This, she had told them as she escorted the boys to their room after Landis had brought them back to the keep, was in an effort to present the earl with as many facts as she could and allow him to make the final decision. Ian had immediately felt ashamed for not having had a little more faith in her.
“I wonder when the earl will arrive,” Carl mused. He was faceup, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
“Shortly,” Theo answered immediately. “And someone’s bringing us a gift,” she added.
Ian was about to ask her what she meant by that when there was a soft knock on the door, and a moment later Jaaved entered with a rather satisfied smile on his face. “Hello,” he greeted them, and quickly came inside and shut the door.
“Hello,” the three of them replied.
“I’ve brought you something,” Jaaved said, his grin growing bigger.
“We know,” said Carl.
“You do?” Carl pointed at Theo and Jaaved nodded. “Oh,” he said. “Yes, I forgot. There’s no sense trying to surprise you lot with Theo around.”
Theo giggled and Ian marveled at the way she could recover from such distressing news so quickly. He seemed to be having a harder time of it than she was, in fact. He’d hardly cracked a smile all the rest of the day.
Jaaved reached under his long shirt, which he insisted on wearing outside his trousers, and pulled out a napkin. Unfolding it, he handed over three dinner rolls and several slices of ham. “Jaaved!” Carl exclaimed as he eagerly took the food. “You’re blooming brilliant, mate!”
Jaaved rocked happily back on his heels. “And it was all the more difficult because I was seated right next to Madam Scargill,” he said proudly.
Ian took his share and forced a smile. “Thanks,” he said, then wolfed his food down.
“Theo says the earl’s going to be here soon,” Carl said, licking his fingers after polishing off the meal.
Jaaved’s eyebrows rose. “The headmistresses aren’t expecting him until morning.”
“You should go and tell them that he’ll be along tonight,” Theo insisted. “They don’t like to be surprised.”
Jaaved turned to the door as Theo added, “And tell them that he’s bringing Lady Arbuthnot with him, and one other man.”
“Who?” Ian asked her.
Theo’s expression turned confused. “Why, I’m not sure. That last bit just popped out of my mouth, really.” Jaaved smiled as if he understood, and left them to deliver the message.
“It’s a good thing that the earl’s bringing his aunt to discuss the matter, don’t you think?” Carl said.
Ian smiled, feeling a sense of relief for the first time since that afternoon. “Yes,” he agreed. “Lady Arbuthnot will surely be on our side. And the other gent could be a barrister, someone to help the earl with the legal matter of keeping you here, right, Theo?”
Theo stared pensively out the window, her hand fluttering up to the crystal about her neck. “I hope so,” she whispered. “I sincerely hope so.”
The earl and his aunt arrived at half past eight, when most of the children were already yawning and sleepy. Ian and Theo were both called downstairs by Madam Dimbleby for a meeting with the earl, and Ian was in high spirits until he looked to the bottom of the stairwell and realized that the man standing next to the earl was wearing a uniform.
As he and Theo walked down together, he noticed that the man turned anxious eyes to Theo, and his expression became delighted. Theo must have noticed too, because she reached out and gripped Ian’s hand tightly.
Ian knew immediately that the man in their entryway was none other than Major Fitzgerald himself, and Ian had a difficult time controlling his anger toward the man claiming to be Theo’s father.
Madam Scargill saw to ushering the rest of the orphans to bed while Madam Dimbleby led Lady Arbuthnot, the earl, Major Fitzgerald, Ian, and Theo into the headmistresses’ private study for what was sure to be a most uncomfortable meeting.
Ian sat down on a small sofa right next to Theo and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. He noticed she refused to look up and meet the major’s eyes. He also noticed that the major had a kind face, which saddened when she refused to look at him.
Once everyone was seated, the earl cleared his throat and addressed them. “Thank you all for agreeing to meet on this most urgent matter so late in the evening.” Most of those in attendance smiled politely at the earl. Ian just stared hard at the major, willing him to leave them all alone. “I would like to begin by introducing our guest, Major Fitzgerald from Debbonshire.”
“My lord Arbuthnot, you have my sincere gratitude for bringing all concerned parties together. I’m most anxious to settle this matter and take my daughter home.”
