You were the one that gave me the answer. Albray referred me back to the vial’s housing. Such a big case for such a small vial, don’t you think?
‘A hidden section then?’ My fingers traced the edge of the padded velvet surface in which the vial lay, until I felt a hard section and pushed down, whereupon the tray lifted to expose a compartment. I was amazed to see the contents. ‘Money, in many currencies; jewels; a bottle of insect repellent; a map to the mountain of the Star-Fire’s origin.’
Well, I think that confirms Douglas’ intentions, don’t you?
I looked at Albray, a huge smile on my face. ‘I have a mission.’
Having been something of an adventurer himself, Albray was excited for me. Yes, you surely do.
Lord Hamilton’s funeral, wake and will reading were terribly unpleasant affairs. His family resented my presence and if the Cavandishs had not been there to support me, I would not have been able to see it through. The Hamilton family were fearful that Douglas might have already altered his will to accommodate me and when that did not turn out to be correct, they assumed I hadn’t got my hooks into the viscount fast enough. Little did they know he’d already given me his greatest and most secret treasure.
There was a certain freedom in knowing about my private insurance policy. If I did choose to marry Devere, all that was mine would become his, but as nobody knew about the contents of the red book, it would remain my secret nest egg. I could make it to the Holy Land on my own, and yet I couldn’t deny my desire to have a companion to share my journey. Clarissa had shared Douglas’ journey; at the end of their adventuring days they were able to sit down, reminisce and pen their discoveries together. Maybe I was a romantic after all.
Albray insisted on leaving the question of marriage entirely up to me. Still, my secret inheritance ensured that I could not be pushed into anything, which I felt certain had been Douglas’ intention when he’d given me his gift.
The universe always provides, he had written on the back of the map for my treasure quest; unlike most treasure hunts, mine was to replace a treasure, not to steal it. That dear, sweet old man had known that, with his gift, he was giving me a chance to fulfil all my desires! It was a favour I could never hope to repay. I wished Lord Hamilton all speed to his next soul quest and all the happiness, recognition and fulfilment he so richly deserved when he got there.
Once Lord Hamilton was peacefully resting alongside his good wife, I ceased to wear black, an indication to Mr Devere that we were at liberty to resume our talks.
As soon as word reached the Devere household that I was no longer in mourning, my suitor left a calling card with the Cavandishs steward, along with an invitation to join Mr Devere for an early walk in the park the following day. It was now only one week before our relatives were to wed and set off for France. I was only just coping with the pressure of the big decision I had to make—would I marry this week?
‘He’s here.’ Susan was at the window of the upstairs drawing room, keeping watch. ‘And Lord Devere and my dear sister-to-be are with him.’
‘Oh, wonderful.’ I sat down. ‘No pressure, of course.’
‘Last time you spoke with Mr Devere you weren’t under any pressure…’ Susan reminded me about the kiss that had happened with no prompting from anyone.
His lips had not been far from my thoughts since that moment. They were, in fact, the only incentive I had for the meeting this morning—apart, of course, from the small matter of placating my father, which I couldn’t decide if I wanted to do in any case. I had discovered via the grapevine that my father had not yet taken legal steps to disinherit me, so I still had the option of making Mr Devere my lord and baron.
The Devere party were led to the drawing room, and there were greetings all round.
‘Shall we depart?’ Mr Devere turned straight to me once the pleasantries were over and offered me his arm.
‘I am ready.’ I was very pleased to take told and be led out of there. I had no desire to sit around taking tea, while my mind pondered the discussion we had to have.
‘I must apologise, Miss Granville,’ he said as soon as we’d left the house. ‘I had planned to come alone. However, it seems that no one is prepared to wait to hear the outcome of our meeting one moment longer than they have to.’
This was a subtle way of letting me know that our families expected an outcome by the end of our walk. ‘You would think that they have enough cause for excitement.’
