The Curse of Deadman's Forest

by Victoria Laurie

  “He could have used the portal a second time,” Ian replied. “Just like we did. I suspect that he discovered the portal sometime during his reign in Lixus. Perhaps he even stumbled into it unwittingly and found himself in Phoenicia, where he visited with Laodamia. He told us over breakfast that the Oracle had bound him by oath, so he must have received the boxes, then gone back through to hide the Star and one of the treasure boxes, then used the portal again to leave me the second box back in Dover—or the first box, whichever way you look at it.”

  “I believe Ian may have a point,” said Theo. “Adrastus could very easily have gone through the portal more than once.”

  But the professor didn’t seem willing to jump to any conclusions just yet. “It would have to be an extraordinary coincidence,” the old man said. “That entrance to the portal in Morocco was well hidden, after all. And it would have required that the passage be open when Adrastus was ready to travel through it. And might I also remind you, that time was only compressed by ten days on our venture. You are suggesting a three-thousand-year span overall, Ian. That would have to be an astonishing leap through time.”

  “But it does explain the writing on the cavern wall back in Dover,” Ian said, “and the fact that two of the silver treasure boxes were found exactly where the message he left us told us to look.”

  “But assuming Adrastus did in fact come through the portal and, even more remarkably, assuming the general did arrive in our time, what would Adrastus be doing in Spain, of all places?” argued the professor. “If anything, I should think he would attempt to stay close to the portal or, at the very least, go back to Greece.”

  That made Ian pause, but Carl said, “He was keeping close watch on Frau Van Schuft, sir. He said he needed to keep his enemies close, remember, Ian?”

  Ian nodded. “Yes, and he seemed to think we were all in terrible danger. He said that we’d best make haste getting back to England.”

  The earl turned in the front seat to address Ian, but something else seemed to catch his eye and his face showed alarm as he peered out the rear window. “We’re being followed,” he said gravely. Ian began to turn around to look out the back as well but the earl stopped him. “Don’t,” he warned. Then he said to the driver, “Take us to trains?”

  If the situation hadn’t been so dire, Ian would have smirked at the earl’s attempt at Spanish, but the driver understood him perfectly and nodded before turning at the next intersection.

  The earl then pulled out his billfold and removed several bills before addressing the professor. “Here is enough money to book you all passage to Toulouse. Go to this address,” he added after handing the professor the pound notes and taking out a pen and a scrap of paper, which he scribbled on quickly. “That is the home of a family friend. He will keep you safe until I am able to join you.”

  “Where will you be, my lord?” the professor asked, and Ian noticed that the old man’s hand shook slightly when he took the paper.

  “I’ll be collecting our things and giving our apologies to Señora Castillo. I will explain to her that we have recovered Ian and Carl, along with her brother’s journal, but that the diary was severely damaged in the attempt to collect it, and you will be doing your best to repair and restore it before returning it to her. I shall also try to convince her that she might be in jeopardy herself now that Frau Van Schuft is aware of the journal and how much we are willing to risk to keep it. I will then ask Señora Castillo to come back to England with me as my personal guest. If all is successful, she and I will join you within a day or two.”

  “But what if they follow us?” Carl whispered, his face a bit pale.

  The earl smiled confidently at Carl. “Not to worry, lad,” he said. “I have a plan.”

  With Ian acting as translator, the earl was able to direct the driver through a series of right and left turns around the train station until they managed to lose the car tailing them long enough for Ian, Carl, Theo, and the professor to hurry out of the taxi and duck into a nearby alley. They hid in the shadows and watched as their cab pulled back into traffic, and not long afterward, the car that had been following them roared down the street in hot pursuit.

  The moment it passed, the professor took Theo’s hand and said, “Let us hurry along and do as the earl instructed.”

  They made it to the station without incident and the professor was able to book them passage on a train leaving thirty minutes later. Still, they all waited impatiently in a small nook near the platform, where they were hidden from most of the pedestrian traffic. There they stayed out of sight while watching the large clock mounted on the wall tick down to the time for boarding.