Theo immediately began to cry. Ian scowled angrily at the major. Lady Arbuthnot tsked, as if she didn’t approve, and the earl cleared his throat again. “Yes, Major, about that …,” he began. “My aunt the Lady Arbuthnot has informed me that you believe Theo to be your daughter, but as I explained to you on the telephone earlier this afternoon, Theo is a very precious member of my orphanage, and I shall not let her go without overwhelming evidence that you are, in fact, her father.”
The major appeared taken aback. “Forgive me, my lord, but I’ve never heard of an orphanage requiring proof of lineage to remove a child and give her a permanent home.”
The earl nodded, as if he thought that a perfectly reasonable statement. “Theo is not just any orphan, Major Fitzgerald. We have come to believe that she is a very special child, and we have also come to believe that because of her natural talents and abilities, Theo’s life would be in mortal danger should she leave the safety of my keep.”
The major looked at the earl as if he were speaking in tongues. “I’m afraid I don’t quite understand, my lord.”
Lady Arbuthnot spoke then. “Theo is a very gifted young lady,” she said. “She has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to predict the future, you see.”
The major’s eyes widened before he barked out a laugh. “You must be joking!” he said, slapping his knee. “Oh, Lady Arbuthnot, I had heard of your very clever wit, but I never expected you to pull such a lark at a time like this!”
Lady Arbuthnot’s eyes narrowed. “I assure you, Major, I make no jest.”
Major Fitzgerald stopped his chuckling immediately and stared at them each in turn, as if waiting for one of them to crack a smile and tell him this was all just a bit of fun. Madam Dimbleby wrung her hands as the awkward silence continued, and said, “Major, Theo is gifted with this extraordinary ability; we who have watched her grow up have witnessed it time and time again. And we also know that because of her abilities, there are those who would like to take Theo away and cause her harm.”
The major’s face showed concern. “Cause her harm?” he asked. “Who the devil would want to cause the young lass harm?”
The earl sighed heavily. “Terrible people,” he said with sincerity. “Believe me, Major. We have been witness to their cruelty, and we do not make these statements lightly.”
The major blinked at him, and Ian knew that the man was having a hard time believing their claims. “I can protect her,” he finally declared. “I’m a major in His Majesty’s Armed Services and more than capable of protecting my own daughter, my lord.”
The earl looked seriously at him. “I have no doubt that you would try, sir; however, the forces of which I speak are beyond any one man’s abilities. Theo would be in grave danger should she leave this keep. Of that I am certain.”
The major sat back in his chair and threw his hands into the air. “But she’s my daughter!” he insisted.
“That has yet to be determined,” the earl said firmly, and Ian felt a renewed sense of hope.
The major’s brow lowered, his good humor all but gone. “I have given you my letters from Jacinda Barthorpe, who your headmistress has confirmed was the girl’s mother. It is clear in those letters that Jacinda held a very special affection for me!”
The earl nodded. “Yes,” he agreed. “I have read your letters, and they do indeed indicate that she carried an affection for you, but nowhere does she claim that you are Theo’s father, Major. And until I am certain that she is of your bloodline, I’m afraid I will be compelled to keep Theo right here, where she is safe and protected.”
Major Fitzgerald’s face flushed crimson. “This is unacceptable!” he announced, getting to his feet. “I shall have no choice, my lord, but to involve the courts.”
The earl’s face remained calm but firm. “You will do as you must, Major. And I will not fault you for it.”
For a moment no one spoke or moved. The major stood in the center of the floor, staring at them as if they were all quite mad; then he donned his hat, gave the earl and Lady Arbuthnot a formal bow, and said, “You may expect to hear from my barrister in the morning. I shall see myself out.” And with that, he walked angrily out of the study.
Madam Dimbleby got up from her chair. “I should see him to the door,” she said before hurrying after him.
Once she’d gone, Ian felt his shoulders relax and he gave the earl his biggest smile. “Thank you, my lord!”
But the earl’s eyes suggested that he was far more concerned about the way things had gone than he’d initially let on. “If he goes to the courts, we’ll lose,” he said softly.