Mr Devere stopped to give me an assessing look. ‘You don’t seem distant.’
I smiled. ‘I do believe you made that impossible at our last meeting, sir.’
He gave a broad smile in return. ‘It does seem that I owe you another apology, for taking such a liberty…but at the time I feared I would not get another opportunity.’
‘I feel one only needs to apologise when one has something to be sorry for.’ I let him off the hook gladly. ‘I know that I was not offended and I am not remorseful, Mr Devere. Are you?’
‘No, but I have found my forthright manner can be too much for some to tolerate.’
‘That is what I like most about you,’ I assured him, and he was much relieved to hear it.
We crossed the street and entered Hyde Park.
‘Were you serious about travelling,’ I got straight to the point, ‘or were you merely aiming to sweep me off my feet?’
‘Name the destination and I will take you there,’ he offered grandly.
I struggled to suppress my enthusiasm, sucking in my cheeks to keep from yelling out my joy. ‘And why should you go to such lengths to secure my happiness?’
‘To tell you the truth, Miss Granville,’ he said lightheartedly, ‘I don’t have anything better to do with my life at present. As you do have things you wish to achieve, then I shall help you achieve them.’
‘In return for your future lordship,’ I concluded.
‘Your title and estates can pass straight to our children, for all I care.’ He stopped still to look at me earnestly; his given name obviously suited him well. ‘All I want from this arrangement is the pleasure of your company for the rest of my life. And if that means that I have to follow you to the ends of the earth, then, so be it.’
My heart was touched, but I kept my head. ‘I fear that my company is not always as pleasurable as you suppose.’
‘We are none of us perfect,’ he replied.
How much did he know about my talents? Only what Lady Charlotte had told him all those years ago? Father certainly wouldn’t have mentioned them, for fear of scaring off a perfectly good suitor. ‘But you must understand that I am different to most people, Mr Devere.’
‘I know you are a very powerful psychic,’ he whispered, and we resumed our stroll. ‘Lady Charlotte implied you would be. Simon also told me the tale of how you saved the Cavandish family from certain ruin at the age of eight. I can’t imagine what you are capable of now, but I would feel very privileged to know.’
Was he perfect in every way? Was there nothing about me that would scare him into retreat? It was a dream come true—I kept waiting for some small difficulty to bring the whole fairytale crashing down. ‘I could reach into your mind at any given moment and know your thoughts, search your memories…do you not find that daunting?’
‘Did it scare Lord Hereford?’ he asked in good faith and then realised his query could be taken the wrong way. ‘I didn’t mean to imply that the news might have been the cause of his—’
‘I understood your meaning.’ I set him at ease. ‘Lord Hereford had already tarnished his reputation in the House of Lords and so my pursuits could do him no harm.’
I do believe Mr Devere was beginning to see why Lord Hamilton had been my first choice of husband. ‘I have no desire to be remembered for who I was.’ Mr Devere wanted to put my fears to rest on that count also. ‘I’d much prefer to be remembered for what I achieved.’
I was moved. I felt like I was staring at Lord Hamilton, forty years ago. ‘Then we are agreed
, Mr Devere.’ I smiled in encouragement, to confirm my acceptance of his proposal.
‘And, after we see your father, I may make the announcement?’ he asked, to be sure that he understood me correctly.
‘Personally, I don’t care what my father thinks.’ I tested Mr Devere to find out how much he cared about the money.
‘I’ll just make the announcement then, shall I?’
He didn’t even blink at the prospect of offending my father. Heaven help me, I thought, this must be love.
Susan had taken the liberty of seeing to all of my wedding arrangements, just in case. The dress, she’d never cancelled from my first-planned wedding. Mr Devere and I had all the same guests as those couples we were to marry alongside and they didn’t even have to add two seats to the wedding table, as we had been in the wedding party in any case. Susan and her Lord Devere had booked an extra coach and two extra first class ferry tickets from Dover to Calais in northern France as their wedding gift to us.