  While they waited, Ian’s gaze darted back and forth between the clock and the midmorning crowd milling about. He managed to tuck his long shirt into his trousers so as to be a bit less conspicuous, but still he knew he was drawing some stares. “I almost brought you a shirt,” Theo whispered contritely. “I had this most pressing thought before we left the house this morning in search of you to bring along some of your clothes, but I talked myself out of it in the end, because I couldn’t imagine why you would need a shirt when you were coming right back to Señora Castillo’s.”

  “It’s all right, Theo,” Ian said gently. “And perhaps it’s a good lesson for you to trust your visions from now on, eh?”

  Theo appeared chagrined. “You’re starting to sound like Lady Arbuthnot.” Ian laughed and ruffled her hair.

  Carl then nudged him in the ribs. “Time to board, mates.”

  The professor held them back until most of the passengers had already loaded the train. He suggested it was best to wait and see who got on before they made their escape.

  When a voice over the loudspeaker announced the final boarding for Toulouse, the four of them hurried onto the train just before the doors closed. Theo led them directly to a berth with four seats together and Ian immediately opened the window of the stuffy compartment before sitting down.

  No one could relax until the train began to chug away from the station, and even then Ian found himself keeping a wary eye on any passenger who happened by their seats. But when the train finally left Madrid and began to traverse the Spanish countryside, both the professor and Carl propped themselves against the window and drifted off to sleep. Theo, however, fidgeted nervously across from Ian long after the train had passed out of the city.

  Ian’s gaze fell on her small satchel and he asked, “Do you have your playing cards with you? We could work through a few of your exercises.”

  Theo brightened immediately. “Yes!” she said, reaching in and pulling out a set of cards. “You’ll help me practice?” she asked, referring to the game Lady Arbuthnot had created to help Theo strengthen her intuition.

  “Of course,” he said, happy that he’d found something to take her mind off their harrowing morning.

  Theo handed him the cards. “Do you remember how to arrange them?”

  Ian knew well by now how to set up the cards to challenge Theo’s powers of sight and he was continually amazed at how accurate she was. “Certainly,” he said, holding the cards up to eye level and sorting through them.

  The game was simple, really; all he needed to do was arrange four cards in a row. Three of the cards were to have the same color, either red or black. The fourth card, however, had to be the opposite color, and it was Theo’s job to pick out which card within the set of four was different from the others.

  If she selected the wrong card, it went to Ian, and the cards continued to go to him until she selected the right one. If she selected the right card immediately, the entire row went to her.

  After several minutes, Ian had all the cards arranged in groups of four. He held up the first four for her to make a selection, but before she even had a chance to pick, he said, “Wait a minute, you’re wearing your crystal. Off with it.”

  Theo rolled her eyes but did as he asked and removed her necklace, then placed it into Ian’s palm for safekeeping. He held
up the cards again and watched her gaze intensely at his hand. After only a moment she reached forward and tapped the card on the far right. “That one,” she said confidently.

  “Are you sure?” Ian asked.

  Theo laughed. “Hand them over, Ian.”

  Ian shook his head ruefully and gave her all four cards. “You’re nearly too good for this game.”

  They played three more hands—all of which went to Theo—before Ian decided to make it more challenging. “Let’s say that I’ll only give you the hand if you can tell me which card is different and what suit it is.”

  “Very well,” Theo agreed, rubbing her hands together eagerly. “Let’s start with the cards you’ve got there.” Reaching forward, she tapped the second from the left and said, “That one is a spade.”

  Ian’s jaw fell open. In his hand he held two diamonds and a heart. He almost gave up the cards immediately but couldn’t help asking, “What suit do you think the other three are?”

  Theo’s eyes narrowed as she concentrated. “I’d say those two are diamonds, but that last one I’m not sure of.”