Lady Arbuthnot agreed. “Yes,” she said. “The letters and his classmate’s testimony will surely get the court to side with him.”
“But what about what you told the major?” Ian protested. “About Theo being in terrible danger outside these walls?”
Lady Arbuthnot looked at him with her kind eyes and Ian knew she held little hope for their cause. “Ian, no one would believe us if we told them the real reason Theo must stay with us. They would laugh us right out of the courtroom.”
Ian’s heart sank. He knew they’d hardly seen the last of Major Fitzgerald. The moment Theo had gone down those stairs, the man had seen not his daughter, but her mother, and Ian could tell that the major had dearly loved Jacinda Barthorpe. He knew that Major Fitzgerald would fight all the way to the high court to take Theo home with him, just to have a close connection to the woman he’d obviously never stopped loving. “There must be something we can do!” Ian cried.
The earl wiped a hand over his face, looking far wearier than the hour called for. “I will stall as long as I can,” he promised. “I will hire my best inspectors to investigate the relationship between Theo’s mother and the major, and I shall insist upon unswerving proof before I hand the young miss over.”
“He’s not my father,” Theo whispered, looking a bit desperate.
The earl’s eyes flashed to her. “Lass,” he said gently, “I must prepare you for the inevitable. It may not matter.”
Ian, Carl, Theo, and Jaaved met in the tower room much later that evening. “What are we going to do?” Jaaved asked.
Ian stared at the floor, thoroughly dispirited. “I’ve no idea,” he said.
“We could leave,” Carl said softly. Ian raised his eyes to look at his friend. “I mean, why wait round here for the major to take Theo away when we’ve got plenty of money from the treasure we brought back from Morocco to take us someplace far away where no one would even think to look for her.”
Jaaved shifted uncomfortably, and Ian knew that he didn’t like the idea of leaving the keep. “You want to stay behind, don’t you?” he asked the Moroccan boy.
Jaaved grimaced. “Yes,” he admitted. “But I feel you’ll need me, especially if you plan to return to the portal. So I’ll go where you go, Ian.”
Ian smiled gratefully at him. “Excellent, Jaaved. That just leaves us with deciding where.”
“We could go to America!” Jaaved suggested, his face suddenly lighting up with the idea of the adventure. “Or Australia!”
Carl pumped his head up and down enthusiastically. “We could!”
“But what about the prophecy?” Theo protested. “Have you all forgotten about our duty to Laodamia? We’ll be called upon soon enough to go back through the portal and find the Healer.”
“We could always return when the time is right, Theo,” Ian said, liking Carl’s idea more and more.
But Theo appeared unconvinced. “How are we to know when it’s time if we’re halfway round the world?”
Carl frowned. “She’s got a point there.”
Ian stood up from the wooden crate he’d been sitting on and began to pace the floor. “Don’t you see that it doesn’t matter, Theo? If we stay here and the major takes you away before we have a chance to find the Healer, none of what Laodamia planned for us will come true. Without you, the whole plan’s off. If we leave now, at least we’d have a chance.”
“He’s got a good point,” Carl said, and Ian gave him an impatient look. “What?” Carl said defensively. “You’ve both got good points is all I’m saying!”
Theo toyed with her crystal and turned to stare out at the starlit sky. “Very well,” she said after a bit. “We’ll go.” Ian beamed her a relieved smile. “But we’ll not go far,” she insisted. “We’ll need to be close enough so that we can return to the portal quickly.”
“America and Australia are out, then,” said Jaaved.
“We could go back to France,” Carl suggested. Ian flinched involuntarily. He knew what Carl was thinking—that their stay in Toulouse had been most pleasant for him—but for Ian it had been torture.
So he was greatly relieved when Theo said, “We can’t go back and stay with the Lafittes, Carl.”
“Why not?”
“Because they would surely contact the earl with our whereabouts.”
“She’s got a point there, mate,” Ian said, adding a playful smile when Carl looked at him crossly.
“Yeah, yeah,” Carl agreed. “Still, France or Normandy seem the best choice for us. They’re just across the channel, and we could board passage from Dover.”
“How will we sneak out?” Jaaved asked. “Someone’s sure to see us leaving the grounds.”
