The Courtship (Sherbrooke Brides 5)

“But there is a huge difference between the chalice the Lord passed around to his disciples at the Last Supper and a simple lamp that was supposedly hidden in a cave for a shiftless boy to retrieve. It is not cloaked in religious trappings, in the power of the Almighty. There is no higher magic with this lamp, none of the awesome might with which the Holy Grail is imbued.”

“Yes,” she said and sighed. “I cannot help but agree. Who in the world would make an old lamp magic? For what purpose? That is what I cannot explain.”

He found he didn’t like her to fold her tent so quickly. “On the other hand, perhaps it is based on something that is real, something that isn’t a lamp, but something else.”

“Oh, how I hope so.” Her voice was very serious. Then she thrust up her chin. “But what? Oh, the devil, I know it exists, and that is good enough for the present.”

He smiled at her. “All right. I will settle for that as well. Now, even if we prove the existence of the lamp, how the devil are we going to find it?”

8

LORD BEECHAM WATCHED Flock elbow Nettle out of Teeny’s path. He had never seen Nettle look so vacuous. He turned away, shaking his head, reached up and clasped his hands around Miss Mayberry’s waist and lifted her down, no mean feat.

He said close to her ear, “You are indeed a big girl, Miss Mayberry. But you know, I don’t feel a single twinge in my back. Is it happenstance that your weight didn’t drop me to my knees? Let me see.” And he clasped his hands around her waist again and groaned as he lifted her in front of him. He let her back down very quickly. “At least two inches off the ground. I will say that this time was perhaps more precarious for my poor back, but regardless, I am still smiling, still looking at your mouth, still not bowed like an old man carrying too many sacks of flour. Now, tell me if I will have to protect poor Nettle from Flock. Do you think Flock is going to challenge Nettle to a duel for looking like a half-wit at Teeny? I have never seconded a valet before. It would prove interesting.”

“Flock is not only very territorial, he is also desperately in love with Teeny, but she refuses to marry him.”

“Why the devil not?”

“Just imagine it, Lord Beecham. Her name would be Teeny Flock. She managed to say it aloud, although she shuddered as it came out of her mouth. I will tell you, she has a point.”

“She can change her name to Elizabeth. Elizabeth Flock sounds quite charming.”

“I suggested something like that. She said that Teeny was her dear old grandma’s name, and she swears that the old witch will drop a hefty curse on her head for the rest of her life if she dares to change it.”

“What’s her last name now?”

“Bloodbane.”

He could only stare at her, repeating slowly, “Her name right now is Teeny Bloodbane?”

“Yes, a very old, very proud name, she told me. So, you can forget any droll comparisons, Lord Beecham, as to which would curl a listener’s toes more readily.”

“Teeny Bloodbane,” he said yet again, as if savoring the feel of the sounds on his tongue. “Tell me, Miss Mayberry, do you believe she will live in sin with Flock?”

“Oh, no, Teeny and Flock are both very religious. I overheard Flock telling my father that he fancied he was meant to be a Tristan to Teeny’s Isolde—an ill-fated love that would never result in marital fulfillment.”

“I think that both Flock and Nettle are far too old for Teeny. What is she, eighteen?”

“Yes. She told me that older men, like Flock, look at her differently, even speak to her differently from young men. She said she quite likes the older guzzards.”

“Guzzards? Good Lord, am I nearly a guzzard, Miss Mayberry?”

“I would say you have a good half dozen years before you reach the guzzard level, Lord Beecham.”

“My lord.”

“Yes, Nettle? What is it?”

“I pray that you will not desert me in my time of need.”

“Naturally not, Nettle. What need specifically do you see looming?”

“Flock is looming, my lord. He just told me he would pull my gullet out through my ear if I even so much as smile at Miss Teeny again.”

“Don’t worry, Nettle,” Helen said. “I will discipline Flock if he steps over the line.”

Lord Beecham gave her a look of great interest. “Just how will you do that, Miss Mayberry?”