  Ian looked at the card that puzzled her. It was the queen of hearts and he wasn’t surprised that it confused her, as it was a richly decorated card. He noticed that the face cards were often the most frustrating for her. He flipped it over so that she could see, and she nodded as if she’d known it all along. “I can always tell when you’ve put a face card into the mix,” she said.

  Ian and Theo played all afternoon, interrupting their game only when the sandwich cart came round. Ian looked at the few pence in his hand and realized he had enough for only two sandwiches. He thought about waking up Carl and sharing his sandwich with him, but when he shook his friend’s shoulder, Carl slapped at his hand and rolled over, so Ian shrugged and ate the entire sandwich.

  He and Theo took up their game again and did not stop until Carl began to wake up from his long nap. By that time, Theo had mastered with 100 percent accuracy which card was a different suit, and she was even going as far as to tell Ian the number on each card in his hand.

  As he held up the last round and looked to his right, where only two cards lay, and Theo’s lap, where the other forty-six were collected, he had to smile when she smartly pointed to the remaining cards and announced, “Two of spades, four of clubs, five of diamonds, and six of spades!”

  Ian gave over the hand, laughing admiringly.

  “Gaw blimey!” said Carl, and Ian realized he was fully awake and watching them intently. “She’s become really good at that, Ian!”

  “That she has,” he agreed, beaming at her before handing her back the crystal necklace.

  Theo took the crystal and ducked her chin demurely, but Ian could tell she was immensely pleased with herself. “You’ll have to ask Lady Arbuthnot for another game,” said Ian. “You’ve mastered this one.”

  At that moment the conductor announced that they were pulling into Toulouse, and Ian was amazed that the time had passed so quickly. He’d been having so much fun with Theo that he hadn’t realized how far they’d traveled.

  The boys attempted to rouse the professor, who was softly snoring in his corner seat, but he seemed set on continuing his slumber. They finally managed to wake him up enough to get through to him. “Professor! We’re coming into Toulouse!” Carl practically had to shout in the old man’s ear.

  The professor batted a hand at him. “I can hear you,” he snapped, blinking his bloodshot eyes. “I’m not deaf yet, lad.”

  “Sorry,” mumbled Carl.

  Shortly thereafter the train squealed to a stop and Ian and the rest of his party rose and waited their turn to exit. He made sure to help the professor down the steps onto the platform, because even though Ian knew that the old man wasn’t deaf, he was fully aware Professor Nutley was none too spry.

  On reaching the platform, he and the others were immensely surprised when a gentleman of impeccable dress and handsome appearance stepped forward, tipped his hat, and addressed them. “Good afternoon,” he said. “I am Monsieur Lafitte. My dear friend the Earl of Kent addressed an urgent telegram to my home this morning, begging me to offer safe harbor to a party coming here on the afternoon train. Would you by chance be the party my dear friend the earl spoke of?”

  Professor Nutley nodded and extended his hand. “Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Monsieur Lafitte. I am Professor Phineas Nutley and these children are the earl’s wards.”

  The gentleman smiled and nodded to Ian, Theo, and Carl. “Might I suggest a short walk to my motorcar and a warm meal and cool drink at my home?”

  The professor wiped his brow, which was creased with fatigue. “That would be most welcome,” he said gratefully. “Most welcome indeed.”

  Monsieur Lafitte led the way to his motorcar, where a chauffeur assisted them by opening the doors and even helping the professor inside. Once they were under way, the professor said, “Might I inquire as to how you know the earl, monsieur?”

  Lafitte smiled easily. “Hastings and I go way back,” he said, and Ian noted that the man spoke English with only a tiny hint of a French accent. “Our mothers were the closest of friends, actually. And you may have noticed from my English that I was raised in England. My father was French, but his work required him to reside in England. When I was a young lad, we owned a home in London where the Arbuthnots were our neighbors, until my father passed.

  “I was twenty-one when I inherited the Lafitte family vineyards here in France. We have two holdings here in the south, and one more near Rouen in the north. When my father was alive, he was more interested in commerce than wine making, but I’d always had a special affection for the trade, which was what brought me back to France after my father’s funeral.”

