“No, I’m her daughter Julie,” she said. “Marie is my mother. Are you interested in having a tea reading with her?”
Tamsyn blinked. “I didn’t know she did readings! I came by to say hello because a friend said I should call on Madame Barriere if I came to Calais, but I’d love a reading as well if it’s convenient.”
“I’ll ask her to join you. If you’ll step back through these curtains, I’ll start your tea. Would you like some cakes to go with it?”
Realizing how long it had been since breakfast, Tamsyn said, “Indeed I would.” She stepped through the curtains and found herself in a cozy chamber with a round table that had several chairs set around it. She took a seat where she could look into the tearoom through the crack in the curtains.
A few minutes later Marie Barriere joined her. She was a pleasantly rounded woman with shrewd eyes and only a few silver strands in her dark hair. After they exchanged greetings, the older woman said, “What is the name of the friend who referred you to me?”
Tamsyn hesitated a moment before replying. “Tremayne.”
“Ah, one of the Tribe of Tremayne,” Madame Barriere said thoughtfully as she sat down on the opposite side of the table. “You’re surely Gwyn Tremayne’s daughter. You look very like her.”
Tamsyn smiled. “I’ve been told that often, and it always pleases me to hear it. I’m Tamsyn.”
“The Tremayne heiress. You’re a long way from London.” The other woman offered her hand and Tamsyn took it. Among gifted people, this form of greeting helped strangers assess the other person’s power and decide if they were trustworthy. This woman was both powerful and trustworthy, traits for which Tamsyn was very grateful.
As they released hands, the other woman said, “Call me Marie. You’re powerfully gifted and you’re surely here because you need information and aid.”
“I see you don’t actually need tea leaves for readings,” Tamsyn said wryly.
Their conversation was interrupted when Julie brought in a tea tray with a steaming teapot, two white china cups, and a plate of sweet and savory cakes. As Julie left, Marie poured tea for them both. “Your parents once did a great service for me so I am happy to help you in any way I can. As you drink your tea, tell me how you come to be here in Calais when the war has just resumed.”
Tamsyn took a swallow of tea. “The Home Office was concerned about the safety of the British ambassador, so my brother Caden and I came to Paris to provide extra protection for him and his wife on their return to England.”
Marie nodded. “I heard that the British ambassador left Calais just as the order was issued to detain all British men of military age. Quite outrageous!”
“As you must have guessed, that’s why I’m here. In the turmoil at the port, my brother was detained. I stayed in Calais to find a way to free him.” Tamsyn paused, unsure how much more to say.
“And there’s something unusual about his detainment,” Marie said. “Finish your tea and we’ll take a closer look.”
Tamsyn took another swallow, leaving just a bit of liquid in the cup. “Is there really wisdom in tea leaves?”
“They help me focus my intuition,” Marie said. “Tea leaf reading is a tradition in my family. I had a Romani grandmother so the gift is in the blood. Julie has the gift also.”
Glancing at the tea leaves left in the cup, Tamsyn asked, “What now?”
“Swirl the cup clockwise three times while thinking of your question. Do it vigorously enough for the leaves to spread around the cup.”
Tamsyn obeyed, then set the white cup down between them. Dark brown tea leaves were spattered across the bottom and sides.
Marie studied the leaves, frowning. “Though traditionally tea leaf readings are positive, telling of the good things in life, there is a serpent in the middle of this cup.” She pointed at a twisting group of leaves.
“But also much more,” she added, indicating a vaguely heart-shaped clump of leaves. “Love.”
“Most assuredly. Cade and I have been best friends since we were small children.” She loved every member of the Tribe of Tremayne, but none of them more than she loved Cade.
Marie’s eyes narrowed. “Danger, and in more than one form. But you already know that.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Tamsyn agreed.
“Change, profound change,” Marie said slowly, “and in ways you never expected. Not necessarily disastrous, but a disorienting surprise.”
“Isn’t there always change around us?” Tamsyn said wistfully as she thought how Bran’s marriage had created change. His wife, Merryn, was wonderful and had become a true sister, but the close little triad of Tamsyn, Bran, and Cade would never be the same.
Marie indicated a sweep of tea leaves high on the side of the cup. “A guardian angel. I think that is you.”
“I hope I’m a good one, because that is what Cade needs,” Tamsyn said softly.
