Sarah gave an inward sigh and strove to maintain her calm. She knew he was angry to find her having tea with the Earl of Llew, especially in light of the fact that they were both seeking information about the cythraul. When he’d told her about the demon, Lord Graymar had been completely forthcoming about everything, and everyone, involved in the matter. And perhaps he assumed that she was reneging on her promise regarding her book. But that wasn’t the case at all, as she would explain when the chance arose. She would gladly put off her interview with Lord Llew until the cythraul had been dealt with. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t further the man’s acquaintance.
All of this she would tell Lord Graymar. At the moment, however, she only wished to diffuse his fury and preserve her goodwill with the Earl of Llew.
“We are very well, thank you, my lord,” she said, setting the teapot down and moving toward him. “I believe you are already acquainted with our guest, Lord Llew?”
Lord Graymar’s eyes glittered in a frightening manner as he turned his gaze upon the Earl of Llew.
“Yes,” he murmured. “We know each other well.”
Lord Llew smiled so widely that Sarah almost thought he might laugh. “Very well indeed, Miss Tamony. Since we were but young lads. We used to go fishing together. It’s good to see you again, Malachi. You’ve been busy since coming to Town, I hear.”
“As have you,” Lord Graymar replied icily. “Enough so that it should have been perfectly clear to you that you were not to involve yourself with Miss Tamony and her family.”
Sarah gave a start at the words, inappropriate as they were for a social gathering, and glanced to where her mother and Aunt Speakley sat, expecting to find them aghast.
“Oh, Lord Graymar, you’ve done it again,” Sarah said with dismay, seeing that her parent and relatives were frozen in place. “I wish you wouldn’t. You know that I can’t like it.”
He ignored her. “What are you doing here, Morcar?”
“Enjoying a cup of tea and the pleasant company of these lovely ladies,” Lord Llew replied easily. “And lest you think I forced my way in through magic, allow me to set your mind at ease. I was invited in the usual mere mortal fashion.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Sarah put in quickly. “Indeed, we owe Lord Llew a debt of gratitude. He escorted Philistia safely home after Julius left her alone at Hookham’s Lending Library. We don’t know where Julius is or why he did such a thing, but we’re terribly grateful to His Lordship for rescuing her.”
Malachi’s eyes narrowed. “How convenient that you should happen to be present, my lord. What did you do to send Julius out of the way so that Philistia would require your aid?”
“Really, Lord Graymar,” Sarah said reproachfully. “What a terrible thing to insinuate, as if Lord Llew should do such a thing. We were very fortunate that he did happen to be there.”
“Be quiet, Sarah,” he ordered, surprising her. It was the first time he’d spoken her Christian name, though he didn’t seem to realize it. “You don’t know this devil as I do.” To the Earl of Llew he said, “What did you do with Julius Tamony?”
But Lord Llew wasn’t paying him any attention. He was gazing at Sarah with discomforting deliberation. Slowly he began to move, making a circle about the pair standing in the middle of the room, looking at her. She felt Lord Graymar’s hand press against the small of her back, both a warning and a comfort.
“Well, well,” Lord Llew said at last. “So Miss Sarah Tamony is one of our sympathetics, is she? I should have realized it before now. I suppose you’ve placed her beneath your protection, have you, Malachi?”
“I have,” Lord Graymar stated flatly, his hand sliding until his fingers curled around her waist.
“Pity,” the Earl of Llew said, and gave Sarah a flashing smile. “I had hoped to try my charms on her when we met for our interview, but I suppose I shall have to forgo such pleasure.”
Sarah frowned, wondering what he could possibly mean, for surely he wasn’t so foolish as to think she’d let him ravish her. But his meaning was evidently clear to Lord Graymar, for the hand moved from her waist to take hold of her forearm and draw her up against his side.
“She is protected by magic beyond my own,” he said in warning tones. “The spirits have given her immunity for reasons of their own. But if any of our kind should make an attempt to use their powers on her, that wizard or sorceress will answer to me, and the Guardians will judge me accordingly.”
