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“Oh there you are Dr. Lowe,” said Lady Catherine. “I want to introduce you to my friend Lady India. My dear,” she said to Indy, “This is the Dr. Lowe I wrote to you about. He hails from Vienna. And this is the Duke of Ravenwood.”
Dr. Lowe bowed. He had a thin moustache and his hair was thinning on top.
“You are a doctor of medicine?” asked Indy.
“A mesmerist,” replied Dr. Lowe. “As a young boy, I studied by the side of the distinguished Dr. Franz Mesmer who, sadly, passed through the veil fifteen years past. I now continue his work in healing the gravely ill and giving hope to the hopeless.”
“I’ve heard of Dr. Mesmer’s theories,” said Raven. “Some believe them to be quackery.”
Dr. Lowe bristled. “Fools. Dr. Mesmer was a genius of the highest order. Soon the entire world will celebrate his teachings on the natural energetic transference known as animal magnetism. Lady Catherine has kindly agreed to be my patroness in the dissemination of the venerable doctor’s theories.”
There was something Indy didn’t like about the sanctimonious and self-important Dr. Lowe, but if Lady Catherine was his patron, she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I hope you will come and visit me while you’re here,” said Lady Catherine.
“You purchased a chateau near Montrouge?” asked India.
“Dear Dr. Lowe advised me as to the purchase. My apartments in Paris were too close and unhealthful. He says I must take more fresh air to aid in my recovery.”
“Are you ill?” Indy touched her friend’s arm. She wanted to speak with her alone, without Dr. Lowe in hovering attendance.
Raven caught Indy’s eye and she understood that he would remove Dr. Lowe for her.
“Have you visited the ambassador’s residence before, Dr. Lowe?”
“I haven’t.”
“Allow me to give you a brief tour.” Raven led Dr. Lowe away.
“You’re not really going to wed that overbearing duke, are you?” asked Catherine.
Indy led Catherine to a line of potted ferns at the edge of the ballroom. “I’m not,” she whispered.
“I knew it! Then why tell people you are?”
“That’s a question with a complicated answer. We’re here together on a mission.” Raven had told her not to trust anyone, but Lady Catherine was one of her oldest friends.
“What type of mission?” asked Catherine.
“I wonder if perhaps you’ve heard of any British antiquities that might have been stolen and brought to Paris to be sold?”
Catherine considered that. “Something of great significance?”
“Yes. Enormous significance.”
“I’ve heard no rumors. Speaking of antiquities, that’s not the real Wish Diamond necklace, is it?”
“What do you think?”
Catherine bent closer. “It’s the real one.”
“Yes.”
“He must trust you to allow you to wear his priceless treasure.”
“I think he does trust me, in his own way.”
“Just so you don’t give him too much trust. Men like him can never be owned by one woman alone.”
