LESSON 5
MARRIAGE

Lord Cavandish had vowed that I would never be destitute so long as he lived, and his family was in accord with him. I was very grateful for their generosity and kindness, but I had no intention of imposing on them for one moment longer than it took me to work out what on earth I was going to do.

‘I’m sure Lord Suffolk shan’t disinherit you now.’ Susan had come up to my room to try and cheer me up.

‘I don’t want his money if it means I have to hear him say, “I told you so, you s-silly girl!’” I stuttered at the thought of my next meeting with my father. I had hoped there wouldn’t be one.

My father was actually my prime suspect in regard to the two men that I’d envisioned threatening Lord Hereford. Lord Granville had higher connections than either Mr Devere or Mr Hamilton—the cousin of the deceased viscount.

‘Well, word has it that Mr Devere would not be averse to courting you again.’ Susan tested the waters on that count.

‘Again?’ I was infuriated. ‘He never courted me in the first instance.’

‘I will leave if you are going to get unpleasant.’ Susan let me know that I was dangerously close to insulting her brother-in-law-to-be. ‘He didn’t court you, because you never granted him the opportunity. I can’t understand what you could possibly have against Mr Devere. He is charming, lively, witty and handsome… almost as handsome as my dear Lord Oxford…but you know I am partial to dark-haired men.’ She wafted away on a daydream for a moment.

I took a deep breath, hoping to avoid insult. ‘It doesn’t matter what I think, as it seems everyone else in the world has already decided that I must marry him! That is what I have against Mr Devere.’

‘So it is Mr Devere’s fault that he is so well thought of and thus highly commended to you?’ Susan’s skill at argument and her sound reasoning came to the fore.

‘No.’ I hated to concede her point. ‘I just resent not being given a choice in the matter.’

‘Is it fair to suggest that you’re not being given a choice when you haven’t even studied the option?’ Susan broke into a smile, knowing she’d snared me. ‘Have you? I think you fear finding him as agreeable as everyone does.’

‘I don’t feel very well.’ I sat on the bed and then collapsed onto my back.

Susan suspected that I was just trying to escape answering her.

‘I really do need some rest,’ I appealed, at which she gave me a disappointed look, ‘but I promise I will give Mr Devere more thought.’

My vow apparently appeased her as I got a kiss. ‘Rest well, my friend. May your pondering lead you ever onward to a brighter future.’ Susan left and I was finally alone.

I had imagined that I would burst into tears at this point, but I was numbed with shock; fate had triumphed over my will. Why had I not seen this coming? Merely because, in being trained to control and play down my talents they had been stifled. Why had I been given such gifts if I was not meant to use them for whatever purpose necessary? That was not to reflect badly on Lady Charlotte: her training and quiet wisdom had made it possible for me to pursue my full potential without ending up in a mental asylum. She had also made my father a promise, that I would not shame him with my skills, which were now fully under my control—or so I thought.

Speaking of using gifts to their best purpose, I felt my treasure stone bumping against my palm and I sat up. ‘Albray,’ I called, looking about for the knight, who did not materialise. ‘Albray!’ A flutter of panic beset my stomach. Perhaps I had neglected my pact too long and he had given up on me? ‘Albray?’

I am here, he advised calmly, as if wondering what on earth was the matter with me.

‘The law of three requests,’ I scolded myself as enlightenment dawned. There were nine metaphysical laws and this was one of them—it had been so long since I had been given cause to consider occult laws, they were slow to come to mind. ‘I am sorry. My metaphysical doctrine is a little rusty.’

Is it any wonder when you dedicate so little time to the study?

He was having a niggle at the fact that I hadn’t summoned him since our first meeting, nearly a month before. ‘I’m very sorry that I haven’t contacted you before now, but my life has been hectic what with all the courting, proposals, wedding arrangements and now funeral arrangements!’

I understand, he granted with a bow of his head. It was a shame about Douglas. I liked him. He was a good man.

‘What do you know of Douglas Hamilton?’ I was shocked by the condolences.

