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‘But clearly something went badly wrong,’ I said. ‘How did Romy manage to get so close to him without anyone stopping it from happening?’
‘They met at a psychology conference, where Romy was giving a talk,’ Hector explained. ‘John was a prospective student. Now, normally that shouldn’t have been a problem. We’d made sure—or we thought we had—that John would be of no interest to any St Clair. Romy shouldn’t have paid him any attention.’ He frowned. ‘Emrick here thinks it’s a matter of charm and good looks.’
‘Well,’ Emrick said with a laugh, ‘how can a woman resist someone as handsome as Blaise St Clair? And let’s face it, he does have a way about him.’
‘He does,’ I admitted. ‘I thought he was a really interesting man when I met him and enjoyed being in his company. He has something… Call it charm if you like. Charisma. That’s it. He’s a very charismatic man. I was amazed Harley and Keely didn’t warm to him more. They seemed to find him boring and quite unappealing.’
‘Which was down to me,’ Hector said. ‘And that’s how Romy should have found him, too. I still don’t understand how he got through to her.’
‘Blaise St Clair wrapped even his brother’s fiancée around his little finger,’ Emrick reminded him. ‘He persuaded her to practise forbidden magic. He had Celeste fooled for a long time. Don’t underestimate that so-called charisma.’
‘Even so…’ Hector frowned and shook his head. ‘Anyway, the point is, by the time Simon checked back on him, Romy and John were in love, and planning to set up home together. All he could do was keep a close eye on them and make sure Romy was okay. Bear in mind that, at the time, it didn’t seem too much of a problem, because she and her sisters had no connection to their Castle Clair family. They didn’t even know they existed. We thought it wouldn’t matter. Until that invitation from Meri Kittow changed everything, bringing the two branches of the family together and John back into the world of Castle Clair.’
‘And now we’re stuck with him,’ I mused. I was silent for a while, thinking.
‘What’s on your mind, Lowen?’ Emrick asked, after a long pause.
I shook my head. ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’
‘But we want to hear your opinion,’ he said. ‘And not too long ago you said you wanted to be treated like the Great Guardian you are. So what are your thoughts?’
I wished I hadn’t opened my big mouth. The only thoughts I’d had were stupid. Clearly, though, they were waiting.
‘I was just wondering,’ I said reluctantly, ‘how much of Blaise St Clair is still there inside his head? You said, Hector, that you’d removed his memories of that man, but what do you mean by that? Do you mean permanently removed them, as if Blaise never existed? Or is he still there somewhere?’
‘It’s a good question,’ Hector said. ‘In theory, the memory of Blaise should never resurface. But yes, he’s still in there somewhere, buried deep below the false memories of John Ford.’
‘So if bits of Blaise started to come through,’ I asked, ‘would they snuff out John Ford? Or would John Ford have an influence on Blaise?’
‘That’s an interesting thought,’ Emrick mused. ‘You’re asking if John could make Blaise a better person, I presume?’
‘I’m just thinking that, since he’s spent the last four years or so working to help families in need, living an ordinary life, building a warm and loving relationship with Romy, no reliance on magic, surely that must influence the man he used to be? I suppose,’ I admitted, ‘I’m kind of interested because I’m wondering how much of an effect Wulfram will have on Lowen. Will whoever this Great Guardian is drown out the me I am now? It’s a scary thought, and I can relate to Blaise in a way. Or to John. Whichever.’
Hector nodded. ‘I take your point. I suppose it’s possible that, if his memories of Blaise were ever to resurface, they would be tempered by what he’s learned as John.’
‘So it’s quite possible he could redeem himself?’ I asked.
‘Well…’ Hector sounded uncertain. ‘It’s a possibility, but a heck of a risk. If you’re asking me to return Blaise’s memories—’
‘I’m not,’ I said quickly. ‘At least, I don’t think I am. So what do you plan to do?’
‘I suppose the only option I have left is to remove all traces of John Ford and give him yet another identity,’ Hector said with a sigh. ‘It’s really not something I want to do, but I don’t see another way.’
‘And break Romy’s heart?’ I asked. ‘Anyway, don’t you think it’s risky, giving the poor man three identities? Who knows what will be going on inside his mind, or what damage it could do?’
‘I agree with Lowen,’ Emrick said.
I turned to him. ‘So what was the debate about? You clearly don’t agree with the idea Hector’s proposed, so what’s your suggestion?’
Emrick shrugged. ‘Leave John alone. Let him be with Romy. They’ll find their way.’
‘I’m not sure that’s even an option now,’ I said cautiously. ‘The way Keely tells it, John’s told Romy that, whatever happens, they’re over. Too much has happened.’
‘Oh!’ Emrick waved his hand dismissively. ‘Of course he said that. He’s in shock. He doesn’t understand half of what’s going on, and he’s no idea about Blaise, or what he did in the past—not to mention the distant past. It’s going to take time for him to come to terms with this new reality, but he’ll get there.’
‘You sound very sure of that,’ Hector said suspiciously. ‘Something you’re not telling me?’
‘You know as well as I do,’ Emrick said with a sigh, ‘that whatever I know about events right now I can’t tell you anything. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.’
