Gene of Isis

hand had come to rest upon the stone shoved between my breast and my corset for safekeeping.

I was so preoccupied with my current mood that I had no desire to call upon my new otherworldly associate this evening. I wanted to retire into sleep and allow visions of ancient and sacred places to fill my dreams.

I leant back in my chair and contemplated ringing for Nanny to assist me to undress, when from the corner of my eye I saw a note slide under my door.

The note was sealed with wax but not stamped, and upon opening the door I realised the messenger must have departed the hallway in haste.

I shut myself inside my room before opening the note which read—Look out your window. I crossed the room to the window and, pulling the heavy drapes slightly apart, I spied Mr Devere standing by the gaslight feature in the courtyard, with my missing bonnet in hand. He grinned and waved.

I closed the curtain at once. ‘What must I do to be rid of that man!’ I searched for my shawl. ‘I’ve only known him one day and already I wish we’d never met!’ I resolved that I’d best go fetch my bonnet if I wished to avoid the risk of having to explain to anyone else how it went missing.

The temperature was chilly and I made it clear that I didn’t appreciate being dragged outdoors as I curtseyed politely. ‘This is a little inappropriate, don’t you think, Mr Devere?’

‘Well, I have been trying to get you alone all day to return it, Miss Granville,’ he explained, in good humour, ‘but your fascination with Lord Hamilton forced me to this solution.’

‘Could you not have had a maid drop it back to my room?’

‘But that might have led to gossip,’ he suggested with a cheeky smile.

‘Well, I daresay if anyone sees us at present it will generate far more gossip.’ I tried not to be amused by my own comment. ‘So, I bid you good evening—’

‘Don’t go.’ He reached for my wrist to prevent my departure and then immediately let go. ‘Tell me what you were doing with your bare feet in an icycold stream at the break of dawn this morning?’

‘Fishing,’ I responded in jest and gave a laugh.

‘Well, I daresay you caught something.’ The man’s tone turned intimate and goodwill oozed from his being.

‘Yes.’ I pretended not to catch his meaning. ‘A cold, most likely, that is being irritated by this night air.’ This time when I made for indoors he did not make a move to stop me.

‘Funny, you don’t seem the social climbing type, Miss Granville.’

His words stopped me in my tracks. I turned back to face him and wonder at his implication.

‘Would you really choose a title over true love and happiness?’ he posited with an arrogance so familiar that I was offended almost beyond response.

‘You assume a great deal from one day’s acquaintance,’ I replied, boiling with fury inside.

‘I fear that a distant assessment is all the opportunity you shall ever allow me, because I was born a second son.’

My heart sank at his low assessment of my character, but what was more worrying was that I cared what he thought—why? ‘I do not feel it fair that you should judge me by the desires of other women. I have a different set of values, motives and goals from most of my gender, so far as I am aware…except perhaps the Dowager Countess of Derby.’

He nodded his head to grant that my governess had a somewhat doubtful reputation in society. ‘I had the great honour of meeting her once, when I was about twelve years old.’ He seemed more at ease now that we had found a conversation and departed the argument. ‘I stumbled upon her taking solace in a quiet moment, separated from the ball that my parents were hosting. She asked me if I wanted to learn something about myself.’ He nodded and smiled to confirm he had taken her up on the offer, and when he raised his eyebrows, I assumed he’d found her discourse very interesting. ‘I do believe that, in the hour she spoke to me that night, she told me more about myself than I have managed to deduce since.’

His hearty laugh amused me. He was rather different to your average, stuffy, run-of-the-mill nobleman. He actually had me interested. ‘Did she speak to you of your nature, or future events?’ I knew my governess and the courses her insights took.

‘Both.’ He sounded surprised that I had managed to predict the turn of their discussion. ‘I’ve never spoken of it to anyone before, but I feel I must tell you, for the Dowager Lady Cavandish predicted many events in my life…and I do believe that she predicted my meeting you, Miss Granville.’

Now that twist in the conversation I had not expected. ‘Why do you think so?’ Damn my curiosity, I had to ask.

Mr Devere suddenly became uncomfortable and he hesitated. ‘I didn’t expect that we’d be having this conversation so soon…perhaps it would be best left for when you have had more time to assess my character. For I am not the money-hungry lord wish-to-be that I fear you take me for. I’d like a little time to prove that to you.’

My mind went blank. I was shocked that one day in society could lead to such complicated emotional situations! What was I going to say to this man, for clearly he did carry feelings for me already. I had been warned, and well knew, that my kin took their courting very seriously…but one day! What if this was what every day would bring? I now realised why women in my position chose to marry so fast—to escape situations like this! ‘Believe me when I say that I would only bring you grief. It is because you are such a fine being, Mr Devere, that I know you shall be far happier, contented and prosperous without me in your life.’

‘Contented and prosperous I’ll grant, for I have been warned that would be the case. But shall I be happier? I do believe you will be proved wrong on that count.’

I could usually sense a lie and he was far too confident to be lying. ‘Well, I cannot comment, as I do not know the details of the confidence to which you refer. Lady Charlotte never disclosed any prediction of our meeting to me.’

‘Did she not?’ He seemed surprised, and became quiet, pondering his next move.