Page 13 of Golden Lord (Dangerous Gifts #2)

C HAPTER 13

W hen Tamsyn returned to her room, she dug into her carry bag for the coded list of potential gifted allies. The list was divided into geographical regions with half a dozen listings for the Calais area. Frowning, she decoded the names. It had sounded as if Rhys was saying, “Bar . . .” when he reminded her to check this list.

There were two surnames that began with “Bar . . .”: Jacques Bardin and Marie Barriere. She gazed at the two names and Barriere’s drew her attention. She had a vague recollection that the name meant something like gatekeeper, which was appropriate for a gifted ally. Madame Marie Barriere.

She then decoded the address. Her brows arched when she saw that it was listed as Madame Barriere’s Tearoom, and it was on a nearby street.

Since Tamsyn was going to be moving about in public, she needed to make herself easy to overlook. Her carry bag contained a temporary color rinse that would make her hair an unremarkable brown. Her boring tan bonnet and brown mantle were good, but she also needed to get more boy’s clothing because she would be unable to ride around the country as a lone female without drawing attention.

The one male outfit she had needed to be augmented with more rugged clothing, suitable for riding, climbing, and possibly breaking into houses. There should be used-clothing shops in the town; she’d visit them with the explanation that she was buying for her young brother.

She also was going to need a horse to ride around the countryside. Madame Barriere might be able to point her toward a reliable dealer. At the same time, she would keep an eye out for a mount that would suit Cade.

But the first step was to call on Madame Barriere. She would dye her hair on another day. The most important part of going unnoticed was to think herself plain. It was a trick she’d developed to avoid the attention of annoying men. Cade had said once that when she wanted to be overlooked, it was as if she’d doused her candle.

Cade. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting off a wave of painful memories. They had done so many things together for so many years. The thought of losing him put a hole in her heart.

She reminded herself sharply that he wasn’t lost, just in trouble. She would find him and heal him, and they’d go back to London, where life would return to normal.

Wouldn’t it?

She made her plans and a list of things she’d need to buy, then went to bed. She had much to do the next day.

* * *

After breakfast the following morning, Tamsyn went out in her plainest mode and did more exploring. She found a used-clothing shop and bought a sturdy outfit for her younger brother, who was about her size.

At the edge of town, she found a large livery stable that also sold horses. She told the owner that she was interested in buying a mount for her younger brother. He smiled indulgently. “Take a look around the stable, mademoiselle. The stalls of the horses that are for sale are marked, but be careful not to open any doors. A restless horse can be dangerous. If you need advice about which of the mounts are best, feel free to ask me.”

“I’ll be careful,” she said. “Horses are so large and frightening!”

She headed into the stables without mentioning that the male members of her family usually took her along when they were considering buying new mounts because she had very good instincts about horses. The dealer had a dozen or so full-sized riding horses for sale. She intended to look for a smaller equine since she was small herself, but she was drawn to a sizable white gelding called Zeus. He had a good temperament and a look of stamina, and he would be up to carrying Cade’s weight if necessary. There was a smaller chestnut that might do well for her later, but first the white gelding.

When she left the livery, she told the owner that the white gelding might do well for her brother, and she would send him over to look at it for himself in the next few days.

The owner’s brows arched. “You have good judgment. Zeus is the best mount I have for sale. Sound limbs and good conformation and very well trained.”

“I’ve always fancied white horses. So pretty,” she said artlessly, thereby persuading the owner that she didn’t know much about horses.

After dropping her clothing purchases back in her room, she headed to Madame Barriere’s Tearoom. It was a pretty, feminine space with colorful calico curtains, the scents of good baking, and small vases of spring flowers on each of the mismatched tables. It was well into the afternoon and there were only two other customers, elderly women who were chatting like old friends.

The tearoom was presided over by a competent-looking young woman who watched Tamsyn’s entrance with mild interest. Tamsyn approached her, asking, “Are you Madame Marie Barriere?”

“No, I’m her daughter Julie,” she said. “Marie is my mother. Are you interested in having a tea reading with her?”

Tamsyn blinked. “I didn’t know she did readings! I came by to say hello because a friend said I should call on Madame Barriere if I came to Calais, but I’d love a reading as well if it’s convenient.”