All that you do, he said, and I understood that our bond gave him a psychic attachment to me. In fact, I tried to warn you with a vision, but the message didn’t get through until you awoke.

‘I see.’ I took a deep breath. Our connection was a bit disconcerting but by the same token it could prove beneficial. ‘What do you think my betrothed died of?’

I agree with you, he stated with certainty. He was murdered, not by any of the people you suspect, but by someone who indirectly controls the outcomes of all.

‘All of the above and none.’ I softly repeated what Lord Hereford had said of the cause of his worry. ‘Not the king!’ I retorted with my only guess.

No. He smiled, amused by my speculation. Not the king.

‘Then who? The church?’ The church certainly didn’t figure greatly in my father’s life, nor in Mr Devere’s as far as I had been able to ascertain.

Albray shook his head. More widespread, more secret.

‘A secret society?’ My father certainly didn’t seem the type, nor any man that I could think of. ‘I don’t think so.’ I tried not to smile at the suggestion. ‘Most secret societies perished during the Inquisitions.’ I thought that perhaps my knight was a little out of touch with modern society.

Such societies only became secret due to the Inquisitions, he clarified. If what I suspect is true of Lord Hereford’s demise, there is little point in seeking the murderer, as you cannot put a whole society on trial . .. not even if you could find them.

‘Even if I did find the culprit and prove it, chances are nothing would be achieved,’ I concluded bitterly, thinking of past experiences. Albray was right; it was useless wasting energy pursuing the case. He knew as well as I did that I was just avoiding having to think about my future. ‘What are your thoughts on Mr Devere?’

Albray suppressed a chuckle. I am not here to counsel you on affairs of the heart. I’m here to teach you the greater mysteries…and, believe me, marriage is not one of them.

I was a little irked by his reluctance to advise me, but I took a different approach. ‘You said, last time we met, that you saw a great deal of travel in my future…I am in the process of pondering the best way to bring that travel into being.’

In that case, you should probably see Mr Devere and hear out his wedding plans.

‘Not you too.’ I was hoping for some dark secret to assure me I should not wed Devere.

Albray just shrugged as if to say—why ask if you already know everything?

‘Will he travel with me?’

Albray smiled at my fickle nature. What do you see?

My mind was cast back to the night that I had dreamed about travelling with Mr Devere. The intimacy of that dream, and the fact that he’d kept showing up to save me, made it uncomfortable to dwell on. ‘I see that we may travel a similar path, but take separate routes that sometimes meet.’

My knight shrugged. There you have it.

‘But I’ll never be allowed out on my own as a single woman! If I want to travel, I’ll have to wed somebody! I don’t want to face the marriage market. But what if those who killed Douglas will kill any man I intend to marry except Mr Devere?’

A poor woman could travel alone.

‘I am a poor woman, so I won’t have to improvise.’ I made light of the suggestion.

It would be precarious for most, but you could protect yourself.

‘How?’

How! He was surprised. You have more power in your little finger than I ever had in my whole body for the entire duration of my life!

I did not know how to take the compliment.

Don’t you remember Rosen’s tower chamber?

My vision dulled as I saw an image of a whirling force and then came back to the still calm of my room. ‘I had many angry souls there to aid me that day.’ I resented the fact that he’d brought the incident up.

In that instance your ability was the weapon and those angry souls wielded you to their own ends. But you can also make the reverse happen, to enhance the powers you already have, he added quickly, as my expression must have reflected how distressing I found the topic.

‘I can draw upon the power of otherworldly beings?’ I was making sure I had deduced his meaning correctly.

You are a channel! The channel goes both ways. You can draw upon the knowledge and talents of all those otherworldly entities which might be disposed toward your service. So far there’s only me, of course, but I’m sure we can widen your acquaintance.

‘So what talents do you possess that I could draw upon, for example?’ I had totally forgotten all other problems; this was an intriguing conversation.

Swordfighting, Albray suggested. I gasped with delight at the notion. Find yourself a sword, he said, to assure me he was quite serious.

I glanced around—no swords obviously, so I grabbed up my mirror by its handle.

Hold it out before you.