There had only been one problem with marrying at the same time as our kin, and it was that the date was not the best day in the month we might have wed, if we intended to exercise our marriage vows on the night of the wedding. I had never thought to broach such an issue with a man before, but as I was to be a wife, I considered that I would have to get used to it. My betrothed took the news awfully well, claiming that he would never press me on that front. Still, I assured him that by the time we reached the chateau my time would have passed. I had no desire for him to think I was opposed to the idea of my wifely duties and I felt mature to have confronted the issue and avoided any chance of a misunderstanding. I considered that I might turn out to be rather better at this marriage business than I had imagined.
The wedding dress Susan had selected suited me very well. I trusted her judgement more than my own when it came to important decisions about attire.
There was a woman staring back at me from my mirror, a woman who was about to embark on an amazing adventure. I was so glad to be her.
Normally, a bride would be getting a talk from one of her parents at this point, but my mother was no longer with us and I had yet to speak to my father. It didn’t appear as if he was going to break the silence either. My treasure stone itched my hand as if requesting the summons.
‘Albray,’ I complied. ‘Albray, Albray.’
The knight leant against the wall staring at me for the longest time.
‘Please say something.’ I begged for an opinion.
Don’t marry him, he appealed in all seriousness. Marry me.
He broke into a smile and I knew he was joking. ‘I thought you were serious!’ I held my hand to my chest when I realised he was not. ‘I’m nervous enough without you giving me heart failure.’
You look absolutely beautiful. Danu shines through you this day. He pushed himself away from the wall and approached to look into the mirror with me. If I still lived, I’d marry you myself.
Albray had no reflection, and that was probably for the best—literally, I could never see us together. Albray would have made a fine husband. ‘Did you ever marry?’ I had struck a chord; he distanced himself from me.
The woman I loved was not the marrying kind.
At first I thought he meant she’d been beneath him, but I couldn’t imagine Albray thinking that way and he did not sound ashamed of his love, but proud. I thought it more likely that she was an exulted being in his eyes. I wanted to ask him who she was and what had happened to her, but clearly he did not want to speak of it, and I had no desire to try exerting my will over him.
She was Lillet du Lac of the House del Acops.
The House of the Waters. I noted the English translation. Both ‘del Acops’ and ‘du Lac’ were titles cited in French Arthurian romances. Lancelot du Lac translated to Lancelot of the Lake, as in the Lady of the Lake and the Isle of Avalon. ‘Was Lillet a priestess of some kind?’
Albray nodded gravely. ‘And a Grail princess…much as you are.’
I scoffed at his exaggeration, although I thought it very flattering. ‘Did she love you too?’ The pain in his expression made me wish I hadn’t asked and I quickly changed the subject. ‘So you have no advice for me this day?’
He shook his head. I can advise you along the way. He reminded me that he was not being left behind. But when it comes to affairs of the heart, as I have already warned you, I will be useless to you.
I recognised Nanny’s knock and I bade her enter. She fiddled with my attire, admiring my appearance, and yet she seemed a little awkward, as if she were pondering words she did not want to speak.
‘If your mother had been here today,’ she began, and I knew at once where the conversation was heading.
I was quick to save her the trouble.
Unlike most unmarried women my age, I actually knew what sex entailed. Love affairs are far and away what most people think about, most of the time, and being a mind-reader since birth, well…need I say more? Women of my age, gender and marital status were banned from reading any literature on the subject, including romance novels, but thankfully Susan and I had not had that kind of censorship. We were both fully aware of what marriage entailed, but having romanticised the issue in so many of our little fantasies, I feared that the big event could hardly live up to our expectations. I couldn’t honestly say that I wasn’t curious, if just one little kiss could cause me distraction for weeks and get me to the altar!
FROM THE TRAVEL JOURNALS OF MRS ASHLEE DEVERE
My wedding day held many surprises.
