Lucian nearly chuckled but Eliza became more serious with each turn of the card.
“This fourth card is your distant past.” She turned it over. “The Hermit but reversed.”
“I don’t need you to read a definition to know that is accurate.” Lucian freely admitted that when he was not required to be in London for Parliament that he remained at the estate and rarely left. Yet is that what the card truly meant? “Except the Death card didn’t mean death, so perhaps you should find out what it really refers to.”
Eliza shuffled through the papers and frowned. “Loneliness and isolation.”
He certainly did not appreciate the accuracy of the Hermit card and the meaning. But that was distant past and likely when he inherited after his parents died.
“That was distant, but what of your most recent past?” She turned another card “The Chariot, which is…”
Lucian waited until she found the meaning.
Eliza frowned and rolled her eyes. “Control and willpower.”
Perhaps he was too quick to dismiss the cards and their meaning. Those were two things that he did value, and his distant past was accurate, even if he did not like admitting such.
“Hopefully the sixth card is cheerier. It is for future influence.”
“What do you mean by influence?”
She found another paper and read from it, “What motivates you from deep within that you may not even be aware of.” Eliza turned the card and grinned. “The Lovers.”
Bloody hell!
She again read through the sheets of paper until she found the meaning. “Partnerships and union.”
There was mischief and merriment in her grey eyes. “It appears your hermit life might soon come to an end.”
“As you are living in my home and we have formed a partnership, or union, to keep you safe, then I will agree that the card is accurate.” Under no circumstances was he going to admit that he’d been thinking about a much more intimate union between them where their bodies…Lucian took a drink of tea. He and Eliza would never suit and therefore he would not ruin her, thus there would be no permanent partnership or union of any kind other than what he had already stated.
Eliza blew out a sigh. “The seventh card position is call The Questioner, but I am not certain what that means.” She wrinkled her nose and read further. “Oh, advice for your present.”
Lucian was almost afraid to know, even though none of this was real.
Eliza turned the questioner card over. “It is the Hierophant, which means tradition and morality.”
Those were two values he intended to hold on to.
“Card eight is supposed to be external influences.”
He wouldn’t be surprised if when Eliza turned the card over that it revealed her face. Lord knows she may have had more influence over his life than he had ever allowed anyone else.
“The Tower, which means disaster and upheaval.”
“Well, that is certainly accurate.” Lucian looked pointedly at her.
“It does not necessarily mean me. It could be that horrible person writing the letters, which has brought upheaval to both of our lives.”
“So long as it doesn’t bring disaster,” Lucian said with a little more concern. He worried, deep down, and he was on edge waiting for another missive to be received. No doubt that man knew that she had left Greenhaven Cottage and knew exactly where Eliza had gone. Another fear was that it wouldn’t simply be a missive next time, but the man may come for her.
“The ninth card is inner emotion,” Eliza said as she turned it over. “The Three of Wands but reversed.” She pursed her lips and looked for the meaning, then paused and tilted her head.
This did not bode well.
“Obstacles and frustration.”
Yes, well, he was very frustrated, but that was from a physical need, which would disappear once Eliza was gone from his home.