Ian tapped his chin thoughtfully. “We’ll go at night,” he said. “An hour before dawn. It’ll be a bit dodgy, what with the earl’s extra patrols, but we should be able to manage it without too much trouble. With any luck we can purchase our tickets and cross the channel on the morning ferry.”
“I’ve seen the schedule posted down at the market,” said Carl. “The first boat leaves at six in the morning.”
“Perfect,” Theo said. “What day shall we leave?”
“We’ll need at least a week to gather supplies and such,” Ian told her. “And we can use the knapsacks we brought back from Morocco. We’ll collect our supplies, extra clothing, and our money and store them in the knapsacks at the bottom of the ladder under the bench.”
Jaaved asked, “How much money should we bring along?”
“Enough for the tickets and a month’s lodging, I suppose. How much do each of you have here at the keep?”
“I’m good for twenty quid,” said Carl.
“I’ve got fifty,” said Jaaved.
“I’m with Carl,” Ian said. “I’ve got a twenty-pound note hidden under my mattress.”
Everyone turned to Theo, who had an enormous grin on her face. “We’ll have plenty of money, Ian. Not to worry.”
“How much have you got?” Carl asked.
Theo swiped a blond curl from her eyes. “I’ve got five hundred pounds,” she said proudly. They all gasped and Theo giggled. “Several weeks ago I had a feeling we’d be needing some extra money, so one day, while running errands with Lady Arbuthnot, I stopped at the Bank of Brittan and made a withdrawal.”
“That’s got to be enough for all of us to live on for at least a year or two,” Carl said with a wide smile. “Good thinking, Theo!”
Ian could feel the tension of the past day leave his shoulders as their plans were finalized. “Smashing,” he said with a clap of his hands. “We’ll leave one week from tonight. Be discreet about gathering your
supplies. Carl, don’t forget to pack the torches, and some extra batteries. Jaaved, we may need to leave most of your crystals behind. I don’t think there’ll be room in the knapsacks for them. And, Theo, see what you can do about dropping hints to a few of the other orphans about how worried you are about going away with the major, and how you’d much prefer to go back to Toulouse.”
“Why on earth would I say that?” Theo asked, and the other boys looked at Ian as if he’d gone daft.
“Toulouse makes sense,” he explained. “When we come up missing, and the earl conducts a search for us, he’ll begin by looking in the south of France. I’m sure he’ll check with the port master to make certain we purchased tickets to Calais, which of course we’ll do, but once we reach France, we’ll turn right round and book passage to Dunkirk, then make our way to Amsterdam.”
“We’re going to Belgium?” Jaaved asked.
Ian smiled. Jaaved liked maps and geography just as much as he did, and the lad had learned quite a bit about the layout of Europe in the year he’d been at the keep. “We are,” Ian told him. “I’ll see about getting into the earl’s library to pinch us an atlas for the journey.”
With a plan in hand, everyone retired for the evening, both excited and nervous about the week ahead.
THE SERPENT
Two days after they’d made their plans, Ian was able to convince the headmistresses to allow Landis to escort him to Castle Dover on the pretense of finding a new book to read. Landis seemed more than pleased to take Ian to the earl’s residence, and Ian suspected that this was due to the new laundry maid the earl had recently acquired.
Once a week some members of the castle’s staff came to the keep to assist the headmistresses with laundry and food preparation, and Ian had seen Landis’s eyes light up when he and the maid had been introduced.
And sure enough, the moment Ian arrived at the earl’s library, Landis offered up an excuse about needing a bit of starch from the laundry room, and hurried away. Once Ian was alone in the large room, he began to scan the shelves for a suitable atlas. The earl had several, but Ian had his favorite. He knew just the one he wanted; it was a large leather-bound tome with fantastic detail and legible writing. He knew he wouldn’t be able to take the entire atlas with him on the escape five nights hence, and he’d already resigned himself to the necessity of tearing out the appropriate page about Belgium and hoping that the earl didn’t think to search through his collection of atlases for a possible clue to where they’d gone. He could only cross his fingers that the earl would never notice, and if he ever found a similar atlas on his travels, he would make sure to purchase it and send it in replacement.