Page 59 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

“Ma’am.” Desmond spoke up for the first time. His eyes were bright with that eager curiosity that always rose in him at the opportunity for discovery. The familiarity of it made Thisbe’s heart ache. “I wondered... Could we see it? No one even knows what it looks like, exactly. It would be a wonderful thing just to view it.”

The duchess scowled, but Thisbe forestalled whatever she was about to say by reaching out to her grandmother. “Please. I should very much like to see it, too.”

Cornelia hesitated, glancing from Thisbe to Desmond and back again. Finally, with a sigh, she gave in. “Very well. You will only keep picking away at it until I do.”

She started toward the connecting door to her bedroom, then swiveled back and said, “Stay here.”

Thisbe and Desmond waited, listening to the dowager duchess rummaging around in the other room. She let out an exclamation, followed by the opening and closing of drawers and doors. Finally, she emerged with a small, beautifully carved box in her hand. She shook the box at them and said, “The twins found it, obviously, and put it back in the wrong place. Those little imps—they’re worse than magpies when it comes to shiny objects.”

Thisbe’s grandmother didn’t hand Thisbe the box, but opened it to reveal the contents. Inside, nestled on a bed of dark green velvet, sat a single large lens in a carved wooden frame, attached to a handle of the same wood.

“It’s a quizzing glass!” Thisbe reached out to touch it, and the duchess gave her hand a little slap.

“No, you don’t. This doesn’t leave my hands. It wasn’t a quizzing glass originally—the frame was added last century, when quizzing glasses were so popular. It helps to conceal its real purpose.” Cornelia lifted the glass from its box and held it up to reveal the other side of the lens, which was covered by several small clear quartz crystals, creating multiple facets. Cornelia held it up against the light of the lamp, and a multitude of dazzling colors shot from it in all directions.

“It’s beautiful,” Thisbe breathed.

“Fascinating.” Desmond, drawn by the glass and its display, took an unconscious step forward.

Cornelia slapped the glass back into its box and closed the lid with a decisive snap. “There. That is the Eye.”

“But, Grandmother...” Thisbe protested. “Can’t we at least look through it? See if... I mean, what it reveals?” She herself itched to touch it; she could only imagine how much Desmond wanted to use it. Not, of course, that Desmond’s wishes mattered to her.

“Absolutely not.” The duchess held the box behind her back, as if they might try to grab it from her.

“Please, Your Grace.” Desmond spoke for the first time. “It would be invaluable. I swear I’ll do nothing to it.”

“Hmph.” Cornelia sent him a sour look. “I can’t depend on your oath. Do you think I don’t realize why you took up with my granddaughter?”

Desmond let out an exasperated groan. “It wasn’t how you think.”

“It’s pointless to get into that,” Thisbe told him in a voice as final as her grandmother’s. “But I don’t see why we couldn’t try it out, Grandmother.”

“Young lady.” This tone of address, Thisbe knew, indicated that her grandmother was reaching the end of whatever forbearance she had. “The Eye was entrusted to me. No one else may touch it—ill fortune would befall anyone who did, I’m sure. Besides, he would see nothing.” She cast a dismissive glance at Desmond. “Only a holder of our line is able to use it—a female of Anne Ballew’s own bloodline.”

“Well, I am—” Thisbe began, but her grandmother quelled her with a look.

“Its wisdom is open only to a true believer. I suspect it will be Olivia who has the power to see the departed ones. Now...” She gave them a dismissive nod. “I have done what you asked. It’s time for you to go.” Cornelia turned to Desmond. “I trust I will never see your face here again.”

She marched into her bedroom and closed the door, leaving Thisbe and Desmond staring after her.

“Well.” The anger that impelled Thisbe had drained out, and she felt suddenly flat. “That’s it, then. Go back to your professor and his patron and tell them that the dowager duchess refuses. She will not change her mind.”

“No. I can see that.” Desmond’s eyes were bleak. He followed her out of the room and down the staircase. He was silent all the way, but at the front door, he turned to her. “Thisbe, please believe me.”

She ignored his words. “It’s no use trying to steal it. It will be under lock—”

“I would never do that!” His voice was rough with anger. “Damn it, how can you think that I—”

He broke off, swung away his gaze, then faced her again. “I realize that I am forever ruined in your eyes. But I beg you to remember that you are still in danger. Don’t trust Carson or Wallace or—”

“I have no intention of trusting anyone.” Ever.

Desmond opened the door and paused, gazing down at his feet. “I meant everything I told you. None of my feelings, none of my regard for you, was ever false. I want you to believe that. I never pursued you for the Eye, and the only reason I left was because being with me put you in danger.” He lifted his head, his eyes searching hers.

Thisbe swallowed hard, pushing down the sobs that threatened to engulf her. Looking back at him with a hard, flat gaze, she kept her voice cold. “Fortunately, that won’t be a problem anymore, will it? Goodbye, Desmond.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN