3: Revelations upon Revelations

Chapter 3 of A Grail for Eidothea

Given freedom once more, Eidothea meets Mr. Jasper Tregallas in a rather ignominious fashion. Worse, he can see through her little deception magics. How is that possible?

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I returned to the front parlour to find Aunt Norah already planning the wedding. “The way he looked at you! I saw you notice how handsome he is. Such a gentleman!”

“He was kind,” I allowed.

“Kind indeed to wait for you to join us. How could you be so late? Jenni worked a miracle to transform you from a mud-witch to a gentlewoman.”

“I was tardy by a few moments,” I reminded her. “It was windier and wetter than I expected.”

“It could have been disastrous had he seen you in that state!” Aunt could not be calmed. “Your constitutional privileges are revoked! You may take a turn about the garden and no further!”

I looked to Father but he seemed inclined to allow Aunt Norah to have her way. “It is for the best,” he murmured.

My aunt’s outrage settled. “We must review your gowns and find you something suitable for tomorrow. I bought some lace last week that might work …” I let her muse and plan through my scant wardrobe, putting my foot down at too many flounces. I used the punishment of being forced to read ladies magazines to point out what was no longer au courant.

24 March, 1814

I will not bore you with all the details of the dinner, which began with a tour of the house. This was followed by a sumptuous feast, after which we were invited to linger. The Williams sisters played the pianoforte and sang.

“The dress looks fine,” Aunt Norah opined, “but it needs a little something. Some jewelry? We cannot be seen to be peasants.” She deemed the locket as too simple and so I went in search of other pieces in my mother’s dressing room.

I have not been in there since her death, nor had anyone else. Sheets covered all the furniture.

With care, I slid a sheet off her small dressing table. The almost bare tabletop held only a perfume bottle and her brush. I remembered a small jewelry box and started looking through the drawers.

I soon found it at the back of the bottom drawer. Inside the mahogany box nestled my mother’s few jewels. She did not own much and she rarely wore them. All but one piece were love-gifts from my father.

I lifted out a single strand of pearls, revealing a creamy square of paper and a tiny indigo velvet pouch.

“Eidothea!” Aunt Norah called.

The pouch held a pearl ring, the pearl embedded into the thick ornate gold band. The paper had my name on it. It had to be from Mother.

“Eidothea!”

I tucked the letter into my pocket. The ring fit over my forefinger. I headed downstairs, holding the pearls. “Is this too much?” I asked my aunt.

“Perhaps a mite too formal, but the Tregallas family are wealthy. Such things will be noted favourably by them.” Aunt Norah frowned at the ring. “That is heavy and old-fashioned—“

“Where did you get that?” Father cut in, standing pale-faced in the hallway. He’d just emerged from his study.

“They are Mother’s.” I evenly matched his gaze. “Why should I not wear them?”

“They are not unsuitable for a young miss,” Aunt Norah put in. “The ring might be seen as antique—“

“It has been in your mother’s family for generations.” Father took my hand, studying the ring, though he seemed to know it well for “she was never without it.”

He clasped the pearls around my neck. We donned cloaks and scarves for the short carriage trip to the Tregallas estate.

Very aware of the letter’s slight weight in my pocket, I hoped for a private moment to read the letter.

The Tregallas residence glowed golden against the carefully laid out verdant garden. Large windows looked out upon the ocean visible at the far end of the green valley. The home had been extensively added onto in the Classical style with faux columns lining the front stonework at regular intervals.

Inside, the family stood arrayed to meet us. Lord and Lady Tregallas greeted us first. Beside them, we were introduced to the Honourable Mr. Tregallas and finally the Honourable Mr. Jasper Tregallas, whom we already knew.

I noticed the stiffness between Father and Lord Tregallas but the sight of the two younger Tregallas men captured my curiosity. Indeed all three of the Tregallas men, senior and younger, were similar in build and colouring. “There hardly seems any difference in age between your sons. Is it a family trait to maintain one’s youthful looks?”

Lord Tregallas’ dark red hair had no trace of white. While deep wrinkles sat around his eyes, he could have been easily mistaken as an older brother to the pair.

He chuckled. “Kind of you to say so, my girl! You flatter an old married man with two grown sons.” He exuded charm but his thin ready smile lacked sincerity. “In truth, there is not much of an age difference between them.”  Lord Tregallas patted my hand. “There is no shame in setting your cap for Jasper. He has proven invaluable to me in taking care of our family interests in London and on the continent.”

For once, I was struck speechless. Mr. Jasper Tregallas’ fair face slowly turned a dark red and my own cheeks felt hot. Set my cap at him? My aunt already hoped marriage for me, but the man was yet a stranger to me.

How did I feel about him? At that point in the evening, I felt pity. He seemed of decent character, not the least because he kept my secret.

“It is so warm in here!” Aunt Norah exclaimed, fanning herself with her gloved hand. “What excellent heating you have. Where may we place our cloaks?”

As we removed our cloaks in the privacy of a small side chamber, I pulled out a strategic hairpin and my curls tumbled.

“That will not do,” my aunt declared and asked the Tregallas maid to help restore my hairstyle before she left us alone.

The maid swiftly accomplished this. I dismissed her and lingered, so I could read the letter privately.

Tears misted as I read. More tears threatened but I swallowed them, knowing I was expected to rejoin the others.

I have tucked in the letter here for safe keeping.

My dearest Eidothea,

I planned to give this to you once you were old enough but it seems I will not live to see that day. How I want to watch you grow into the vibrant young woman your youthful ways have promised to me. I do not regret my choice in giving you some of my magical energy in order for you to survive pneumonia. You must survive, Eidothea, and do not feel guilt over my absence. I would make the same decision a thousand times over.

I have asked your father to give this to you, but I worry he will be so overset with grief as to forget this gift even exists.

This ring is your inheritance. It has been in my family for generations. Treasure it, keep it on your person at all times. There is a long gold chain in my jewelry box. If it is still there, use it to wear the ring around your neck.

I cannot insist too strongly that this ring must not fall into another’s hands. This ring comes with a charge, a quest, and I believe you are the one to succeed in it. I hope you will succeed where I have failed.

There is more, but you must speak with your father. He is not as ignorant of our kind as he makes it seem. He fears for you, but with the right companions, you will find your way safely.

I love you, my darling daughter, and I do not want to leave you.

With all my love,

Berlewen Pendyr.

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