‘Well,’ Lord Derby intervened on my behalf, ‘I dare say that our Miss Granville is a rather extraordinary lady.’
‘I believe that she is,’ Mr Devere commented, his pleasant smile showing some cheek, as I could see this morning’s encounter playing on his mind.
‘What woman could pride herself on being ordinary?’ I asked.
‘Far too many, unfortunately,’ Mr Devere said with glee, as the steward entered to inform us that breakfast was served. ‘Miss Granville?’ The fair young lord offered me his arm to escort me to the dining room.
As Simon was escorting his bride-to-be, Lord Derby was escorting Lady Cavandish, and Lord Devere had offered Susan his arm, I had little choice but to smile and graciously accept.
After breakfast the men decided upon a little game shooting and although I was invited to join them I declined, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to escape into the gardens and try out my summons. Miss Devere was exhausted from her journey and had gone to her quarters to rest for a while.
‘So…tell me all.’ Susan trailed me through the garden. ‘What did you see? Is Lord Devere not very fine indeed?’
‘Yes. The entire family is very fine,’ I asserted. ‘They are all in fine health and good spirits, and have no ill will to speak of.’
Susan clapped her hands at this. ‘And do you think I made a good first impression on Lord Devere?’
My pace slowed at the question for I did find it rather amusing. ‘I did note that his heart centre had a rather rosy pink glow to it, but…’ I spoke up over her pending excited outburst, ‘as I did not see him before you made his acquaintance, I cannot say for sure if you inspired this excess of goodwill.’
‘Oooooh,’ she pouted, my answer not quite what she wanted. ‘Do you think that another might have already stolen his heart? Did you pick up on some thought to that effect?’
‘Susan, you know that I have been trained to protect myself from the thoughts of others by Lady Charlotte, lest I go mad in society.’
‘But you can still do it if you want to,’ she suggested gamely. ‘Will you?’
My perturbed look was not the response that Susan had been fishing for.
‘As a very special favour to me.’ She clasped both hands together and used her big blue eyes to try and enlist me to her cause.
‘And what shall you do for me in return?’ I teased, knowing full well I would never hear the end of it until I agreed.
‘What can I do?’ she appealed, keen to strike a deal.
As we had reached the large patch of lawn amid the gardens which I felt to be perfect for my purpose, I halted and turned Susan back to face the house. ‘You can keep watch for me and make sure that I am not interrupted.’
‘Why?’ Susan was immediately intrigued and a little worried. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Ah, no questions,’ I bargained. ‘Do we have a deal or not?’
‘I suppose.’ Susan was reluctant. ‘Will this take long?’
‘Not long.’ I searched for a stick and moving onto the patch of lawn I carefully drew a large unbroken circle around me.
‘Is this some kind of witchcraft?’ Susan queried, keeping her voice as low as she could; the idea obviously distressed her.
‘You’re supposed to be watching that way.’ I pointed to the house, whereupon Susan gave a heavy sigh and complied with my instructions.
I knelt in the centre of my protected space and pulled out my treasure stone. Focusing my intent upon it, I began to recite in a low tone the incantation that I had memorised.
Spirit of good omen,
Who art come to aid me,
Believe I have great need of thee.
Spirit of the Red Gnome
Come to aid me in my time of need.
I beg of thee, do not abandon me,
But attach now to this stone,
That on my person, I may carry thee.
And so when anything is needed by me,
I can call unto thee, be what it may,
Do not abandon me by night or day.
And what should be my reward for such service?
Upon raising my eyes from the stone, the presence that met my eyes was not at all what I had expected.
Before me stood a full-grown man, not a ghost or a shade but a lustrous spirit being. He was dressed in the mail of a mediaeval knight and over his armour he wore a white tunic that bore a red cross.
‘Oh my.’ I stood so that I might have some chance of looking the rather tall fellow in the eye.
‘What’s wrong?’ Susan queried, unable to see what I perceived.
