“I’m not one to speak ill of the dead,” he said and drew on the stem. “But I suspect as a girl Lady Olivia worried her parents, for they arranged a union with the baron when she was just out of the schoolroom. She returned here years later very ill.” He stroked his white moustache. “She died far too young.”
“Was the baron here with her?” Doraasked.
“I don’t believe he was.” Mr. Burrows clamped his teeth on his pipe with a disapproving frown. “But I don’t listen to gossip.”
The conversation then turned to matters pertaining to the county and thevillage.
Laura opened the window as the carriage returned them to Gateley Park and drew in lungfuls of fresh air which failed to make her feel muchbetter.
“I wonder how we can discover more about the scandal,” Dorasaid.
Laura felt both nauseated and perturbed in equal measures. “What makes you think there was a scandal?”
“Of course there was a scandal. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and gossip follows, although often nasty and with little respect for the truth.”
“What about idle gossip, which can come from nothing at all?” Although curious about Nathaniel’s mother, Laura disliked delving into family scandals that Nathaniel had not wished to tell her. She could only hope that one day he would be able to speak ofit.
“You should take the opportunity to learn the truth, you know,” Dora said. “It’s not wrong to want to know exactly what you’re dealing with.”
Laura drew in a breath, afraid she’d stumble on something shocking that she would find hard to keep from him. She followed her aunt into thelibrary.
“We shall see what mysteriesl’art de tirer les cartescan reveal to us. Let us consult the oracles.” Dora’s supple fingers spread her Tarot cards over thetable.
Although reluctant, Laura couldn’t resist sitting down to watch her aunt. The placing of each card was heavy with importance as Dora laid them out in their familiar configuration.
When Dora looked at her, she reminded her of a bright-eyed sparrow. “I have asked a question.”
Laura leaned her arms on the fruitwood table. “What question would that be?”
“It concerns your future. Let’s see what evolves,” her aunt said, annoyingly mysterious. The Queen of Cups appeared upside down. “Reversed!”
“Which means?” Laura askedimpatiently.
“Even reversed, the Queen of Cups is a good outcome; it just means that you must be patient. Stay focused on the loving side of your personality. True, deep love for others encompasses understanding that those you love are on their own timelines. Don’t push. Good things come to those who wait.”
Laura bent her head and studied her hands. “Surely I have…”
“Hush. Look, Laura.” Dora tapped the cards. “There are other matters at hand.”
Laura stared. TheQueen of Cups was covered by The Devil. And theKing of Pentacles sat in judgment over her. On the right side was thePage of Cups, below her the Knight of Wands, and on the left The Fool.
“Who might the Page of Cups be?” Lauraasked.
“I believe it is Nathaniel as a boy, when something happened that still deeply affects him.” Dora pointed to the last card. “The outcome card is Death, as we already know.”
“Death?” Laura asked anxiously, caught up despite herself. “Whose?”
“It could be Nathaniel’s mother or his first wife. Both have had a marked effect on his life.”
“I’m not enjoying this. What about this one, The Tower?”
“I wasn’t going to mention The Tower. It means profound change and possible danger.”
“Danger?” Laura cried. “Who’s in danger?”
“Placed as it is, it could possibly be Nathaniel.”
“Oh no.” Laura slapped her hands to her cheeks as the blood ran cold in herveins.