Lord Llew’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I see,” he said. “You’ve declared it openly, then? I confess to being surprised.” His gaze ran over Sarah once more, consideringly, from top to toe. “She’s lovely, of course, and the Seymours have never seen the impropriety of mixing with mere mortals, but for you, Malachi, the Dewin Mawr, I would have thought—”
“I don’t wish to hear what your thoughts are,” Lord Graymar snapped furiously. “You’re going to depart just as soon as I’ve released the others, and thereafter leave the Tamony family alone. Completely alone.”
“That’s impossible,” Lord Llew replied. “I’m engaged to take Miss Tamony and her delightful cousin driving tomorrow afternoon. And it’s more than likely that we’ll be in attendance at several of the same gatherings during the Season. Surely you wouldn’t wish me to ignore the Tamony ladies? How would I explain such behavior to Lady Tamony? To Miss Philistia?”
“He speaks with a measure of sense, my lord,” Sarah said calmly. “I don’t think it’s necessary for Lord Llew to have to avoid us. There’s no harm to be done by the acquaintance, after all, and just because there’s been such a lengthy enmity between the Seymours and Cadmarans doesn’t mean that my family need be involved on one side or the other.”
“You must trust me in this matter, Sarah,” Lord Graymar told her, his tone allowing no argument. “To believe a Cadmaran is to believe a snake. He’d destroy you if it furthered his purposes. He’d use anyone—Julius or Philistia, even your parents—to get what he wants. And then he’d destroy them. Because he despises mere mortals, don’t you, Morcar? You’d love nothing better than to rid the world of every one of them. Save that you can’t, for then you’d have no one left to serve you.”
The Earl of Llew made a scoffing sound. “What rot,” he said. “You’ve grown fanciful in your dotage, Malachi. I hope you’ll pay him no mind, Miss Tamony. Jealousy has clearly sent his sense of reason fleeing. If I bore hatred for your kind, I scarcely would have bothered bringing your cousin home. I certainly wouldn’t have agreed to give you an interview. In truth, Miss Tamony, he wants to frighten you away so that you’ll not wish to speak with me of my family’s history. Isn’t that what truly worries you, Malachi? We all know that you’ve put a stop to Miss Tamony’s research, with a few exceptions like myself, and you’d be pleased to put an end to those, too.”
A frisson of emotion ran through Lord Graymar’s body, so intense that Sarah felt it through the fingers gripping her arm. The room shook slightly, rattling the windowpanes and whatever small objects were set about the room. When he spoke, she scarcely recognized the dark, dangerous voice as his own.
“You will leave, Morcar, and stay as far from the Tamonys as you can. I vow before the Guardians that if you ever bring harm to any of them, I shall exact repayment in kind.”
The Earl of Llew gave him a look of such hatred that it took Sarah aback. He was a different man from the one who had so fully charmed them over the past hour. As he moved back to stand in the spot he’d been in earlier, before the others had fallen beneath Lord Graymar’s spell, he said, “You’re a fool, Malachi. You’re so captivated by the woman—a mere mortal—that you’ve become blind to what’s taking place around you.”
His tone made Sarah shiver. “What does he mean?” she asked. “Surely not the cythraul?”
“No,” Lord Graymar said, glancing at her before returning his gaze to the Earl of Llew. “He refers to someone else.”
“You told her about the demon?” Lord Llew replied with disbe
lief. Then he laughed. “Have you lost your senses, telling a mere mortal—telling her—about such a thing?”
“Why shouldn’t he tell me?” Sarah said, fully insulted. “Why does everyone suppose I’m not trustworthy? And you said that you were willing to give me an interview.”
“That’s an entirely different matter, Miss Tamony,” said Lord Llew. “The history of our kind is nothing compared to the importance of the cythraul. No mere mortal could possibly understand it. But Lord Graymar seems to have forgotten just how vital the demon visitation is. Have you received any signs yet, Malachi? Or have you been too busy squiring a beautiful woman about London to even look for them?” He leaned forward, taunting, “Nothing has been allowed to cloud my vision, for which I’ve been well rewarded by the spirits.”
“Hush, Sarah,” Lord Graymar said when Sarah opened her mouth to retort that they’d had a clue from the spirits as well. She scowled, but he ignored her and asked, “Where is Julius Tamony, Morcar?”