My father awaiting me at the church door was the first shock of the day. ‘I know you will be happy,’ was all he said before he smiled at me. It wasn’t a forced smile either, although there was a certain sadness underlying it. Could it be that my father actually did care for me and was a little sentimental about my departure from his house and name? Not that I had ever been under the same roof with him for any length of time; he was probably more upset that the Granville estates would henceforth be Devere-Granville estates. In any case, Father performed his duty at my wedding with no fuss or bother, which was a great relief to me.
The huge wedding service exceeded my tolerance for church by well over an hour, but was made bearable by the smiling faces of the five people alongside me. More love than I had ever felt was emanating from the young men and women who stood with me before the altar, and my heart couldn’t help but be swept up in the euphoria. I felt my heart energy swelling in my chest and as I looked to my new husband I felt my heart centre connect with his and that was the moment our souls bonded and I began to fall in love with him.
In the carriage on the way to the wedding breakfast Mr Devere asked about our travel plans beyond France. I was not yet ready to disclose my true destination to anyone, so I said that I was still contemplating destinations, as there were so many I was interested in. ‘India, Persia, South America, Van Diemen’s Land!’ I listed just about every place but the one I truly did want to visit, and laughed when my husband appeared wary of my choices, all the while stating he’d follow me anywhere.
At the breakfast there were many lovely toasts and speeches made by the parents of the newlyweds, but none was so surprising as that of my father, who managed to sound genuinely affectionate and proud of me.
Thus, after the formalities were out of the way and we were at liberty to mingle with our guests, I thought I’d seek Father out and make my peace with him. I was so full of love and excitement that I didn’t wish to be at odds with anyone. Still, before I found him, another dear friend caught my attention.
‘Lady Charlotte.’ I fell on one knee to embrace her where she sat. ‘I’m so glad you could come.’ I wish I could have said she looked well, but her soul-mind was growing tired of being restricted by an ageing vessel.
‘Mr Devere’s memory proved accurate after all.’ She smiled, pleased for me, and suppressed a cough.
I had forgotten that I consulted her about Mr Devere, but I now suspected that she’d known our marriage was
destined all along. ‘As a prophet you are second to none,’ I whispered, to her amusement, although she shook her head to disagree.
‘Your career will far outshine my own,’ she said in all seriousness. ‘You have made a good match.’ She glanced over to Mr Devere. ‘He is very much in love with you,’ she said. ‘Never doubt that he is on your side.’
‘I don’t doubt that any more,’ I told her, as I stood once more and looked for my father. I spotted him in a quiet corner of the room, chatting with two gentlemen. Two gentlemen that I recognised, for they were the ones who were trying to warn off Lord Hamilton. ‘Who are those two gentlemen?’ I pointed them out to Lady Charlotte, my heart beating in my chest. What were they doing here? Why were they talking to my father? What was their interest in me and my marriage to Devere?
‘I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.’ Lady Charlotte strained her eyes, but chances were she couldn’t see them properly. ‘Perhaps they are guests of the Devere family?’ she suggested.
I looked around for Mr Devere and waved my husband over when I spotted him. ‘Did you invite those gentlemen?’ I pointed to where my father stood talking with the men in question.
‘I don’t believe so,’ he replied. ‘As far as I know the wedding guest list was complete before we decided to join the festivities.’
This was quite true. I wanted to tune into my father’s thoughts and find out what he was thinking right now, but with so much noise and so many people in the room I doubted I’d have any success. I was too excited also, and my emotions were all over the place. ‘I’m going over there.’
The fire and fear underlying my words caused Mr Devere to pull me up. ‘Why don’t I find out who they are?’
‘Where are you going?’ Susan distracted both of us. ‘It’s time for the cake.’
She motioned to the huge three-stepped pyramid covered in white icing and flowers as it was wheeled into the room on a giant trolley. Three pairs of miniature newlyweds sat on the highest layer of the cake.
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