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way. Though bruised and filthy, he smiled through his tears. “Aunt Tory!” His eyes were the same deep blue as hers. He opened his left hand and reached toward her, swaying badly. “I’m scared!”
    Tory cringed. “Hang tight to the bush, Jamie! We’ll have you safe soon.”
    He gripped the shrub again, his face woebegone. “Soon!” His voice almost vanished in the wind.
    As earth crumbled under Tory’s left hand, Edmund exclaimed. “Lady Victoria, come back from there! You can’t do anything, and it’s not safe.”
    “Safe enough. Jamie knows I’m here. I won’t abandon him.” And if he fell— Her heart twisted with agony. It would be an unforgivable betrayal if she was too cowardly to bear witness to his last moments.
    After a long pause, he said, “Very well, if you’re sure. I’ll join the men. When ropes are brought, they’ll need someone to go down the cliff and bring the child up. I’m lighter than most, so perhaps I can help.”
    “Work quickly!” She glanced over her shoulder, fighting tears. “He can’t hold on much longer.”
    “Be careful, Lady Victoria.” Edmund headed toward the rescuers while Tory turned back to Jamie. Was the shrub starting to pull out from his weight?
    She pushed herself up on her hands for a better view. The soil shifted menacingly. Panic shot through her—until she remembered her despised new ability. If the ground collapsed, she should be able to catch herself and float to safety. Because of her unwanted magic, she was the one person present with nothing to fear.
    Ropes had arrived, and Geoffrey was being lashed into a crude harness. She frowned. Of course her brother was frantic to rescue Jamie, but he was tall and broad. Too heavy for the fragile cliff edge. She uttered a desperate prayer as he lowered himself over the brink, his ropes secured by half a dozen men. If Geoffrey were to fall …
    The onlookers gasped as earth collapsed under her brother’s weight. The ropes jerked Geoffrey to a halt and he slammed into the cliff face with bruising force. Though the harness saved him, dirt and pebbles pelted downward, striking Jamie.
    The child shrieked and almost lost his grip as his father was pulled to safety through a shower of continually falling debris. “Papaaa! PAPAAA!”
    Tory could no longer control her tears. Jamie couldn’t hold on much longer, and she knew with ghastly certainty that the men would never reach him in time.
    She was the only one who could save her nephew.
    The knowledge was paralyzing. If she succeeded, she would stand revealed as a mageling in front of everyone important in the county. She would lose everything.
    Tory whimpered. She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t. She wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to float in the stiff wind. One of the fierce gusts might crash her to the rocks below.
    The wind stilled for a moment and she heard desperate sobs from Jamie. She bit her lip until it bled, knowing she had no choice. She must try to save him.
    If she didn’t try, no one would know of her cowardice. But Tory would. And she would never, ever forgive herself.
    With everyone’s attention on the rescuers, she might be able to reach Jamie without being seen. Praying that her mysterious, untrained power wouldn’t fail, she turned and fearfully backed into the abyss.

 
    CHAPTER 3

    When Tory lowered herself over the cliff, she thought her magic would support her. But to her horror, when she stepped off her footholds she plunged downward with terrifying speed. She gave a strangled shriek and clawed frantically at the cliff face, breaking her nails on the dirt and stone.
    Click! She halted in midair. Her hands dug into the cliff, but it was magic that supported her.
    She drew a shuddering breath as she looked down at the smashing waves. Her slippers had fallen off and there was nothing but air between her stockinged feet and the sea. Hastily she raised her gaze to Jamie. His eyes were screwed shut and tear tracks marred his round