I held it out straight, giggling at the very idea of being in a sword fight, when a powerful and pleasing presence passed over me from behind to carry my framework without any aid from me. I lunged forward, sweeping my mirror to and fro, with such force and technique that I could only wonder at my movements.

I didn’t hear the knock on the door, but as Susan entered, I whirled to a stop.

‘Feeling better?’ she queried in a playful fashion.

‘Yes!’ I gasped as I felt Albray abruptly withdraw from my frame. I was left tottering on my own, flushed and exalted.

‘Constable Fletcher is here to see you,’ she said.

‘Who?’ It took me a moment to snap out of my delirium, and I placed the mirror aside. ‘I’ll be right down.’

The poor constable was not a happy man as he informed me that, ‘It has been deduced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Lord Hereford died of apoplexy.’ His expression and tone were not so resolute as his words. ‘I’m very sorry, Miss Granville.’

‘No more questions then,’ I said, obviously not surprised.

‘No more questions,’ he reluctantly confirmed, and was accompanied out by the steward.

‘I’m so sorry, Ashlee.’ Susan held my hand, as she could see I was fit to cry. ‘Won’t you come to the ball with us this evening—’

I held a finger to her lips. ‘I know you only wish to take my mind off my worries, but that is where my mind needs to be right now. I’ll be fine at home alone,’ I assured her. Actually, ‘home alone’ sounded extremely nice indeed.

I had dinner in my room, as I planned to begin reading the work of Douglas and Clarissa Hamilton. I was not a paragraph into the text when I felt someone leaning over my shoulder. I was startled to find Albray. ‘I thought you’d gone?’

You didn’t dismiss me, he explained.

I could feel myself blushing as I recalled being controlled by him. ‘You are an excellent swordsman,’ I commended, wishing I could control the heat rising through my cheeks.

And that was just a hand mirror, he jested. Wait until you see what we can do with a real sword.

Actually, I swear I detected a little awkwardness in his behaviour. I couldn’t see it, but I sensed an attraction. ‘Would you like me to dismiss you?’

Albray shrugged. It is a long time since I’ve been in a woman’s bedchamber. He sat down in the other chair by my reading table, with a large grin on his face. Perhaps you wish to dismiss me?

He knew I didn’t want to dismiss him. ‘I have more questions for you.’

Ahhh…I thought so. He tried not to show disappointment that I was not going to flirt with him. I’d only just discovered the art of flirting and I had to admit I did find it fun. Still, I was not in the mood for play at present.

‘What did you mean when you said I was one of the fey?’

Albray laughed. I was wondering how much longer it would be before you asked. It has to do with your bloodline—

‘An ancient bloodline of kings?’ I recalled the information I’d obtained from Mr Devere.

He nodded.

‘And Mr Devere is also of this bloodline?’ I posed.

So you’ve been told…I know only as much as you do on that count.

When there came a knock at my door, I rolled my eyes with frustration. Could I not get a moment to pursue my own interests? ‘Yes?’

Nanny entered. ‘Mr Devere is downstairs and hoped it would not be too inconvenient to speak with you.’

‘Who ever calls at this hour?’ I thought it terribly rude and inconsiderate. ‘No, Nanny, not today.’

She hesitated to comply with my wishes, which Nanny rarely did. ‘I believe his tidings are most earnest, Mistress. Won’t you spare a few minutes—’

‘Oh, very well,’ I snapped, annoyed. Every ally I had wanted me to reconcile with Mr Devere; at least if I did, I might find a minute’s peace!

Shall I come? Albray offered, a smile of mischief on his face.

‘Dismissed, dismissed, dismissed!’

Aw, he whined sweetly as he vanished.

‘Mr Devere, you asked to see me?’ I entered the downstairs drawing room, where a fire burned brightly to welcome the family upon their return home. The servants were all in their quarters and the large room was dimly lit and silent.

The gentleman assessed me for a few moments. ‘I was very sorry to hear about Lord Hereford. I wanted to be sure that all fares well with you.’