Lord Llew smiled in an unpleasant manner. “You’ll find out easily enough. Don’t be alarmed, Miss Tamony. Your brother will be home soon, unharmed. Believe me when I tell you that he’s far too useful to be mistreated. At least for now. When you wish to speak with me, send word. Lord Graymar won’t be able to stop me from speaking to you, so long as you’re brave enough to do so.”
“We shall see,” Lord Graymar said tightly. He released Sarah and turned her to face him, then gave a wave of one hand. Addressing Lord Llew, he said, in more pleasant tones, “Yes, very busy. Have you only just arrived in London, then, Llew?”
“A few days past, actually,” Lord Llew replied, his own manner perfectly pleasant. “I wished to be here in time to attend the Herold ball. It’s always proved to be one of the Season’s better events.”
Sarah stood staring at them, trying to find her place in the conversation. It was easy for the two men, obviously, for they must have performed the task any number of times in their lives, but Sarah found it difficult to recall what they’d been discussing earlier, much less participate. Her cousin, mother, and aunt were awake and aware once more and watching the two men converse with smiles on their faces, completely unaware of what had taken place only moments earlier.
“I’ll look forward to seeing you there, then,” Lord Graymar said, and turned away. To Lady Tamony he said, “I apologize for coming upon you so unexpectedly, ma’am. I had hoped to secure an appointment to take Miss Sarah and Miss Philistia driving in the park tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, but we can’t,” Philistia said, blushing when Lord Graymar looked at her. “I mean to say, it’s very kind of you, my lord, but we’re already promised to go driving with Lord Llew.”
“Are you?” Lord Graymar looked at the other man, raising one eyebrow. Sarah could see Lord Llew’s jaw clench, but he was polite when he spoke.
“Forgive me, Miss Tamony,” he said. “I’d forgotten that I’m already engaged for tomorrow day. Another time, perhaps?”
Philistia’s disappointment was clear to all those present. “Of course, my lord,” she said sadly. “Another time.”
He took his leave, then, bowing grandly and thanking them for the enjoyable afternoon. He declared that he couldn’t have imagined a more fortuitous occurrence than meeting Miss Philistia and being invited to tea with her lovely mother and charming aunt and engaging cousin.
“And, of course, the final prize was so unexpectedly seeing my dear friend Graymar. If you’re leaving, as well, my lord, we might walk out together?”
Lord Graymar gave him a scorching look. “I wish to speak with Miss Tamony for a few moments, first. But we must have dinner at White’s soon, Llew, and catch up on old times.”
Lord Llew smiled with cherubic agreement and confessed himself filled with anticipation. Then he bowed once more and quit the room, leaving behind at least two sighing ladies.
“Such a charming gentleman,” Aunt Speakley declared.
“Oh, indeed he is, Aunt,” Philistia agreed. “He was so kind to me at Hookham’s. I should have been so frightened if he’d not been present to help me. And even before that he was kind enough to recommend a wonderful book to me.”
“He was most charming,” Lady Tamony agreed, accepting another cup of tea from her daughter. “But there was something in his manner that seemed a touch insincere. But I shouldn’t say such things in front of you, my lord,” she said to Lord Graymar, who shook his head when Sarah offered him a cup. “He’s a close friend of yours, it seems.”
“An old acquaintance, Lady Tamony,” His Lordship corrected rather stiffly. “Our families met infrequently.”
She gazed at him for a long moment, then murmured, “I see,” and changed the subject to the weather.
The Earl of Graymar conversed politely for a few minutes more, then with a quick movement made the women in the room, save Sarah, frozen once more.
Sarah set her teacup aside and stood. “My lord, I must insist that you stop doing that. I know you wish to speak to me, but I can’t have you putting spells on my family because you can’t wait a few more moments to—”
“Your brother is coming,” he said curtly. “He’s hurrying down the street on foot. He’ll be at the door in but moments.”
“Julius? Is he all right?”
“I can’t tell yet,” Lord Graymar said. “Believe whatever he tells you and don’t press for details. I’ll take my leave shortly after he arrives and try to discover the truth of where he’s been.” The Earl stopped for a moment, lifting his head as if he could hear something. “Your brother is weary,” he said after a moment. “Cancel your plans for this evening so that he’ll have the chance to retire early. It’s the best remedy if magic has been used on him.”
