.”

  Chad folded her into his arms. He wished he could somehow give her all the knowledge he had about the situation and then caught himself. He could tell her everything, and he would. They didn’t have to hide from the past anymore.

  Something crinkled in Claire’s skirt, and she brought out the letter. “I’d almost forgotten about this with all the other excitement.”

  Chad reminded himself to breathe. He had often wondered about that night, if the impression he had of the draft dodger’s face was true or if he’d filled in the details later. He knew Aidan had never liked him, but he hoped for Claire’s sake that her brother hadn’t conspired with her Aunt Eliza against her happiness. He watched her face as she read the letter aloud.

  Dear Claire,

  I knew someday you’d write me and ask me a question I had to answer. Yes, you and Chadwick Radcliffe were once betrothed. Yes, I conspired with our Aunt Eliza to make sure you never married. It was I who rode out and struck the steamcart, and I had sabotaged it so it would explode. However, I didn’t know you were the passenger until it was too late. Please forgive me, dear sister, and if you somehow see Chadwick Radcliffe, ask him to forgive me, too. He is a good man, and I regret any prejudice I had against him. Also, please beware of our aunt’s associates. They play dangerous games.

  With all my love,

  Aidan

  Claire put the letter down with trembling hands. “My brother almost killed me. And you.”

  Chad smoothed the tears away from her cheeks with his thumbs. “But he didn’t.”

  “No, he didn’t.” She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, but the redness at the end of her nose told Chad she wasn’t through with weeping yet.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I had hoped for answers, but this…” She shook her head.

  “This is a nasty surprise,” he agreed. He pulled her close again and held her until she stopped shaking. In spite of his abilities as a doctor, he had yet to find a cure for heartbreak. Or a way to figure out which truths were worth knowing. But he did know one thing now—people could change, and there was always hope.

  “What do we do now?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?” He was glad she couldn’t see his face, which he was sure must be panic-stricken. “You do still want to marry, don’t you?”

  “Of course.” She pulled back but took his hands in hers. “That was never in doubt, no matter what my family says. But I will have to face my brother and my aunt at some point.”

  “From his letter, Aidan will likely be an ally when we return, and we can handle your aunt. Remember, you’re a war hero now.”

  “Since when are you such an optimist?” she teased, but at least she was smiling again.

  “Since I have good reason to be. Meanwhile,” he tilted her face up, “we have our own plans to make. Like our wedding.”

  “Yes. And more importantly, our future.” Her expression was classic, stubborn Claire, and he’d never loved her more than in that moment, especially when she added, “I’m done with being trapped in the past.”

  “Good, because you have a bright and promising life ahead of you, Doctor McPhee, soon-to-be Doctor Radcliffe.”

  “As do you, other Doctor Radcliffe. My Chadwick.”

  He kissed her, and she kissed him back. Whatever happened next, they would have each other.

  About the Author

  Cecilia Dominic wrote her first story when she was two years old and has always had a much more interesting life inside her head than outside of it. She became a clinical psychologist because she’s fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn’t stop writing fiction. The first draft of her dissertation, while not fiction, was still criticized by her major professor for being written in too entertaining a style. She made it through graduate school and got her PhD, started her own practice, and by day, she helps people cure their insomnia without using medication. By night, she writes fiction she hopes will keep her readers turning the pages all night. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, so she writes under a pen name. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with one husband and two cats, which, she’s been told, is a good number of each.

  You can find her at:

  Web page: www.ceciliadominic.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/CeciliaDominicAuthor

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/CeciliaDominic

  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ceciliadominic

  Look for these titles by Cecilia Dominic

  Now Available:

  A Perfect Man

  Aether Psychics

  Eros Element

  Light Fantastique

  Aether Spirit

  The Lycanthropy Files

  The Mountain’s Shadow

  Long Shadows

  Blood’s Shadow

  Don’t miss the other titles in Cecilia Dominic’s Aether Psychics Series!

  At the Théâtre Bohème, danger decides who takes the final curtain call.

  Aether Psychics, Book 2

  Hailed as the most talented actress of her generation, Marie St. Jean has something more to her ability than mere talent. She loses a bit of her soul to each role. When the ghostly spirit of the theatre promises her an easy fix, she’s tempted by the chance to finally live a normal life.

  Unfortunately, the man she’s drawn to is the last one to settle for normal. But with the Prussians surrounding Paris, there’s no escaping that temptation, either.

  Violinist Johann Bledsoe thought he’d left his disgrace in England, but a murder outside the Théâtre Bohème makes him wonder if he’s been exposed. Another reason not to stick around once the siege ends, even if Marie fascinates him.

  More murders, steam-powered ravens, and past and present secrets bring them closer to discovering just what lurks within the theatre, and who threatens from without. The only way to save themselves is to reveal their darkest shames—and use the Eros Element in a way that has already driven one man to the brink of madness.

  Warning: Processed in a facility where wine is used as currency and dessert is a reward. If you dislike French cooking and attitudes, move along. Things are cooking in this book, and it ain’t Julia Child.

  If love is the ivy, secrets are the poison.

  Aether Psychics, Book 1

  After enduring heartbreak at the hands of a dishonest woman, Edward Bailey lives according to scientific principles of structure and predictability. Just the thought of stepping outside his strict routine raises his anxiety.

  Adding to his discomfort is Iris McTavish, who appears at his school’s faculty meeting in place of her world-famous archeologist father. Worse, the two of them are to pose as Grand Tourists while they search for an element that will help harness the power of aether.

  Iris jumps at the opportunity to prove her worth as a scholar—and avoid an unwanted marriage proposal—while hiding the truth of her father’s whereabouts. If her secret gets out, the house of McTavish will fall into ruin.

  Quite unexpectedly, Edward and Iris discover a growing attraction as their journey takes them to Paris and Rome, where betrayal, blackmail and outright theft threaten to destroy what could be a revolutionary discovery—and break their hearts.

  Warning: Allergen alert! This book was produced in a facility that handles copious amounts of wine, tea and baked goods. May contain one or more of the following: a spirited heroine, a quirky hero, clever banter, interesting facts both made-up and historical, and lots of secrets. It is, however, gluten free.

  eBooks are not transferable.

  They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction. Th
e names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

  11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

  Cincinnati OH 45249

  Aether Spirit

  Copyright © 2016 by Cecilia Dominic

  ISBN: 978-1-61923-530-4

  Edited by Holly Atkinson

  Cover by Kanaxa

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: May 2016

  www.samhainpublishing.com

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  About the Author

  Look for these titles by Cecilia Dominic