I nodded and forced a smile. ‘The authorities are saying that I caused him to have a stroke.’ I looked Mr Devere in the eye to capture his reaction.

‘I feel sure that you could do nothing but good for any man’s heart.’ He kept the conversation light but not disrespectful.

‘Really?’ I noted he was flirting with me already. ‘Have you not met my father?’

He smiled, conceding that I had not done Lord Granville’s heart much good lately. ‘I met with him today as a matter of fact.’

My good humour departed rapidly. ‘May I ask why?’

‘To inquire if he still planned to disinherit you.’

I immediately suspected that Mr Devere’s motivation was to ensure that if he proposed, I still came with a title and estates.

Mr Devere read my train of thought from my expression. ‘I didn’t want you being left destitute by this sad turn of events,’ he argued.

‘Why should that be a concern of yours?’ I protested his interference in my private life.

‘Because, if you will not consider me as a husband, you might at least come to consider me as a friend,’ he replied forthrightly.

‘You would be content just to be my friend?’ I didn’t think so. No title would come from just a friendship.

‘No,’ he said frankly, ‘but I shall thankfully accept any role in your life where you will actually acknowledge my existence.’ He almost flinched as he awaited a scathing response.

I could have lashed out and pretended to find insult in his straightforward manner, but the truth was I appreciated his forthrightness. ‘I know I have been very unfair on you, Mr Devere, but ever since my coming out, all I have heard from everyone around me is “marry Mr Devere”! I am sure that I could walk out on the street and ask any passer-by, who should I marry? And they would answer—’

‘Mr Devere,’ he concluded with a smile, completely in sympathy with my reasoning. ‘It couldn’t perhaps mean that it is the right thing to do?’

‘How could it be?’ I retorted, ‘when you are everything in a husband that would cause me bother.’

‘Really?’ He chuckled, as if he couldn’t imagine what was so unacceptable about him. ‘Do tell.’

‘Well, to begin with you are a social creature, and I long for a reclusive life of study. You are a gentleman with a lust to be a lord, which will tie you to England, and I have a lust for travel. And finally…you are altogether far too handsome. I would be forever fending off mistresses.’

Mr Devere smiled broadly, acknowledging that I thought him handsome. Now I was flirting with him—how did that happen?

‘How is this plan then? We marry, spend our honeymoon with my brother and sister, and your brother and sister, at the Devere chateau in Northern France. Then we could leave them and use my yearly inheritance to do some extensive travel. We could return to England whenever your father eventually dies and leaves us your estate, at which time we could deal with the lordship situation.’

I was dazed, and I couldn’t work out if he was serious or not. I’d never bothered finding out what his intentions were. ‘That is a really good plan,’ I credited, to see what he’d say.

‘You would find those terms acceptable?’ Now he was trying to clarify if we were still jesting.

‘Would you find those terms acceptable, Mr Devere?’ I threw the ball back in his court.

‘I cannot possibly imagine a more agreeable arrangement,’ he assured me, never fearful to expose his true feelings, and I knew they were his true feelings as his light-body was very lovely to behold and free from blemish. ‘You see, Miss Granville, although I do not have Lord Hereford’s experience with travel, I am very eager to experience travel for myself.’

The stunned smirk on my face must have said it all. ‘I feel it is too much to be widowed and then engaged again in the same day.’ I explained my reluctance to admit that what he proposed was a dream come true. ‘May I have a little time to digest this conversation?’

‘Of course.’ He seemed satisfied and yet reluctant to leave. ‘And tomorrow when you see me, will you be distant once more?’

I had barely noticed that all through our dialogue we had been inching closer to one another—now we were very close indeed. The firelight ignited the look of longing on his face as it neared my own.

Our lips met only briefly but my senses were still racing for hours after the event.

I lay in bed that night with myriad conflicting emotions all fighting for precedence and after being tossed from excitement to grief, to guilt, to pain and back to that kiss, I was so exhausted that I slept.

‘Wake up, Ashlee…is it true?’ I didn’t have to open my eyes to know it was Susan, and she was really excited about something.

