'Correct,' I replied, not looking up from my study of an old Latin text on nature spirits and fairy lore. I was hoping to gain some insight into how to make contact with the elemental kingdoms of nature, an area of psychic study that was grossly lacking in doc.u.mentation.

This was an area that Lady Charlotte had never researched in depth, so she could not advise me. She claimed this was a practice for the highly adept, as the elements of nature were not easily befriended and were renowned mischief-makers if not properly handled. They also detested most adult human beings for their destruction of nature, their bad habits and their erratic emotions.

Lady Charlotte suggested I might fare better with my investigations. She was rather fond of wine and red meat and she thought this was why she had never been able to attract any of the spirits of nature. I preferred tea, or just boiled water; I ate red meat on rare occasions, such as when the fish were not biting.

Susan had been quiet while she pondered what she read, then said, 'Well, if this incident changed Lord Granville's mind about Great Aunt Charlotte being your tutor, then some good came of it. I cannot imagine how bored I would have been these past ten years had I not had you to share my education.'

I broke from my reading to smile at Susan. She was my best, and only, friend of my own age and I completely shared her sentiment.

'Still, those poor little souls.' The knowledge weighed on her heart which was one of the sincerest and kindest I had ever known. 'Is there no justice in this world?'

'Some,' I a.s.sured. 'Lady Charlotte held a seance and a.s.sisted those lost souls to leave their tormented existence on this earthly plane and cross over into the celestial world where they could finally find peace.'

'So was it the electric shock that changed Lord Granville's mind about your education with my Great Aunt?' Susan was a girl with a l.u.s.t for detail.

I nodded. 'The thought of having to deal with my psychic outbursts on a regular basis was just too much for papa to cope with. He was petrified that I would ruin his career and reputation. And Lady Charlotte pointed out that an untrained psychic was an open channel that allowed anything to pour through, so I would be far more troublesome in a state of ignorance than if I was trained to control my abilities. Father relented and accepted Lord Cavandish's gift.'

Before we'd even met I had secured Susan's undying devotion for saving her life and the lives of her entire family. And, although I felt that this debt had been repaid when Lord Cavandish had saved me from the asylum, the Cavandishs' grat.i.tude to me had never waned.

Susan closed the diary and gave a great sigh. 'I wish I had some of your talent.'

'No, you don't,' I insisted. 'Clairvoyance generally leads one into dark and scary places, Susan, and you can't even bear walking to the kitchen in the dark!' I laughed as she gasped at the insult.

'That's not true.' Susan sat upright to protest. 'It's the rats that bother me, not the dark.'

She was so easy to bait. I smiled at her. 'There are far scarier beasts in the world than rats.'

'So it would seem.' Susan placed the diary aside, as Nanny Beat knocked and entered.

'Her ladyship would like to see you both in her drawing room,' she announced.

'Thank you, Nanny,' we both said and she withdrew.

It was unusual to be summoned at this time in the evening. Susan and I were usually at leisure, and as the Dowager Countess Cavandish was not getting any younger, she retired early most nights.

Susan looked at me, an air of excitement in her expression. 'Maybe this is it.'

The 'it' Susan referred to was the season's social calendar-or, more to the point, having a social calendar. Susan had just turned seventeen, and my eighteenth was fast approaching. I had convinced my tutor and my parents to delay my social 'coming out' for a year until Susan had come of age and we could face the marriage market together.

The marriage market was a round of b.a.l.l.s, dances, dinner parties, breakfasts and similar festive affairs, during which a young woman was presented to society for the sole purpose of catching herself an eligible young man to marry. Personally, I was disgusted by the whole idea. I had no desire to join this marketplace. I liked my girlish clothes, being ignored by adults and being too young to be expected to attend social affairs. All that was about to change, and after years of being able to be honest and forthright about my opinions and theories, it would be back to playing social games and biting my tongue.

'Aren't you excited?' Susan interlocked her arm with mine and gave it a squeeze as we proceeded to Lady Charlotte's withdrawing room. 'Finally, we can show cleavage!'

'Actually,' I confessed, 'I'd much prefer a nun's habit and a convent, if it didn't mean dedicating my life to the ridiculous doctrines of the church.'

'Shh,' Susan giggled, vigilantly trying to keep my loose tongue out of trouble. 'This will be far more fun if you leave the church out of it.'

My worst fears were realised when Lady Charlotte informed me she had received a letter from my father, requesting that I join him at our London residence in St James after the Easter holiday season.

