Page 10 of Her Tempting Traitor
“While I am still alive and able to enjoy it, yes,” she agreed, not looking up from her reticule. “It certainly surprises them, which I find delightful.”
“Ifind it strange as hell,” Bull muttered. “Eliza, it’s one thing to claim ye want to leave my sister something, but ye dinnaekenGabby!”
“I did not know your sister either,” the lady agreed, emerging triumphantly clutching a velvet pouch. “But you have told me so much about your family, and your detectives, over the years, dear Bull.” She smiled brightly. “I feel as if I know them all intimately.”
Hunter stepped forward from his position by the hearth, his eyes twinkling with amusement and curiosity. “What about me, milady?”
At his words—he’d been standing in the shadows behind her, and now stepped forward—the old lady gave a shriek and whirled in her chair.
As the three younger people jumped forward, she clutched her heart and began to chuckle. “Are youtryingto kill me early, young man?” Still laughing, she waved Bull away and peered up at Hunter. “Ah, I met you at Marcia’s wedding. You are Bull’s nephew, the one raised by that sweet boy Rourke.”
Since her back was to Gabby, she felt free to muffle her own snort with her fingertips. To think of Uncle Rourke—who’d spent a lifetime in service to his country, assassinating its enemies, only to be betrayed in the worst way and sinking into a depression—as asweet boy…it just showed how old Lady Mistree was.
Hunter and Bull weren’t so lucky; since the old woman was staring up at them, they had to keep their real thoughts hidden. Hunter—not as charming as Bull, but good-hearted—bowed over her frail hand.
“Hunter Lindsay, milady. I’m sorry for startling ye.”
Grinning cheekily, she waved away his apology. “You are just good at hiding—an admirable trait for a detective. Just do not hidetoomuch of yourself, young man, or you will lose the important parts. And I believe I have just the thing to help you remember that.” With those cryptic words, she tapped her reticule mysteriously and turned back to Gabby. “Now, my dear.”
Gabby schooled her expression into one of polite interest. It wouldn’t be long before she’d be with that elephant.
Earlier this year, she’d accompanied her pseudo-cousin, Marcia—Bull’s sister—undercover on a mission to root out a murderer. Before they’d left, Lady Mistree had gifted Marcia her surprising inheritance; a “magical” pendant that was claimed to contain a sprite or spirit. It was a preposterous idea, but Gabby could admit that she’d seen the stone glow strangely a time or two. The real murderer had certainly believed it to be truth, and the little pendant had somehow saved the day.
Now the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the reveal of whatever peculiar gift the old woman had brought this time. Gabby braced herself, her fingers clutching the arms of her chair, her eyes wide with anticipation and a touch of dread. Whatever Lady Mistree was about to bestow upon her, Gabby vowed to be polite and gracious.
Surprising her heirs, indeed.
This proved difficult, however, when the old woman—very clearly holding her breath—folded back the flap of the black velvet pouch to dramatically reveal…
A tattered piece of lace.
When Lady Mistree held it out, Gabby had no choice but to reach for it, picking up the small piece of material, stained brown along one edge, with two fingers. Remembering her vow, she smiled brittlely. “Oh,thankyou, my lady. It is…”
“Surprising,” admitted Hunter.
“Unique,” corrected his sister primly.
“Underwhelming,” muttered Bull.
Lady Mistree broke into chuckles. “Oh yes, itisunderwhelming, is it not?” She gestured Gabby to return it to its black velvet nest. “My dear Reggie and I were gifted it from a woman, ahealer, in the American city of New Orleans. Have you ever been, my dear?” At Gabby’s head shake, the older woman sighed wistfully, her eyes locked on the window, although it was clear she gazed across decades. “A most fascinating city—mysterious and vibrant, dangerous and invigorating all at once. There is so much history, so much terror, so much fierce joy and celebration there. The people who live there are…”
She blinked and looked around, almost surprised to find three sets of young eyes on her, and smiled ruefully. “It is a magical place, with magical healers, and…” She lifted the black velvet cupped in her open palms, upon which the tattered lace sat like a king on his throne. “Magical talismans.”
Since the old woman was looking at her, Gabby was careful not to snort. In the end she didn’t have to, because whileherexpression was schooled to careful interest, her twin brother did all the snorting for her.
“Magic?” Hunter openly scoffed. “Milady, it’s a piece of lace. One that was cut off someone’s cuff last century when it was accidentally dipped in tea—or worse.”
“Indeed,” agreed Lady Mistree, “but that does not mean it isnotmagical.”
“Perhaps the tea was magical,” Bull murmured, leaning over the talisman. “My spirits have definitely been revived by a good cuppa. It’s a simple design, but hand-made.” He pointed to the edges of the threading. “See? This pattern doesnae repeat, nae exactly. Machines can only mimic symmetry, but a skilled hand makes subtle choices stitch to stitch. And it’s coarser thread than the modern kind—they’ve been spinning finer cotton for the machines for decades now. This is older.”
“All good points,” the old woman agreed amicably, beginning to fold the velvet flaps back over the lace. “None of which negate my claim.” She turned to Gabby and cleared her throat. “My dear, the healer who gave this to me—in exchange for a private service I did her—was trustworthy and capable of great miracles, even if she believed in different spirits than I did. She told me that burning this piece of lace with a specific wish or prayer”—she placed it in Gabby’s hands—“can heal any injury. However, it can be used only once, so consider wisely.”
“Anyinjury?” came Hunter’s doubting quip from behind her, but Gabby couldn’t look away from the old woman’s bright gaze as she patted the velvet pouch.
“There is healing power here, Gabrielle Lindsay, and I cannot think of a better person to have this heirloom. Your inheritance from me, my dear, is a talisman which can heal one person, one time, of any harm done to them.” She paused, then cocked her head. “A powerful responsibility too, I think. Use it well, Gabby.”
Gabby’s mouth opened to thank her, but found her throat suddenly dry.
