Page 12 of Entwined By Error (Madcaps of Mayfair #1)
A Fortune Teller’s Folly
Daniel realized he wasn’t pleasant company, but he also had the unfortunate duty of making amends for his brother’s misdeeds, which plagued him deeply.
That alone increased his growing temper.
But then there was the woman in front of him, so trusting and kind.
He only hoped she would take a moment that evening to consider his warning.
Walking next to Miss Astley, smelling the rosewater wafting up from her neck, was more than he could bear.
How he had found himself so intrigued by the woman was a mystery.
Moreover, he didn’t want to think about her fan flying across the ballroom to smack against his chest, the little smirk that pulled at her eyes and lips, and he certainly didn’t want to think about the moment she’d sent him aflame, yet every time he looked into her wide, innocent eyes, he could see only beauty in her irises.
It pained him to know she had given her heart so easily to his brother.
Southwood was a lout who did not deserve her trust. For Miss Astley was the most trusting woman he had ever met; she blatantly refused to see that she was courting a cad.
Southwood had duped the poor thing into thinking he loved her, which only enraged Daniel.
He dared not think upon the matter too long, elsewise he might decide to call Southwood out.
What would their guests think if a duel were to be fought? It was a challenge he had no right to issue as he was not the man Miss Astley wished to marry, nor was he her protector.
None of this was Miss Astley’s fault, which meant Daniel needed to adjust his expression and treat his future sister-in-law with a bit more kindness.
It wasn’t that he was being rude, or even ungentlemanly.
But he wasn’t being kind, which was in direct disobedience to his mother’s request. But he couldn’t help but conclude that Miss Astley didn’t deserve to be married to his deuced spendthrift of a brother.
She was far too sweet, and his brother would destroy the poor girl.
He did not wish to see her bright eyes and cheerful personality replaced by the disillusionment of what she had once thought to be love.
For if there was anything Southwood loved, it was cards, dice, horse races, and money.
“Miss Astley,” he had to make one more attempt to convince her to end the courtship, even if it made him look desperate.
She stood in the entrance to the fortune teller’s tent, her head turned to the side, not fully looking at him. “What is it?”
“Please consider what you have seen of my brother since your arrival. He has not behaved like a gentleman.”
“But there is still time, Mr. Northcott. I know he will apologize.”
“As he has in the past?” Pain filled her features, telling him he was right. “How many times has he issued his apologies?”
She shook her head. “It is hardly a conversation worth having. Come now. Let us have a bit of fun.”
Taking a deep breath, Daniel followed his lovely charge into the fortune teller’s tent.
The tent was stuffy with candles flickering against the heavy red brocade curtains, which were covered in embroidered stars.
Yellow tassels hung about the tent, most of them there for show as they were unlikely to reveal anything significant.
The heavy stench of incense burning in little silver trays on each table left a trail of smoke lingering in the air, causing him to sneeze.
“Ah, you have finally arrived! Come closer. Only the bravest seekers will approach the veil and allow the spirits to whisper the secrets of their future.”
“Did you know we would visit your tent?”
“The spirits whispered of a honey-blonde beauty and her stalwart companion. I knew it would be a matter of time before I met you.”
Miss Astley placed a hand over her mouth as she took a few steps forward. “Then this day was foretold?”
The mystic placed a hand under Miss Astley’s chin. “For many years I have seen your precious face in my crystal ball. Please sit, my dear girl.”
Daniel stood back as Miss Astley accepted the mystic’s invitation. Once she was seated on a high-backed wooden chair, the mystic looked to him, waving him forward. “No thank you, madam. I will wait for my charge by the door.”
“Mr. Northcott, if you do not take a seat, I shall have to report your ill manners to the countess—I do hope your mother does not send you to bed without supper.” Miss Astley pointed to the chair on her left.
“I should not think you would want to disappoint her by having nothing scandalous revealed about your future.”
He thought about arguing but instead conceded to her request. She would follow through with the threat, and he did not wish to disappoint his mother. Against his better judgement, Daniel stepped forward, accepting the invitation as he placed the small painting on the floor to the side of the table.