Lord Granville, having no male heir, was eager to see me wed. He hoped that I might produce a grandson to whom he could bequeath his peerage, rather than see it pa.s.s to whoever I decided to marry. I was the last living relative of my father's line and he resented that the Granville name would no longer be attached to his estates once he died-whether I produced a male heir or not. Still, my inheritance did make me an attractive candidate for marriage and my father would most likely be indebted to anyone who took me off his hands and would warmly welcome them into the family.

Susan would also be travelling to London to stay at the Earl of Derby's house on Mayfair, opposite Hyde Park. We were not at all excited by the prospect of being separated, having lived in each other's pockets for ten years, though Susan was too excited by the event of entering society to allow our imminent separation to dampen her mood. She swore that we would visit each other every day, attend all the same grand social occasions and, of course, go shopping. I was not an enthusiastic shopper, but I did delight in witnessing the enjoyment Susan derived from the exercise. She was far more aware of the latest fashions than I, and if it were not for my dear friend's good taste, I would have dressed in the fashions of the previous decade.

'To mark the grand occasion of your coming out into society,' Lady Charlotte added, 'my dear nephew, the Earl of Derby, has kindly invited us all to his estate in the Midlands, where he intends to hold b.a.l.l.s, dances and dinner parties in your honour. This will give you both an opportunity to exercise your social skills in the ease of the country before your introduction to London society and court.'

'How exciting, Ashlee.' Susan gripped my hand tight. 'Only one more month of isolation! And there's so much preparation to be done.'

So much indeed, I thought. I only had a month to access the extensive library here at the earl's manor in Dumfries. I thought. I only had a month to access the extensive library here at the earl's manor in Dumfries.

The library was the reason this manor had been chosen as the best place for Susan's education, and hence my own. Lady Charlotte had also shipped over her collection of rare esoteric books from her residence in Paris. The lady had collected this treasury of works during her time on the Continent and as many were banned here in England, they were priceless to me. I would mourn Scotland terribly.

Lady Charlotte excused Susan and asked me to stay and speak with her a moment.

'I'm going to start working on some sketches for the dressmakers!' Susan fancied herself as a fashion designer, and she had been closely following the adult fashions for some years now, so I felt sure I could rely on her good taste to make me look the part when the big event arrived. 'I have everything in hand,' she said as she kissed me goodnight, curtseyed to Lady Charlotte and withdrew to her room.

'I realise this news is not as thrilling for you as it is for my dear Susan.' Lady Charlotte reached for her wine gla.s.s. 'And that the social adjustment will not be as effortless.' Her pale blue eyes turned back to me. 'Yet you have exceeded my expectations as a student, Miss Granville. Your apt.i.tude for languages and all academic endeavours would rival any daughter of royal blood. Your grasp of the social graces will, and must, must, conceal your additional talents, just as I promised your father ten years ago.' conceal your additional talents, just as I promised your father ten years ago.'

'I would never disgrace you, Lady Charlotte, or the good name of the Cavandish family, who have been so generous to me,' I a.s.sured her. It was a great honour for me to be on such intimate terms with the Dowager Countess Cavandish, for she insisted that in private I should use her name. 'I know what is expected of me. I shall do my utmost to uphold your standards and excellent tuition.'

She smiled a knowing smile that conveyed her great affection for me. 'I know you shall, child. I hold no fear on that account. I would not even raise this issue with you if I did not know from my own experience how difficult and frustrating such concealment can be. You will become aware of injustice that you cannot correct without exposure to ridicule and ruin; souls you cannot aid without risk to your reputation; beings and ent.i.ties you must ignore to save ending up in an asylum for the rest of your days. More than most women, your knowledge will be a prison to you, I fear.'

The lady's eyes had drifted to the fireplace, and there seemed a great sadness in her countenance, or was it empathy for the trying times I had ahead of me? 'Perhaps I shall one day have the good fortune to be an independently wealthy widow, like you, Lady Charlotte.'

The countess responded to my suggestion with a slight laugh, which caught in her throat and caused her to cough. She steadied herself. 'My greatest wish for you, my dear, is that you find a kindred spirit to take for a husband and have a deep and lasting love for the rest of your days. For I was not relieved to be widowed, nor shall I ever regret my choice of husband.'

'Forgive my presumption. I meant no disrespect-'

'I know you did not.' She held up a hand to silence my apology. 'You have the great advantage to be capable of discerning a good soul at a glance. I pray that you use your gift to secure yourself the greatest happiness.'

'And so I shall, Lady Charlotte.' I smiled warmly to make light of her fears.