  The professor was nodding, as if he’d heard the story before. “I see,” he said. “And you and the earl have remained close all these years?”

  “Oh, yes,” said Lafitte. “But I should hardly think Hastings feels as fond of me as I do him.”

  “Pardon?” asked the professor.

  Lafitte laughed, as if there was some inside joke to what he’d just said. “Hastings introduced me to my wife, you see.”

  “Ah,” said the professor, but Ian was still puzzled by the comment.

  The mystery was soon cleared up when the gentleman added, “Of course, at the time of our introduction, Hastings was quite smitten with her. Unfortunately for him, my wife’s heart turned in a different direction.”

  “Toward you,” Carl said boldly.

  Lafitte winked at Carl. “Indeed.”

  There was a bit of an uncomfortable silence after that; it seemed no one knew quite what to say. As long as Ian had known the earl, he’d never seen or heard of any sort of romantic interest the earl might have and it suddenly dawned on him that it was quite odd for a man of the earl’s age and standing never to have married.

  “Here we are,” Lafitte announced into the silence as the motorcar made a right turn onto a private drive.

  “My word,” whispered Theo as she gazed at the grand chateaux at the end of the stretch of road. “What a lovely home!”

  “Thank you, young miss,” said Lafitte. “I believe you shall be most comfortably looked after until the earl arrives to escort you back to England.”

  “Did his telegram say when he might be along, sir?” Ian asked. He was terribly worried about the earl’s being left behind in Spain.

  “He assured me that he would be along on the last train out of Madrid. And that will put him in Toulouse no later than midnight.”

  Theo sat back in her seat with a sigh when the car pulled to a stop. “Thank heavens,” she said as the chauffeur opened her door.

  They all trooped out onto the driveway and waited for their host to lead them into the stately home. Monsieur Lafitte motioned them to a set of stairs leading to the front door, and Ian had a moment to take in the impressive yellow stucco structure with white shutters, flowering ivy, and a clay-tiled roof.

  He cou
ld clearly see that the small castle was built in the shape of a horseshoe, with two tall towers flanking the main entrance.

  “It’s quite lovely, isn’t it?” Theo whispered beside him.

  Ian nodded. The place appealed to him immensely.

  Once inside, they were met by one of the loveliest women Ian had ever laid eyes on. She was tall for a lady, nearly level with her husband, with a beautiful willowy figure, rich brown hair, large gray-blue eyes, and a delicate nose. She smiled at them each in turn, and Ian felt his insides flip over when her angelic gaze settled on him.

  “Allow me to introduce my wife,” said their host, “Madame Jasmine Lafitte.”

  “Good afternoon,” she said in a smooth, husky voice, adding a small curtsy, and Ian was so transfixed by her beauty that he almost forgot to bow in return.

  Beside him Theo stifled a giggle. “Goodness, Ian,” she whispered. “Try not to fall over, will you?”

  Ian realized he’d bent over so low that it must look like he had a stomachache. He immediately straightened up and felt his cheeks flush. “How do you do?” he said belatedly.

  Madame Lafitte smiled sweetly at him and turned round to wave at someone behind her. “And this is our daughter, Océanne.”

  Ian reluctantly tore his gaze away from the beautiful woman in front of him only to suck in his breath as he laid eyes on an even lovelier creature. Tall like her mother, with the same gray-blue eyes and facial bone structure, Océanne favored her father with her auburn hair and alabaster skin. “Hello, how do you do?” she said shyly, and Ian felt all the blood drain right out of his head when her own rich voice reached his ears.

  “You all right?” he heard Theo whisper. Ian blinked hard, turning slightly to assure her he was fine, when he noticed she wasn’t talking to him, but to Carl, who was swooning on his feet. “Carl,” Theo said as the boy’s knees seemed to wobble. “Carl!”

  But it was too late. Carl’s eyes rolled straight up into his head and he tilted backward. Monsieur Lafitte reached out in the nick of time and barely spared Carl’s head from hitting the marble floor.