AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Time to go, Grace!” called Lady Arista, coming out of the house.
Mum got to her feet. “Oh, what a lovely evening lies ahead! Glenda’s icy looks will freeze the food on our plates.”
“Why did that midwife go away today? And why didn’t you have me in a hospital?”
“I wish they’d leave the poor woman in peace,” said Mum.
“Grace! Come along now!” Lady Arista was tapping the tip of her umbrella against the wrought-iron gate.
“I think they’re going to put you in the naughty corner,” I said.
“It breaks my heart, leaving you alone.”
“I could just go home with you,” I said, but even as I said it, I knew I didn’t really want to. It was just like Falk de Villiers said—I was a part of this business now, and oddly enough, I didn’t mind the idea.
“No, you can’t,” said Mum. “You could get hurt or even killed in uncontrolled time travel. At least you’re safe from that here.” She hugged me. “Don’t forget what I said. Trust no one. Not even your own feelings. And go very carefully with Count Saint-Germain. It’s said that he can get into people’s minds. He can read your thoughts and, even worse, control your will if you let him.”
I hugged her back as hard as I could. “I love you, Mum.” Over her shoulder I could see that Mr. de Villiers had come out of the front door as well now.
When Mum turned she saw him, too. “And you want to be particularly careful with that one,” she said quietly. “He’s become a dangerous man.” But I sensed something that sounded like admiration in her voice, so I asked, “Mum, did you ever … er, have something going on with him?”
She didn’t even have to answer. I could see from the look on her face that I’d hit the bull’s-eye.
“I was seventeen and easily impressed,” she said.
“I get the idea,” I told her, grinning. “Those are amazing eyes, right?”
Mum grinned back as we sauntered deliberately slowly toward the gate. “Oh, yes. Paul’s eyes were just the same. But unlike his big brother, he wasn’t at all condescending. No wonder Lucy fell in love with him.…”
“I’d love to know what happened to them both.”
“Sooner or later I’m afraid you will.”
“Give me the key,” said Falk de Villiers impatiently. Mum handed him the key to the door through the wrought-iron pattern, and he unlocked it. “I sent for a car for you.”
“We’ll meet at breakfast tomorrow morning, Gwyneth,” said Lady Arista, putting a hand under my chin. “Chin up! You’re a Montrose, and we stay calm and composed everywhere, always.”
“I’ll try, Grandmother.”
“That’s right. Oh, dear!” She waved her arms about as if shooing flies. “What do those people think they’re doing? I’m not the Queen!” But with her elegant hat, her umbrella, and the coat, all color-matched, she obviously looked so British to the tourists that they were taking photos of her from all sides.
Mum gave me a last hug. “The secret has already cost human lives,” she whispered into my ear. “Don’t forget that.”
I watched her and my grandmother with mixed feelings until the car had turned the corner, carrying them away.
Mr. George took my hand and held it firmly. “Don’t be frightened, Gwyneth. You’re not alone.”
He wasn’t kidding. I was surrounded by loads of people I wasn’t supposed to trust. I mustn’t trust any of them, my mum had said. I looked into Mr. George’s friendly blue eyes and searched them for something dangerous and dishonest. But I couldn’t see anything of the kind.
Trust no one.
Not even your own feelings.
“Come along, we’d better go in. You must get some food inside you.”
“I hope that little conversation with your mother was illuminating,” said Mr. de Villiers on the way upstairs. “Let me guess: she warned you against us. We’re all unscrupulous liars, am I right?”
“You’ll know more about that than I do,” I said. “We were talking about how you and my mother once had something going on together.”
