Bastet got so close to Lucy their noses nearly touched. “You’re an impudent girl, aren’t you?
“Maybe so, but we aren’t going to help you until you tell us.” She held her ground.
The goddess glared, but only for a moment before stepping back with a heavy sigh. “My father is Ra. Perhaps you’ve read about him?”
“I’ve read a little,” Will said.
“Ra created me without a heart. Can you imagine?”
Lucy couldn’t. By the look on Will’s face, neither could he. “No,” Lucy said simply.
Bastet continued. “For thousands of years I begged him to fix his mistake and bestow me with a heart. He wouldn’t hear of it until I agreed to become Earth’s moon and stars.”
“Oh?” That surprised Lucy.
“Once I’d done so, I asked him again to give me a heart. My father promised that if two people found the amulet pieces and brought them together, he would finally give me the heart I desired.”
“You’re the moon and the stars?” Will spoke, and Lucy could hear the disbelief in his voice.
Apparently so could Bastet. “I am.” Her eyes blazed red-hot. “Ra, evil god that he is, cursed me so I can’t touch the amulet. He also made it so that only those who believe in true love can see the amulet.” Her voice cracked. “As you can imagine, it’s been difficult.”
Lucy still wasn’t sure how much she believed, but now she understood more why Bastet needed her and Will.
Will tucked Lucy’s hand against his chest. “Tell us where to find the amulet and we’ll find a way to get it.”
Bastet glared at Lucy. “It’s close by, located within a local arboretum.”
“Oh, what’s the name?” Lucy asked, searching her memory for any local places.
“Abney something.” She swirled around the little garden, the glittering blackness chasing after her.
“Abney Park?” Will asked.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s an arboretum. The amulet piece is buried within a crypt amongst a grove of trees.”
Lucy’s felt her mouth fall open. She’d been so close to it all this time?
“Miss Lucy, are you ready to come in?”
Lucy jumped, and spun around. “Harriet. No, not yet.” She removed her hand from Will’s chest and wrapped her shawl more closely about herself.
“Very well.” Harriet disappeared back inside the house.
“You must get to the amulet without delay.” Bastet spoke as she flitted into view momentarily before vanishing.
Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t trust her.”
Will nodded his agreement. “Neither do I. She’s obviously playing her own game, but it won’t hurt to check out the location, especially since the graveyard it isn’t that far away.”
“Yes.” That excited her. How long had it been there? And was it a coincidence that it was close? “We will need a plan.” Lucy shivered.
Will noticed. “I apologize for keeping you outside for so long. You must be freezing.”
She was, but she shrugged. “I’m fine. Really.”
Will took her by the elbow and led her toward the door. “What’s an arboretum?”
“It’s like a park. If my history lessons serve, a Sir Thomas Abney owned Abney Park. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1700. His home is still on the property somewhere. Over the past century it’s been mostly unused and overrun by trees and shrubberies. Recently, with the population influx, it’s been used as a cemetery as well.”
Will crossed his arms, deep in thought. “It is a cemetery. In my time there are over one hundred seventy thousand people buried there.” He shook his head. He chuckled lightly. “It seems a likely place to hide an artifact of this nature.”
“I agree.”
“Good. Well, let’s get you inside now and I’ll call on you tomorrow, at which time we can discuss a way to get to the amulet. Or…” He paused and Lucy studied his handsome features. “I could just go on my own. I could go now, if you want.”
“No! Will, no. It’s late and I want to do this with you. Besides, it’ll make things so much less complicated if I were to come along.”
They walked in silence a moment, Lucy’s thoughts circling as she worried at the problem. Her biggest concern regarding Will going alone was that he would find the amulet, and then Apep would appear and kill him. She couldn’t let that happen.
Then she remembered Harriet’s brief appearance and stopped in her tracks.
“Harriet, she saw us holding hands.” The girl never missed a thing.
“Probably. Do you think she’ll tell your parents?”
“Not if I tell her to keep it a secret.”