His consent was slight, almost reluctant, yet the smile it drew from her eyes struck him with the brilliance of sunlight through storm clouds, breaking through every barrier he had raised against his own treacherous regard. He offered a slight smile then turned to look at the mystic.
Displayed on the table before him were the crystal ball, a palmistry chart, and a pile of cards. He raised an eyebrow at Miss Astley. “Perhaps we should leave before we discover some great secret that will alter the course of our lives.”
“It is all in good fun, Mr. Northcott.” She turned away, but even with her head turned, he caught every word she mumbled. “Something you are in serious need of discovering.”
He took exception to that. Miss Astley didn’t understand anything about him, and the judgement seemed a bit harsh, given his displeasure over the fact that his brother was deceiving her for her dowry.
Of course, she had no knowledge of that information, but that didn’t mean she had a right to judge him.
“I will have you know that I am quite lighthearted when given the opportunity.”
Miss Astley turned back to him, a doubtful smirk lacing the forced smile on her face. “You have yet to prove yourself as anything but a grump, sir.”
Daniel looked to the fortune teller. “Madam, do your best presenting our future. I hand myself over to you, a willing servant in this mockery of mysticism.”
With a whip of her hand, the mystic released one of the tassels, allowing a black cloth to unravel from above. It fell upon the table, blocking their view of the fortune teller. “Place your hands on the table, sliding them underneath the cloth.”
Daniel lifted his right hand and held it out so Miss Astley could view it before he slid it under the cloth to prove he could be carefree. Miss Astley matched his movements, but she placed her left hand under the cloth, directly in line with his.
“Is that fear in your eyes, Miss Astley?”
“Not at all, Mr. Northcott.”
“Your breathing seems a bit rushed. Did the movement cause you to be short of breath? Perhaps I should call for a physician.”
Miss Astley kept her face forward, staring at the black curtain. “Excitement is what you sense, sir. For I happen to know my future already.”
“Oh?”
The woman lifted his hand and pushed the sleeve of his frock coat and shirt back before placing a cold bracelet upon his wrist. Daniel waited for something to happen as the bracelet tightened until it was slightly uncomfortable.
When she didn’t speak, didn’t send up smoke signals, or any such tomfoolery, he sat back and turned to Miss Astley. “A fool’s intrigue, I suppose.”
“Hush now, Mr. Northcott, or your skepticism will block any reading she may interpret from our hands.”
“Oh, spare me the advertisement.”
He was ready to pull his hand back, remove the bracelet, and drag Miss Astley from the tent if she refused to follow him when the curtain lifted, a bang sounded around them, and smoke filled the air.
Daniel used his free hand to wave in front of him, pushing the smoke away as he coughed.
When the smoke finally cleared, he looked down to find that he and Miss Astley were bound together with shackles.
He opened his mouth, but the mystic lifted her hands and called out to some unseen being she claimed was floating about in the tent.
Daniel rested against the back of the wooden chair, wishing he’d found a way to convince Southwood not to leave for the horse race. If he had, his day would have been filled with more worthwhile pursuits, like reading or sketching out a plan for his next painting.
The mystic let out a howl and then settled in a chair as she used her hands to encourage the smoke to rise once more from the incense burning nearby. “Your paths are entwined.”
Miss Astley leaned forward. “Can you see my future?”
“I see many years of happiness.”
Miss Astley turned to him. “Did I not tell you as much? You will learn not to doubt me, Mr. Northcott.”
Daniel smirked as he pulled his arm back, forcing Miss Astley’s hand to move as they were connected. “How very quaint. A future of happiness. Even I could have predicted as much for anyone walking into this tent.”
The mystic grabbed his hand, forcing his arm to stretch back toward her. He could have pulled away, but instead of causing a greater disruption, he decided to allow her to finish with the scheme so they could remove the shackles and return to the castle.
“Your futures are entwined in a way you have not yet realized.”
Miss Astley leaned forward, her eyes wide. “My greatest hope is that we will be brother and sister. I am here with the expectation that I shall receive an offer of marriage from his brother, Viscount Southwood.”
“The viscount is unworthy of your devotion.”
Well, Daniel thought as he shook his head at the mystic, she had one thing right. His brother was not worthy of this young lady, or any lady at that. Southwood had a great deal of growth in his future, something he should do before marriage.