At this point the countess was seized by a coughing fit, and I was given my leave of her.

My mind was still mourning my impending departure from Neith Manor as I entered my room, which was dark except for the fire that was keeping the cold at bay. The news of my society debut had caused me to lose my enthusiasm for further study this evening. There seemed little point in lighting a candle, as they were expensive and not to be wasted.

I found myself pondering my mother's death from consumption many years before and I feared that Lady Charlotte would soon be taken from me in the same manner.

My mother had been very close to death by the time I had made the journey from Scotland to be at her side, but in her delirious state she had told me something that I had long forgotten.

'Through me you have inherited the royal blood of the Scots,' she had said. 'Never forget that, Ashlee.' To understand why this fact should be foremost in her mind at this vital moment, I held her hand in an attempt to read the thoughts that her condition prevented her from conveying. But her illness and the subsequent pain prevented me from making any sense of her intent without injury to my own physical health in the process.

It surprised me that my father had not taken himself another wife since mama's death; a young woman might give him a male heir to carry the Granville name. Perhaps he was fearful of rearing another child with my extraordinary talents? A male child would be far more difficult to control, or be rid of.

At this point in time, however, I felt that my bloodline could explain my love of the landscape here in Dumfries, which nearly rivalled my attachment to the library.

'Perhaps I shall catch myself one of Scotland's country lords,' I mused, trying to cheer myself up. 'Then I could spend the rest of my days in a place such as this and ignore society and its graces.'

But I knew very well that no man of breeding with high social standing would remain in the country all year round. Only late autumn and winter, through to early spring, gave such solace-provided one wasn't taking up invitations to stay with other people of prominence at their their country estates! country estates!

I wanted to cry, but crying would not change the inevitable.

In the following weeks, I spent much of my time in the library-when I was not practising dance and being drilled on social etiquette. My hunt for every sc.r.a.p of information relating to nature spirits often kept me up until the wee hours, and it was only the strain of reading by candlelight that would force me to give in and go to bed. Lady Charlotte was gracious enough not to insist that I get my beauty sleep, for she knew how dearly I would miss the library and how the late hours afforded me uninterrupted time to study.

As the day of our leaving for the Midlands drew close, I began to fear that I would never find the information that was eluding me.

Two days before we were to depart Dumfries I happened across a book ent.i.tled Aradia Aradia-the Gospel of Witches, an Italian text which referred to the 'la vecchia religione'-the old religion. Although prominent in northern Italy today, its origins dated back to the time of the Roman Empire, or perhaps even further back to the Etruscan era. an Italian text which referred to the 'la vecchia religione'-the old religion. Although prominent in northern Italy today, its origins dated back to the time of the Roman Empire, or perhaps even further back to the Etruscan era.

Apart from its references to the Etruscan G.o.ds and their mythology, of which Diana is the G.o.ddess, and her daughter Aradia (or Herodius) the Messiah, it also contained invocations to the likes of Bacchus, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. It also explained how to prepare amulets over which spells could be uttered, and amongst these I was most excited to find 'the charm of the ringstone'.

The text explained that to find a round stone with a hole in it was a special sign of favour from Diana (the Great Mother of creation). The lower orders of her otherworldly dominions could then, by invocation, be urged to attach themselves to the stone and render service to the bearer. There was also a caution attached to the possession of such an amulet-it should never be given away, because the receiver would acquire the good luck attached to it and some disaster would befall the giver.

The spirits of nature will no longer be able to ignore me, I thought, well content with my discovery. I had only to find such a stone as was described and they would be compelled to aid me.

Given my psychic abilities, you might wonder what aid I sought to gain from the spirits of nature?

I wanted protection.

The nature kingdoms were said to have as many sub-races as humanity, if not more, although they were no longer connected to humanity's evolution. A cataclysmic event in some bygone and ancient era had caused a portion of the human soul group to split apart from humanity's evolution and develop via an entirely different evolutionary process, on an entirely different plane of existence. The lower orders of these kingdoms could be broken down into four basic races, according to which of the four elements they served: gnomes were connected to the earth and the acc.u.mulation of wealth, power and position; undines were spirits of the water and could be employed to help with matters connected with emotion; salamanders related to fire and could a.s.sist with artistic and creative endeavour, for they were the very essence of inspiration; the nature spirits of the air were sylphs, the most highly evolved of all. Sylphs brought with them the gifts of ease of travel and communication, and insight into the higher mysteries.

My experience with Dr Rosen still haunted me, and very soon the safety of the Cavandish family would cease to surround me. Therefore, I took it upon myself to find a means of diverting any calamity that might lie in wait in the future.