“Good.” Will leaned in and kissed Lucy’s cheek. “I’ll call on you tomorrow and we’ll make a plan to get the amulet.”
“I’ll look forward to it, Mister Godwin.”
“It’s Earl.” He coughed back a laugh.
“I see.” Lucy covered her mouth with her hand. “Aren’t you fancy?”
Will couldn’t hold back and chuckled. “You know it.” He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “In case you didn’t know, I love you, Lucy Channing, and I am so happy to be here with you once again.”
Heat stung her face. “And I love you, William Godwin.”
As Harriet helped her change into her nightgown and she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she knew that was the biggest reason she didn’t want Will to go alone. Her love for him felt bigger than she was.
TWO
CHESS PIECES A LA CARTE
A CROW landed on a wooden fencepost near the family’s graveyard. One inky eye studied her—his head bobbing up and down jerkily.
“What do you want,” Lucy asked. A warm breeze sent cherry blossoms swirling around her like a fragrant tornado. Her white nightdress danced lightly. The sun was setting, sending orange and yellow rays shooting through the distant sky.
The bird leapt forward and changed into the form of a man. It was Apep, God of darkness and chaos. Before he could reach Lucy, she moved back. One step. Then another. She wanted to run, but her feet felt too heavy, as though captured in quick sand. “Why are you doing this?”
He opened his mouth and a universe flew out. Lucy watched as Bastet took pieces of herself and formed them into the moon and the stars. Lucy saw that Apep became the night. When the sun started to rise, Lucy witnessed the morning and the night come together for the briefest moment. Apep extended his hand for a beautiful woman who in turn reached out for him. And just as their hands were about to touch, the sun crested and they disappeared. Apep let out a grief-stricken howl. The woman sighed with sadness. Lucy’s heart mourned for them, even though she didn’t understand why.
When the sun fully rose, one half of the amulet appeared and covered half of the sun, placing part of the land in shadow. Suddenly the other half materialized and blocked the sun, completely obstructing its light. In that moment, the Earth began to rumble causing the ground to split. Giant shards of ice broke through the surface destroying everything in its path. The ground burned as fires sprang up, consuming everything in their path. Then the stars began to fall, at first one at a time. After a few seconds, they started to fall like raindrops…
Lucy shook herself awake. Apep’s voice lingered in her mind: This is your world’s fate should you continue. She shuddered. Jumped out of bed, and threw back the drapes. Desperate, she needed to see for herself that the world was still the same. A black crow sat on the black iron fence and studied her just as it had in her dream. “What do you want?”
The bird flew toward the window. Terrorized, Lucy tried to run, but her foot caught on the edge of the carpet and she fell. Before she hit the ground, two hands caught her. They were Apep’s. He felt solid against her skin. His scent was a pungent combination of smoke and a clear night sky after a thunderstorm.
“I’ve got you.” Apep righted her before releasing her.
“If you’ve come to kill me, I-I won’t let…” Sh
e didn’t know what to say. If he wanted to end her, he could, probably with nothing more than a thought.
Apep chuckled. “It isn’t that I want to kill you, Lucy Channing. It’s that the path you’re on will lead to the ultimate destruction of all mankind and for my beloved Hathor’s sake I can’t allow that.” He fingers walked through the items at her dressing table beginning with the brush and moving slowly through her shadows, powders, and mirror.
“My path?”
“Loving the boy, William.” He took in his reflection as he spoke
“But he’s a good man. How can loving him destroy the world?”
Apep shook his head. “It isn’t in my nature to explain myself, but for Hathor’s sake, I’m trying.”
“Thank you,” Lucy said softly.
“You remind me of her a little. Not in looks, but your demeanor, your quiet determination.” He gave her a grim smile. “The curse is as old as the world. It began because of jealousy and unrequited love. The god, Ra thought to use the amulets as a way of keeping Hathor busy. He also hoped that over time she would lose interest and give up.” He set the mirror down and turned. “The saying, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, came from the English playwright William Congreve. He wrote it after meeting Bastet.”
