Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"He is a very kind, gentle man. How did you meet him? And Deborah?"

"I met him in Charlotte Amalie, as you know. It was a very short time ago, actually. My aunt, Miss Foster, was ill, and he came with Dr. Gustavus to attend her. As you said, he was very kind. My aunt adored him, and let me tell you, Aunt Mary didn't believe any man worth a sou. And I? Well, I wanted desperately to escape. Daniel was there, and yes, he was ever so kind. I met Deborah soon after that. She appeared very fond of me, yes, very fond."

"But you weren't poor. My father mentioned that you brought Daniel a dowry of two thousand pounds. That is substantial."

"I wasn't informed of the money until I told Aunt Mary that Daniel had asked me to marry him."

"You married him to get your dowry?"

"Oh, how can I expect you to understand? My precious aunt was mean, poor-spirited. I do not know where she got the two thousand pounds. And why she would have saved the money for me, wellagain, I don't know. She certainly wasn't all that fond of me. I had no choices, not like you have enjoyed all your spoiled life."

"Choices? I?" Diana laughed. "Oh, Patricia, so few of us have choices."

"Why? Are you breeding? Was your husband forced to marry you?"

"No, I am not breeding." She remembered Lyon's words and added quietly, "Perhaps I am now, but I wasn't when we married."

"You should leave this place."

"Perhaps I shouldn't mention this just yet, but Lyon wishes for you and Daniel to return to England with us. Daniel wants desperately to become a physician. He can receive excellent training in London."

"Why?"

The single, very cold word drew Diana up short.

"I know you don't like me, despite what you said. You don't think I'm a proper wife for Daniel. You don't know either of us, not really."

"As for knowing you, I fancy if we do all return to England, that lapse will soon be remedied. However, Deborah doesn't wish for Daniel to leave Savarol. I don't understand why, but she is very adamant."

"Deborah and Daniel are very close."

"Yes," Diana said. "It will be Daniel's choice, though."

Patricia raised her parasol and looked blankly at the lace she had shredded. "You should leave," she said again, then walked away swiftly toward the house.

But what about Charles Swanson? Diana wanted to call after her. Was he your lover? But she kept silent. This was their first conversation that wasn't fraught with ill feeling. At least not too much ill feeling.

Diana sighed and started off in search of Lyon.

"You shouldn't be alone, little sister. Lucien told us all quite clearly to stick together."

Diana grinned up at Daniel. "Well, now I'm with you, big brother. No one would dare try anything with you on the scene."

"Probably not. I saw you talking to Patricia. Did she rip up at you?"

Gentle Daniel was also very observant, Diana thought. "No," she said honestly, "not this time."

"What did you talk about?"

"She was telling me how the two of you met."

"I see. Would you care to go riding with me?"

"Yes, I should like that." They walked side by side toward the stables. "It will be a relief to get away for a little while. There is so much tension. Understandable, of course."

"Yes, indeed."

"Patricia also told me about her Aunt Mary."