Gene Of Isis Part 8

'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 s-silly girl!'" I stuttered at the thought of my next meeting with my father. I had hoped there wouldn't be one. 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... 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. 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 That is what I have against Mr Devere.' 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 b.u.mping 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?' 'Albray?'

I am here, he advised calmly, as if wondering what on earth was the matter with me. 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? 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, understand, he granted with a bow of his head. It he granted with a bow of his head. It was a shame about Douglas. was a shame about Douglas. I I liked him. He was a good man. 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. 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. 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 stated with certainty. He was murdered, not by any of the people you suspect, but by someone who indirectly controls the outcomes of all. 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. He smiled, amused by my speculation. Not the king. 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. 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. he clarified. If what I suspect is true of 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. 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. 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 a.s.sure 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? 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. 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 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. 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. 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! 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. 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 ent.i.ties 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. Albray suggested. I gasped with delight at the notion. Find yourself a sword, Find yourself a sword, he said, to a.s.sure me he was quite serious. he said, to a.s.sure 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 pa.s.sed 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 a.s.sured 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. 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. he jested. Wait until you see what we can do with a real sword. 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. 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. He sat down in the other chair by my reading table, with a large grin on his face. Perhaps you wish to dismiss me? 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. 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 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. 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. Albray offered, a smile of mischief on his face.

'Dismissed, dismissed, dismissed!'

Aw, he whined sweetly as he vanished. 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 a.s.sessed 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 t.i.tle and estates.