“But she’s been trying to help Will and me, which is more than I can say for you. You keep trying to kill us.” Lucy shuddered and crossed her arms.
“For that I am sorry, but two must die to save the many.” He growled, reaching forward and clamping his hands on Lucy’s neck. “It isn’t personal.”
“Please, don’t do this.” The words came out garbled. Black dots blurred her vision. “Let me help.”
He shook his head. “The only way to help is to die.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Please.”
Apep’s eyes watered. “This is how I killed Hathor. My love,” he sobbed, releasing her. Grief etched itself on his features.
Lucy gasped for breath and coughed. Her throat felt as though she’d swallowed embers from a fire. She fell to her knees and then onto her hands. She didn’t know why he’d let her go, but was grateful.
“Miss?” Harriet knocked on Lucy’s bedroom door.
Lucy tried to speak, but coughed again.
“I’m coming in.”
Lucy looked around the room for Apep, but it appeared as though he’d gone. She swallowed her fear, breathing a sigh of relief, which caused another coughing fit.
“Miss Lucy.” Harriet came in, rushed over and helped Lucy to her feet. “Are you wounded? Are you sick? What happened?” She babbled like the brook that ran along the edge of Lucy’s family estate. Lucy blocked her out, focusing on her breath. “I’m going to fetch the doctor.”
Lucy heard that last part and swallowed, flinching at the pain. “I’m all right Harriet,” she said hoarsely, resting her head against the pillows.
“You sound terrible,” Harriet tucked the blankets around Lucy.
“I could use a hot drink, if you could fetch some for me.” She whispered the request as it didn’t feel as bad on her throat.
“Right away, Miss.” Harriet was gone before Lucy had the chance to thank her.
When the door closed, Lucy tried to settle in, but she was nervous Apep would return. The god could easily kill her. That much was obvious, but it seemed at least part of him didn’t want to. And like Bastet he’d mentioned Hathor and unrequited love. Lucy felt sure Bastet wasn’t being completely honest, that the goddess had her own agenda. Never in her life had she felt smaller than she did at that moment. Gods and goddesses seemed to be playing a game of chess and she got the feeling she was nothing more than a pawn. It scared her, truth be told, but more than that it… she thought about what Will would say. Smiled wryly. It pissed her off. She didn’t like being used.
A knock brought her out of her thoughts. Lucy tucked the blankets more firmly around herself. “Enter.”
Harriet came in carrying a tray. “I’ve brought you scones with orange marmalade and a hot chocolate.”
“I appreciate it.” Lucy climbed out of bed, pulling on her robe, and sitting at her settee near the window. “Have you eaten? Would you like to join me?”
“I-uh, no, thank you, Miss Lucy. I’ve had my breakfast.” Harriet wrung her hands in her apron. “I have other work to do. Ring for me when you’re ready to dress.”
“Yes. Thank you.” She picked up her scone, but remembered something. “Harriet?”
“Yes’m?”
“Last night. What you saw between Will and I. You won’t say anything.” It was an order, not a question. She needed Harriet to understand how serious she was about the situation.
Harriet went back to wringing her hands. “I wondered if’n you’d bring that up.” She took a step forward. “What about Mr. Rothchild? Your engagement? Don’t you love him?”
“Oh, Harriet. Sit by me. Let’s talk.” She debated whether to tell her lady’s maid the whole, extraordinary truth. But as Harriet cautiously came over and hesitated to sit, Lucy decided against it.
“Yes’m.”
“I do love Mr. Rothchild. Without question. But it isn’t the kind of love that a man and a woman should have for each other when they marry.”
“Mum says—”
“I know. I could grow to love him in that way. It’s possible. But I met Will—Mr. Godwin and…” She thought about how to describe her deep feelings for him. “It was like drowning and coming back to life again when I first met him. He makes me feel alive and loved and completely…”
“Off balance?” Harriet tried, her hands completely wrapped in her apron.
“No. It’s as though the world and everything in it has all been in black and white and now it’s in explosive color.” She shook her head. “I guess off balance works too,” she said with a smile.