I spent a good part of the night copying the lengthy invocation into my latest diary, in both the original Italian dialect, and then translating it into English.

I would not be left to the mercy of the fates, for I was determined to have a hand in shaping my own destiny.

Lady Charlotte's health took a turn for the worse and prevented her from accompanying Susan and myself to Hartsford Park, Lord Cavandish's estate in Derby. I didn't like leaving my mentor at such a time, and despite her brave face I knew she was in much poorer health than she let on. A dark murky shadow encompa.s.sed her spirit-body around her chest and heart. I feared that there was a psychological reason for her ailment; that deep down she felt her usefulness in this life would come to a close with our departure from Dumfries. I attempted to tell her how much I would miss her guidance and let her know I would be writing often to obtain the benefit of her wisdom. The countess saw straight through my tactics, I fear, and a.s.sured me that she would cherish the time to herself to pursue her own courses of study. I put on a happy face, so as not to stress Susan, and wept on the inside.

Nanny Beat and Susan's personal maidservants were in a second carriage, and both carriages carried the luggage. The journey from Dumfries to Derby took the better part of a week to complete, for we stopped overnight at various towns along the way, the first stop having been in Northumberland.

The countryside was very lovely to view from the landau carriage Lady Charlotte had given us for the journey. The wild terrain of the north was casting off winter frosts and was beginning to be coloured by the promise of spring.

The excitement produced at the thought of the forthcoming social events made Susan a very unsettled travelling companion, but I managed to calm her nerves with a talent I possessed, Susan being the only other person to know about it.

'Tell me a story, Ashlee,' she prompted, 'to drive away my boredom.'

'And where shall we go?' I asked.

'Let us be mediaeval princesses!' She clapped her hands excitedly.

I screwed my nose up at the suggestion. 'The church rule of that era bores me,' I protested in fun. 'How about we venture into the world of the learned courtesans of Ancient Rome?' I appealed to her.

Susan gasped. 'What a frightful suggestion,' she giggled, inwardly intrigued by the idea. 'Do you think we should? After all, they were pagans.'

'Well, I personally would love to have been adviser and confidante to the likes of Plato or Aristotle,' I put forward in my defence.

'Yes, I'm sure you would,' she scoffed. 'Still, I prefer tales of the tournaments of brave knights than the spectacle of gladiators.' Her big blue eyes appealed. 'Please.' 'Please.'

'Oh, very well,' I caved in. 'Mediaeval princesses it is.'

I managed to make a tale of courtly love and religious oppression last for the entire journey and, as the story concluded, we were but a half-mile from our destination.

'Here.' I handed Susan my handkerchief, as hers was soggy with tears. 'Your parents will be wondering what on Earth I have been doing to you.'

'I just can't stand the thought that you were burned at the stake,' she blew her nose, 'and that my prince was too late to prevent it...'tis so sad.'

'But he did drive the Inquisition out of the kingdom, and you lived happily ever after.' I tried to console her before we both got into strife.

'I know,' she sniffled, 'but the fact that we named our first child after you really got to me.' She wiped her tears away, although more followed in their wake.

'It was just a story,' I said, worried that she would be in tears when we arrived at Hartsford Manor.

'But why can't you marry and live happily ever after?' she asked plaintively.

'Because I would rather burn at the stake,' I replied in jest, but Susan did not laugh.

'Don't say that. Of course you wouldn't.' Her expression begged me to retract my words.

'Well, we can't all have a happy ending, or there would be no drama in the tale.'

'Yes, we can.' Susan knew I wasn't just talking about the story any more. 'Say we can, Ashlee,' she urged, her tears threatening to flood anew.

'Of course we will.' I smiled to rea.s.sure her. Anything to appease her before our arrival. 'I promise you that we shall both find the greatest happiness.'

Susan's smile returned. 'Yes, of course we will. After all, we are two of the most eligible brides in England.'

I suppressed a sigh, as her point was no exaggeration. 'Yes, indeed...there shall be no lack of suitors for us.' I returned my attention to the landscape to hide my dread of the fact.

The sun had penetrated the clouds and shone brightly upon Hartsford Manor as our coach pulled up at the entrance stairs. We were aided from the coach by Lord Cavandish and his son, Lord Simon Cavandish, the Viscount of Neith Manor-the earl's estate in Dumfries. The earl's heir would employ this t.i.tle until he inherited the Cavandish estates and t.i.tles in full from his father, when he would, of course, become earl.