I didn’t want to wake. I was in a warm place with Mr Devere, and I was coming to his rescue. I was wearing men’s clothes and wielding a sword. I had defeated his captors and he was just about to kiss me in appreciation for saving his life.

‘Ashlee!’ The way Susan was shaking me took me back to our childhood. ‘Wake up!’

‘I’m being kissed, go away,’ I mumbled, as Susan was well used to my elaborate dreams.

‘And by whom are you being kissed?’ she asked.

My eyes burst open and I sat bolt upright with a gasp.

‘So it is true,’ she deduced from the look on my face, and she seemed frightfully pleased about it.

‘How fickle does that make me?’ I grabbed my head, as it struggled to catch up with the way my world had spun around completely in one day. ‘How do you know about it?’ I was suddenly horrified that Mr Devere might have let a rumour slip.

‘He hasn’t told anyone anything,’ Susan reassured me. ‘It’s just that when he returned to the ball last night he appeared to be quite a different man than he has been these last few weeks.’

I smiled. ‘Different, how?’

‘He seemed like a man in love, and not a lover scorned.’ Susan giggled as she observed my broad smile. ‘Come to mention it, so do you.’

I shied from the comment and climbed out of bed. ‘This is all a bit sudden.’

‘Well, the wedding is only weeks away, and it would be just as easy to have a triple as a double ceremony.’ Susan was excited although she was trying very hard to repress it and not pressure me. ‘Oh, do come with us to France, Ashlee…we could have such fun and adventures. It would be just like one of your stories!’

‘Yes, it would.’ I smiled at the comparison. ‘But…’

Was it because I had heard it stated that I was destined to marry Mr Devere that I was fighting the event so hard, or was it because I knew this would be a lifetime commitment and no short-term affair?

‘So much has happened. I need time to catch my breath,’ I replied sensibly. ‘I should like to see my first intended buried before I think about taking another.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Susan could not share my grief. She was having the time of her life and was finding it difficult to relate to my feelings. ‘I just want everyone to be as happy as I am which is not really fair of me in your case.’

‘I am happier than I was yesterday.’ I returned to the bed and took hold of her hands. I had no desire to bring her down from heaven. ‘I’ll tell you a little secret about Mr Devere, which you must swear upon my honour you will not divulge.’

Her blue eyes grew wide and she nodded in encouragement. ‘I swear.’ She squeezed my hands tighter.

‘He kissed me.’

‘No!’ She placed both hands to her mouth to smother her shock and delight.

‘Just a little one.’ I held my thumb and first finger almost together. ‘It was ever so innocently delivered, and quite brilliant really.’

Susan had given up on covering her shock. ‘I haven’t even been kissed yet, except on the cheek in public, and that doesn’t really constitute a kiss. Where did it happen? In the lower drawing room? Yes, it was a very cosy arrangement when we arrived home. Did you find it so?’

I nodded and dwelt on the moment fondly. ‘He wants to take me travelling.’

‘I know.’

Susan’s reply startled me from my memory. ‘You knew! Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Mr Devere wanted to tell you himself, but you wouldn’t give him the chance.’

That explained why Susan was always promoting his suit to me. ‘I fear the smart thing to do is just surrender to the will of the universe.’

Everyone seemed to agree it was the wisest thing for me to do.

I do not think that would be the wisest course. Albray had changed his tune when I spoke to him in my room as I ate breakfast.

‘But yesterday you said I should speak with Mr Devere about the travel?’

You asked for the quickest way to guarantee travel was in your future, he pointed out. This is not the only way, or the best way, if you choose it because you feel it is your only option.

‘I would be safer travelling with a husband,’ I reasoned. ‘He can make all my travel plans with no questions asked.’

And the price of that ticket is your love. Albray spoke frankly. Are you prepared to wear that cost?

For a moment I thought my knight was talking sense, but then he added: If it is only security you seek, I can award you that.

He was asking me, in no uncertain terms, if I loved Mr Devere? ‘He is as pleasing as any young man.’ I smiled at Albray who was older than Mr Devere by at least ten years. ‘And our marriage would serve to get my father and everyone else off my back so that we might get some serious study done.’

