‘You could bid us leave with the greatest haste,’ I suggested.
The Pasha’s official obviously had better things to do than to stand around listening to a bunch of English people talking gibberish. As we all seemed to be getting along, he gave up on even trying to follow our discourse. ‘Be gone from my city before daybreak,’ he told all the tourists present.
‘I shall see to it personally.’ A confused Mr Banks gave his assurance as he showed the officials to the door.
‘Can someone please explain what just happened?’ Lord Devere appealed to his brother and me.
‘Mrs Devere has been kidnapped, you say,’ Lord Malory cut in. ‘Is it true, Earnest?’
‘I need to know how I can shield myself from Molier’s eyes.’ Mr Devere had his own question.
‘Has he got her?’ Malory had to know first.
‘No.’ Mr Devere would admit that much. ‘Is there a way I can keep Molier at a distance?’
As Lord Malory nodded and began to explain, Lord Devere was compelled to cut in. ‘Can we go now?’
‘We cannot leave now!’ I was surprised that James would leave his brother in Lord Malory’s hands and sail off back to England, especially now that our sister’s safety was again in doubt.
‘I was referring to Cairo.’ My husband corrected my misunderstanding. ‘They can talk about their demon banishing spells on the way.’
My jaw dropped open. I could hardly believe that my husband: A) was prepared to go to Cairo, and, B) could speak of anything occult in a casual, accepting manner. ‘Is this Lord Devere before me, or some impostor?’
‘I saw something tonight that I cannot explain,’ he said seriously. ‘Once I have a reasonable assurance that there is no further danger to our family,
James knew I was proud of his resolution, but I suspected that he wasn’t pursuing this mystery to please me any more. He now had a personal agenda. What had he seen tonight?
I had no time to ask as Malory agreed with my lord that we needed to leave Alexandria while the going was still good.
‘Wait.’ Mr Devere took hold of Lord Malory’s arm. ‘Did you have any involvement in the death of Lord Hereford?’
‘No.’ He refuted the suggestion doggedly. ‘I have explained—’
Mr Devere held up a finger to silence Lord Malory and focused on the man’s inner thoughts.
‘He’s telling the truth,’ my brother-in-law stated, to set all our minds at ease. His and my own at least. I believe my husband still had his doubts about his brother’s psychic abilities.
Lord Malory was smiling now, and not because he had been cleared of the suspicion of murder. ‘Your full potential has been realised,’ he stated, proud of his student. ‘I can train you to hone these abilities. You can be of greater assistance to your wife in her quest. And, clearly, you must now know that my intentions are the best. I have done only what I must to ensure your wife’s safety and wellbeing.’
Mr Devere had not let go of the lord’s hand and again he focused on Malory’s inner knowing. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Mrs Devere’s destiny?’
‘Prophecy is not an exact science, even for someone so talented as Lady Charlotte,’ Malory explained. ‘We had no way of knowing your wife would pursue this quest until she chose to do so of her own free will. Had you known, and perhaps warned her of our suspicions, would such a wilful soul as she still have taken it up with such fervour?’
‘What have you planned for our children?’ Devere remembered Ashlee’s concern and decided to clear up the matter while he had Lord Malory on the spot.
‘Only what they, in the grand scheme, choose for themselves.’ Malory was clearly troubled by his student’s doubts about the brotherhood. ‘It has been foreseen that your children will achieve great spiritual enlightenment, but this is not something the brotherhood can bring about. Our function is one of protection, not dictation.’
‘Protection from whom?’ I stepped in to inquire. ‘Molier?’
Malory shook his head.
‘Are you referring to the church?’ Lord Devere was clearly shocked and uncomfortable with the suggestion.
Again Malory shook his head. ‘The church are a concern, but they are by no means the greatest. But, no need to worry. For regardless of its shortcomings, the church has come to play a beneficial role in society and we have no intention of destroying their function, now that they are finally doing more good than harm.’
Lord Devere’s patience and beliefs were being sorely tried. ‘I believe that god knows the truth, and if the church needs deconstructing the Almighty will arrange it.’
‘Absolutely correct. But god works through men, Lord Devere,’ Malory suggested, ‘and I trust that by the end of this adventure, you shall be seeing life, the world and its history in a very different light.’
‘No truth higher than the truth,’ Mr Devere reminded his brother of their family motto. ‘There is no point in arguing what time will tell us. Best keep your eyes and mind open and discern the truth for yourself.’
Lord Devere looked to me to ascertain my thoughts on the matter. ‘“I know nothing compared to everything there is to know and learn”.’ I quoted the philosopher Socrates. ‘Knowledge flows from right action and thus, so long as we adhere to our purest intentions then god is working through us.’ I referred back to what Lord Malory had said, managing to unite both sides of the argument, rather than take sides and cause a greater divide.
‘Bravo.’ Lord Malory praised my reasoning. ‘Spoken like a true Cavandish…and a true Devere for that matter.’
I was pleased with the compliment and my husband was plainly proud of me also. ‘So, gentlemen, shall we
