Authors: Traci Harding
‘Miss Granville.’ He bowed his head in greeting. ‘It is a great pleasure to finally meet the ladies we have constantly heard our dear friend speak of with such high regard.’
‘The pleasure is all mine, Lord Devere.’ I curtseyed politely.
Next, Simon introduced me to his bride-to-be, who was stunningly fair in comparison to her eldest brother, but the lovely blue eyes and slender, tall form were the same.
‘And last, but by no means least, I present to you Mr Devere.’ Simon led me in the gentleman’s direction.
The man in question had been at the window admiring the view when I entered, but upon closer inspection I realised that this was the gentleman I had shamed myself in front of this morning. I caught my gasp of surprise in my throat and
curtseyed to him, praying that he did not expose my earlier indiscretion.
‘A delight it is to meet you, Miss Granville.’ His smile disclosed his knowledge to me only.
Like his sister, Mr Devere was very fair and his hair was combed neatly back from his face, where it sat in tight natural curls at the nape of his neck. His eyes were of a paler shade of blue than his relatives’, but they sparkled just as brightly.
‘Mr Devere rode down on horseback,’ Simon informed me, ‘and has just been telling us how beautiful he found the wilds beyond the manor on approach.’
‘Indeed.’ I tried not to blush as panic rose from my heart into my throat. ‘Hartsford Manor is truly blessed by its breathtaking surrounds.’
‘Yes,’ the fellow agreed, ‘breathtaking is just the word to describe the scenery, despite the chill I detected in the air this morning. Still, I trust that with the spring the atmosphere will be far more accommodating.’
I understood his implication well enough.
‘The hunting is very fine too,’ Simon said, thankfully sparing me from having to respond. ‘Miss Granville is quite a fine shot herself, although she refuses to aim at anything living.’
The gentlemen had a laugh at my expense.
‘It is a woman’s nature to create and not destroy, is it not?’ I piped up in my own defence.
‘Then why learn to shoot at all?’ Lord Devere inquired, curious as to my motive.
‘One never knows when one might be faced with an animal that can shoot back,’ I replied winningly. ‘Better to have some skill with a gun or a bow and
arrow than to leave oneself defenceless and in need of saving.’
‘What an extraordinary viewpoint you have, Miss Granville,’ Lord Devere commented.
‘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 not 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.