‘Nothing, all is well,’ I called back to her. ‘Keep watch.’ Rolling her eyes, Susan turned back to face the house.
There is no need to speak aloud and alarm others. I can hear your thoughts as well as your words. The handsome knight smiled.
In fact, he was very handsome and exotic in appearance. His eyes and straight hair were very dark, and his skin had a Mediterranean glow. Had he been living, I might have found him a man worth pursuing.
But who are you? I asked, truly baffled.
Did you not ask for the assistance of a spirit of the Red Gnome? he replied.
Well, yes…
I am one of the breed that you seek.
But…I thought you’d be… I held my hand lower to the ground to indicate small.
Ah! He seemed to comprehend the misunderstanding. You were seeking the aid of an earth elemental.
But I was under the impression that gnomes were—
He shook his head. The reason guardians, like myself, have become confused with the gnomes of the fairy realm is because we are the guardians of the sacred and secret doctrine of Gnosis, in which is found the keys to unlocking the ancestral Otherworld. It is from the term Gnosis that the title of gnome was originally derived. It was only later that my kind were banished to the realm of make-believe and myth, and confused with the nature elementals that concern themselves with the Earth and the protection of her natural treasures. Although the latter do surely exist, I am clearly not one of them. I’m afraid you have been misled by the fables spun throughout the ages…but that is hardly your fault. Indeed, no text of true esoteric worth has been written this side of year 1 AD, and if it has, then it was banned, destroyed or distorted to the ends of those in power.
I felt my mouth dropping open and closed it. My hunger for such knowledge and talk was overwhelming, for it had been suppressed for far too long.
I do apologise for my ignorance, but it seems that in this case my error has been rather fortunate. You mentioned a reward for your service to me. What kind of a reward would you require to teach me the hidden mysteries?
The knight stroked his smooth chin as he contemplated his answer. All I would require in return for my tuition is your trust, for you must understand that any secret doctrine will go against the grain of everything you have come to believe to be the truth.
As eager as I was to consent, the false belief to which he referred was ringing in my head—gnomes and fairies are tricksters!
I understand your doubt. He answered my unspoken fear, which was rather embarrassing.
I am sorry, I must seem so ignorant, but—
He held up a hand to halt my apology. I foresee much travel in your future, he told me, and due to your unusual talents I could lead you places where, by virtue of your inner knowing, you could confirm my claims for yourself. I have never been one for blind faith myself.
He spoke of my talent for psychometry, the ability to read the memories of objects and people. I had often wondered how this talent might be put to better use than merely learning the history of things, or finding lost items.
Indeed. He could hear my inner thoughts churning over his statements. In this case you could find the lost truth behind the history of this world and overturn every misconception that those in power have made it their priority to suppress.
I had never held much faith in religious teachings, that was true, and no
t even Lady Charlotte had been able to bring much enlightenment to the mystery of human origins. I thought about his offer, but what scholar, psychic or no, in their right mind, could resist it?
Or, I could tell you how to rephrase your summons to call up the kind of entity you were seeking in the first place .. . but in your case I believe I can be of more aid and protection than a toiler of the soil.
I looked at the round stone in my hand as I considered his proposal.
Do you not even wonder at the shape of your amulet? Why it had to be round with a hole in the middle?
He knew the truth, for I did not know.
‘Someone is coming,’ Susan called back to me.
I was out of time, and although I wanted to hear his explanation, if I agreed to his terms I could ask him later. I find our arrangement most agreeable, friend. I would be honoured to be your pupil.
The knight smiled, pleased with my commitment. Then use your stone to summon me forth at your leisure, and the name to which I will answer is Albray.
I nodded.
But I would advise you not to bother trying to summon a fairy with the stone, for one of the fey is already attached.
Really? And that entity’s name is?
Ashlee Granville.
Pardon?
He chuckled at my bemusement as he faded from my sight.
‘Ashlee? Did you hear me?’