You don’t think that being a wife is going to be a distraction to your study?

I was beginning to wish I had never brought Albray into my personal affairs. ‘What other choice do I have?’

The red book, he said. I suspect it contains many secrets.

My heart skipped a beat. If Albray was psychically linked with me then he knew about the vial. ‘Do you know what it contains?’

It is the key ingredient in the Bread of Life. It is 0 = (+1)+(-1).

I was frowning. ‘That is a riddle not a sum. When applied to physical matter it’s an impossible equation. You can’t add a negative one to one and be left with nothing. You’ll always have the one.’

Unless? he prompted.

‘Unless nothing, it can’t be done,’ I insisted. He grinned and shook his head as if disappointed by my lack of vision.

The only way to turn something into nothing, in a material sense, is to transmit that something to another dimension and make it disappear completely from the mundane environment.

‘A transformation of matter.’ I caught his meaning. ‘Something like digestion or incineration?’

Albray nodded.

Moments later I had unlocked the red book and held the vial of glowing substance in my hands.

Actually, the substance is affected by heat in a very interesting way. Do you want to see how the Egyptians built the pyramids? Albray piqued my curiosity, and pointed to a footstool. Place that in front of the fire. We’ll pretend that the heat of the fire is the hot Egyptian sun. Take the stopper from the vial and run it quickly along the top of the stool, and keep your thumb over the mouth of the vial until you replace the stopper.

‘Does the powder have a bad reaction to air?’ I wondered about the safety precautions as I followed them with care.

Watch, he suggested, as I replaced the stopper and found a few particles stuck to the back of my thumb. The tiny particles floated upwards off my finger. ‘This substance defies gravity.’ My hand seemed to feel lighter, then I saw that the footstool had begun to rise off the floor. ‘Oh, my god.’ I couldn’t believe it. The tiny particles of light floated above the footstool, towing it into the air. ‘And heat accelerates the properties of this substance?’

Indeed. Under extreme heat, this substance sends the particles of anything it is attached to into a highward spin state until they achieve perfect unity and transcend the physical realm . .. when cooled again, they will return the object to its place of origin.

My eyes were fixed on the floating footstool as I plucked a particle from the air and, placing it on my tongue, I closed my eyes.

White sand beneath the sandals on my feet. Hot sun above and large pillars ahead supporting the entrance to a mighty dwelling. Dark, straight hair, darker than Susan’s, swept across my face. This was not prophecy; it was past or future life memory! With that thought, the vision departed.

I placed the precious vial back in its case.

‘Tell me, Albray, how is it you know so much about this substance?’ I put my wonder aside for a moment. I realised I didn’t know anything about my otherworldly ally.

I have escorted that vial to safekeeping before. He became rather mysterious. It was one of two vials. This one contains the life-body, and the other the life-blood, of gods. Together they are known as Star-Fire…you hold the Star in your hand.

‘And from where did it originate?’

During the Albigensian Crusade, my oath to the Prieurè de Sion—the branch of the Temple knights to which I belonged—bound me to escort the Star-Fire safely out of France and back to where it belonged. When I last saw that vial, I was on a mountain in the Holy Land. He seemed to be rather saddened by the fact.

‘Serâbit el-Khâdim.’ I named the place I suspected.

He knew Douglas had told me about the sacred site. Yes.

‘Do you think Mr Hamilton intended for me to return this vial there?’ My breath caught in my chest, as the revelation constricted my heart with excitement.

Yes.

‘And you are here to guide me.’ If there was one thing I knew about the Order of knights to which Albray belonged, it was that they knew the way to the Holy Land better than anyone.

I am a guardian of Star-Fire, its order and its bloodline. He bowed, at my service.

‘But I still don’t see how this vial grants me an alternative passage to the Continent?’ I came back to the question at hand.

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.

We were so taken with the sight that our mission was forgotten, which proved long enough for the men and my father to depart.

‘Where are they?’ I searched with Devere’s aid to no avail, and was eventually persuaded by my closest company to rejoin the festivities, as our guests were waiting.