“But Mr. Rothchild is such a good man.” Harriet wasn’t to be consoled.
“He is.” Lucy took Harriet’s hand. “And I want him to find happiness, but that isn’t with me.”
“But your parents? What will they say? It’ll cause a scandal if’n you don’t marry Mr. Rothchild.”
“I know it’s a mess right now, but I’ll figure something out. I’ve got to. Can I count on you?” Her eyes bore into Harriet’s, pleading with her to be on her side.
“Yes, Miss Lucy. Of course. Anything you need.”
Lucy squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
THREE
OFFICIALLY A FAMILY
HARRIET HELPED Lucy dress in her favorite lavender gown. She pulled her hair up in a French twist, leaving wisps of soft curls to frame her face. A light smattering of rogue brightened her cheeks. “You look beautiful, Lucy.”
“Thank you, Harriet.” She took the final sip of her chocolate and stood. “Is Mother up yet?”
“Yes, she’s been up for an hour. You’ll find her in the drawing room responding to invitations.”
Lucy steeled herself and went down the stairs and into the drawing room. Sure enough, her mother was leaning over a bunch of envelopes, writing hastily. Without glancing up, she said, “Lucy, dear. How did you sleep?”
Lucy went over to her embroidery. “Very well. You?”
“Fine. Fine.” She finished her correspondence and went about sanding the paper.
“There’s a gentleman caller to see you and Miss Lucy, Madam. Would you like to receive them in here or the parlor,” Sheldon asked.
“Good gracious. Who’s calling at this hour?” She frantically pushed past Sheldon as she pinched color into her cheeks and slicked back her slightly mussed hair. “Wait two minutes and then bring him in.”
“Yes’m.” Sheldon moved out of the doorway and off to the side.
“Lucy.”
“Coming, Mother.” She had a feeling she knew who it was and worked to contain her excitement. It still astounded her how much her life had changed in the last month. She’d gone from feeling like a commodity to be bought and sold to a person loved by a man th
at she loved right back. If only she could tell someone. But who? Not her mother or sister. Maybe Harriet. How would she begin? Oh, by the by the ghost of my grandmother gave me a locket and I went forward in time two hundred years where I met William and we’ve fallen in love. Tee hee. She doubted anyone would believe her. Quite the contrary, Harriet would probably think she’d lost her mind. Then she’d tell her mother who would tell Lucy’s mother and then she’d end up in an asylum.
“Sit at the pianoforte and play something,” her mother ordered.
Playing wasn’t one of her talents, but she lifted the piano lid and began to plunk out the one song she had memorized, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata quasi una fantasia.
“May I present William Godwin, Count of Polenska?” Sheldon announced him with complete solidarity.
At Will’s name Lucy’s heart sprang to life. She glanced up, her fingers tripping over the keys before recovering quickly.
He walked in, tall and commanding in tan breeches, matching jacket, and a white shirt. His boots were polished and his hat was the height of fashion. His hair was a little on the longer side and hung in his eyes, but he was gorgeous.
“William? Count?” Her mother was completely flustered. “Should I know you?”
Will’s charm sprang to life and he went to work putting her at ease. “I apologize for calling so early and without a proper introduction.” In his hand was an envelope. He presented it to her. “I hope the letter can put you at ease. We are related, distantly.” He glanced at Lucy. “My father and the Count of Polenska were cousins.”
She broke the crested seal and looked over what Lucy guessed was an introduction and possibly a family tree. If that were the case, she wondered how he’d acquired all of the necessary paperwork, but guessed Mr. Kincaid probably helped him out. For several minutes her mother read, sighed, and grunted until she refolded the paper and put it back in the envelope. “Well, you’re right. A proper introduction would’ve been preferable. But according to the letter you’ve been out of the country, which explains your odd accent.” She waved her hands as though brushing away something unpleasant. “No matter though. We are always available for family.” She smiled genially. “And where are you staying?”
Past the Ages: Book Two Page 2