‘Yes, I heard.’ I was perplexed and annoyed. It seemed that I never had enough time to pursue investigations that were truly interesting and worthy of consideration. ‘I’m done.’ I quickly obscured the circle by brushing the grass with my feet.
‘It is Mr Devere.’ Susan hurried to my side, excited for me. ‘I wonder what he could want with us.’
‘I am sure I don’t know.’ I pretended not to understand her implication that he was interested in me, nor to note the rosy glow of his heart expand as he drew nearer to us.
‘Ladies.’ He gave a slight bow in greeting.
‘Mr Devere.’ I responded with a small curtsey, as did Susan. ‘Is the game not afoot today?’ I wondered why he was not away shooting with the men, as planned.
‘On the contrary, the game is in fine form,’ he said, his eyes intent upon me. ‘However, there is another caller at the house, and Lord Derby has asked that you join them for tea and introductions.’
‘Then we are much obliged for your consideration in seeking us out.’ Susan linked arms with me to ensure I did not delay, and upon moving off toward the house, my treasure slipped from my hand.
‘Miss Granville, you dropped this.’ Mr Devere was quick to be of assistance, but seeing him hold the enchanted stone out to me, I was horrified.
‘No, you must not give this to me.’ I panicked, and knew I was confusing the issue, but Mr Devere seemed a good fellow. ‘It would bring you bad luck.’
He laughed at my distress. ‘I am not superstitious.’ He insisted that I take the stone from him, but still I would not.
‘Could you not drop it, and I shall retrieve it?’ I suggested. Susan quickly corrected my bad manners.
‘Really, Ashlee, no gentleman could allow what you suggest,’ she whispered in an aside to me.
‘I promise no harm will come of it.’ He pressed the stone into my hand. ‘Any service to you, Miss Granville, is my greatest pleasure.’
Then why could you not have done as I asked? I wondered. ‘I’m much obliged to you, sir.’ After all, I did give him fair warning. Why should I worry if he freely invited misfortune upon himself?
However, the mishap did make me realise that I should find a secure place on my person to store the treasure, so that I could not curse anyone else with my little experiment. The trouble with female attire is that there are no pockets, and to wear the piece on a chain around my neck, rather than the tiny cross I wore at present, under sufferance, would surely mark me as the pagan I was. I decided I would ask Nanny Beat to make a little pouch in which I would place the enchanted stone and then pin it under my attire where it would escape the notice of everyone.
LESSON 4
COURTSHIP
I was expecting an afternoon of polite conversation and boredom, and yet, to my great delight, I could not have been more mistaken.
The older gentleman Lord Cavandish introduced over tea was the Viscount of Herefordshire, Lord Douglas Hamilton, who was a self-taught, self-styled archaeologist. He had travelled through the Near East and beyond in his younger days researching the origins of the sacred doctrines of the church. He was also a theologian who had undertaken extensive investigation into many other religions and beliefs, and had been banned from lecturing at English universities because of his open views. Still, he’d made a fortune lecturing on the Continent and his fame made him something of a celebrity at home. Lord Cavandish was very fond of him, as he had attended many of the viscount’s lectures before his services had been politely discontinued by the English system.
‘I knew that you would be something of a fascination for Miss Granville, Lord Hereford.’ Lord Cavandish gave a chuckle, noting that my gaze had not shifted from the viscount in over fifteen minutes. ‘She has long aspired to travel…to pursue an interest in the very same area of your speciality.’
I was spellbound by the tales of France, Italy, Egypt and India. Lord Hereford chose his words for clarity, and the warm velvet character of his voice made listening to him speak an absolute pleasure. The tales of his travels were to me more uplifting than the most stirring adagio, more intriguing than a work of the theatre could ever dare to be, and more tangible and personal than any book I had ever read.
‘You have an interest in ancient doctrines, Miss Granville?’ the viscount inquired politely.