“Magic!” Sarah said. “Who would use magic on Julius?”
“Hush!” He waved her toward the chair she’d vacated. “I’ll try to come tonight. We must speak. Sit down now—quickly—and I’ll release them. He’s at the door.”
Sarah sat. The next moment Lord Graymar undid the spell and her family came back to awareness just as the parlor doors burst open and Julius flew in. His expression, fraught with worry, filled with relief at the sight of Philistia, who, like Sarah and Lord Graymar, had quickly stood.
“Phil! Thank God!” Julius cried, hurrying forward to catch her up into his arms. “Thank God you’re all right.”
“Julius Tamony,” his mother said reprovingly, “whatever has come over you? Put your cousin down and let her breathe.”
He did as his mother bade but held Philistia’s face between both hands and kissed her forehead and cheeks. “Are you all right, dear?” he asked worriedly. “I went back to Hookham’s and they said you’d gone off with the Earl of Llew. I was in such a state, though they swore he was a gentleman and fully trustworthy. I’m so sorry, Phil. You must have been terrified. I swear upon my life it will never happen again.”
“I’m fine, Julius,” Philistia assured him. “Perfectly fine. And the Earl of Llew was a complete gentleman. He brought me home and stayed for tea, and was most charming and kind. But what happened to you? Where did you go?”
“I scarce know,” he said wretchedly. Lord Graymar was right, Sarah thought as she watched her brother. Julius did look weary. As if he’d run ten miles. His hat was covered in dust and his spectacles were askew. “I was introduced to a lady at Hookham’s who desired my opinion on a book of history. One moment we were speaking on Viking incursions, and the next we were … we were …” His voice trailed away and he began to fall to one side.
By the time Sarah realized that her brother was about to faint, Lord Graymar already had him by the shoulders and was easing him down to the sofa.
“That’s all right, old man,” Lord Graymar said gently, pulling the hat from Julius’s head and tossing it aside. “You’re safe. Rest easy.”
Lady Tamony was instantly across the room, sitting beside her son and feeling his forehead.
“Bring him a cup of tea, Sarah,” she co
mmanded. “Hurry. Philistia, sit and calm yourself. There’s nothing to cry about. Julius is fine.” Of Lord Graymar, who was leaning over her son, examining him, she asked, with admirable calm, “Is he ill, my lord? I don’t detect a fever. Should we fetch a doctor?”
“He’s had a bit of a shock, I believe,” Lord Graymar replied. “Nothing more serious, ma’am. It’s likely he’s overextended himself with research, or perhaps he’s been worried about the publication of his book. Having lost his cousin, who was in his care, clearly added to the strain. He’ll be the better for some sleep. Here, let me.” He took the cup of tea and lifted it to the younger man’s lips. Julius, who was beginning to come around, sipped when Lord Graymar told him to. Handing the cup back to Lady Tamony, the earl said, “I’ll help him to his bed if you’ll show me the way.”
“I’ll help him, Mama,” Sarah said quickly, hurrying to open the parlor doors. “Perhaps Aunt Speakley wishes to go home now. We’ll get Julius to bed and you can see Aunt Speakley to her carriage, then come and check on him. Philistia, run ahead of us and get Julius’s bed ready.”
Philistia ran out of the room just as Lord Graymar helped Julius to his feet. Sarah got on her brother’s other side and helped guide him up the stairs.
“What’s happened to him?” she whispered.
“I don’t know, precisely,” Lord Graymar whispered back. “But I’ll find out. Remember what I told you. Don’t press him to remember anything. Keep the others away from him for now.”
“Is he—is it a spell?” she asked.
Lord Graymar looked grim. “Yes,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do for him now save protect his physical body.”
“Can’t you just undo it?”
“I’m the Dewin Mawr, sweetheart,” he said, settling Julius’s large, heavy body a bit higher on his shoulder, “not God. Some enchantments can only be dispelled in very precise ways. Until I know exactly what’s happened there’s nothing I can do, save bid him sleep for as long as possible and let him recover as best he can. But keep a sharp eye on him. Regardless of what may happen, don’t let him sneak out of the house until I’ve come. Feed him laudanum, wine, anything to keep him insensible.” They neared the landing and saw Philistia’s anxious face peering down at them.
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