The viscount was still a handsome man, and I won’t say ‘for his age’, because he was just handsome—period. His greying fair hair only made him appear more dignified. He was trim from a life on the move, and had skin that had seen too many days in the hot sun. His eyes were pale blue, large and sunken into their sockets, and although weary-looking now, his face had many laugh-lines.
‘A vested interest, you might say,’ I commented, finding myself to be a little more cheeky and vivacious than usual. I had never so wanted to seem mature in my life and not give the appearance of a silly young girl. ‘I was fortunate enough to have had Lord Derby’s library in Dumfries at my disposal for the last ten years, and the Dowager Countess of Derby, Lady Charlotte Cavandish, has collected many fascinating and rare books from her time on the Continent.’
The viscount’s smile conveyed to me a fond recognition of my governess’ name; I rather suspected that she and the viscount would be firm friends as they held similar views. ‘I have studied the Bible closely and found many inconsistencies that I feel need more examination than those of us who are not of the cloth are permitted to undertake. For example, I wonder why the salves mentioned in relation to the embalming of the dead body of our Lord Jesus were all healing salves?’ The viscount seemed to be surprised and delighted by my musings. ‘And when Moses and the Israelites left the Nile Delta, their obvious route to Canaan would have led across the wilderness of the northern Sinai…so why did they push southward into difficult high country to spend time at the mountain now known as Mt Sinai? It certainly wasn’t to get the Ten Commandments because, as far as I can tell, they were taken from a verse in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. And besides, it is far more likely that the mountain Moses reportedly visited was the one now known as Mt Serâbit.’
When the viscount looked to Lord Cavandish, shocked, I feared I had gone too far, yet Lord Cavandish responded with a smile and a knowing nod. The visiting lord looked back to me and a grin formed on his face. ‘That was precisely the information I was pursuing in my travels.’
I gasped. I couldn’t help it, it was as if I’d just found God! ‘You are Douglas Hamilton! Who wrote the treatise on the mistaken location of Mt Sinai?’ My grin broadened as the viscount nodded, a blush of pride upon his face. ‘Of course, the Dowager
Countess of Derby bought a copy when on the Continent.’
‘I am amazed that a copy made it to England,’ chuckled the old scholar. ‘I never thought to be read at home.’
‘This is hardly suitable conversation to be having in the presence of impressionable young women.’ Lord Devere spoke up on behalf of his sister Catherine and Lady Susan, neither of whom showed any dismay at my questioning, although Lord Devere did himself seem rattled. Susan had heard plenty of the same from me in the past, but she suppressed a grin and tried to seem grateful for the intervention of her new love interest.
‘I do apologise, Lord Devere,’ Lord Hamilton replied, ‘but as your family motto is “No truth higher than the truth”, I rather expected your kin would be more open-minded.’
I was forced to suck in my cheeks to refrain from laughter, and I bowed my head and coughed into my napkin to disguise my amusement.
‘Perhaps a stroll in the garden, ladies.’ Lord Devere offered his sister and Susan an arm.
Oh yes, the young earl admired my good friend. I didn’t need to read his thoughts to know that he was falling in love with her. The rosy pink glow of his heart had almost penetrated the confines of his body and once his heart’s energy mingled with hers, it would be all over. I was pleased to note that Susan was being cautious with her affections; Lord Devere was much keener than she was at this stage of the game and that information would certainly please Susan when she came for her report later today.
Lord Neith was easily persuaded into taking a stroll with his wife-to-be. ‘Will you join us, Earnest?’ Lady Catherine asked her younger brother, who had been standing by the window admiring the view.
‘I am rather interested in the conversation,’ he said lightheartedly, and moved to join those of us seated on the lounges by the low-burning fire.
For a moment I thought I might have underestimated Mr Devere, but then the realisation hit me. Of course he’d take my side. He was after my inheritance and wealth, despite his large yearly allowance. As a second son he would not inherit. He would have to buy land or be granted an estate and title by the king—or better, and easier still, he could marry into a peerage.