“I’ll ask her to join you. If you’ll step back through these curtains, I’ll start your tea. Would you like some cakes to go with it?”

Realizing how long it had been since breakfast, Tamsyn said, “Indeed I would.” She stepped through the curtains and found herself in a cozy chamber with a round table that had several chairs set around it. She took a seat where she could look into the tearoom through the crack in the curtains.

A few minutes later Marie Barriere joined her. She was a pleasantly rounded woman with shrewd eyes and only a few silver strands in her dark hair. After they exchanged greetings, the older woman said, “What is the name of the friend who referred you to me?”

Tamsyn hesitated a moment before replying. “Tremayne.”

“Ah, one of the Tribe of Tremayne,” Madame Barriere said thoughtfully as she sat down on the opposite side of the table. “You’re surely Gwyn Tremayne’s daughter. You look very like her.”

Tamsyn smiled. “I’ve been told that often, and it always pleases me to hear it. I’m Tamsyn.”

“The Tremayne heiress. You’re a long way from London.” The other woman offered her hand and Tamsyn took it. Among gifted people, this form of greeting helped strangers assess the other person’s power and decide if they were trustworthy. This woman was both powerful and trustworthy, traits for which Tamsyn was very grateful.

As they released hands, the other woman said, “Call me Marie. You’re powerfully gifted and you’re surely here because you need information and aid.”

“I see you don’t actually need tea leaves for readings,” Tamsyn said wryly.

Their conversation was interrupted when Julie brought in a tea tray with a steaming teapot, two white china cups, and a plate of sweet and savory cakes. As Julie left, Marie poured tea for them both. “Your parents once did a great service for me so I am happy to help you in any way I can. As you drink your tea, tell me how you come to be here in Calais when the war has just resumed.”

Tamsyn took a swallow of tea. “The Home Office was concerned about the safety of the British ambassador, so my brother Caden and I came to Paris to provide extra protection for him and his wife on their return to England.”

Marie nodded. “I heard that the British ambassador left Calais just as the order was issued to detain all British men of military age. Quite outrageous!”

“As you must have guessed, that’s why I’m here. In the turmoil at the port, my brother was detained. I stayed in Calais to find a way to free him.” Tamsyn paused, unsure how much more to say.

“And there’s something unusual about his detainment,” Marie said. “Finish your tea and we’ll take a closer look.”

Tamsyn took another swallow, leaving just a bit of liquid in the cup. “Is there really wisdom in tea leaves?”

“They help me focus my intuition,” Marie said. “Tea leaf reading is a tradition in my family. I had a Romani grandmother so the gift is in the blood. Julie has the gift also.”

Glancing at the tea leaves left in the cup, Tamsyn asked, “What now?”

“Swirl the cup clockwise three times while thinking of your question. Do it vigorously enough for the leaves to spread around the cup.”

Tamsyn obeyed, then set the white cup down between them. Dark brown tea leaves were spattered across the bottom and sides.

Marie studied the leaves, frowning. “Though traditionally tea leaf readings are positive, telling of the good things in life, there is a serpent in the middle of this cup.” She pointed at a twisting group of leaves.

“But also much more,” she added, indicating a vaguely heart-shaped clump of leaves. “Love.”

“Most assuredly. Cade and I have been best friends since we were small children.” She loved every member of the Tribe of Tremayne, but none of them more than she loved Cade.

Marie’s eyes narrowed. “Danger, and in more than one form. But you already know that.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Tamsyn agreed.

“Change, profound change,” Marie said slowly, “and in ways you never expected. Not necessarily disastrous, but a disorienting surprise.”

“Isn’t there always change around us?” Tamsyn said wistfully as she thought how Bran’s marriage had created change. His wife, Merryn, was wonderful and had become a true sister, but the close little triad of Tamsyn, Bran, and Cade would never be the same.

Marie indicated a sweep of tea leaves high on the side of the cup. “A guardian angel. I think that is you.”

“I hope I’m a good one, because that is what Cade needs,” Tamsyn said softly.

Marie raised her gaze to Tamsyn’s. “Do you want to tell me more about your situation? That might help with the interpretation. You can trust me. No one outside this room will know what is said here. My calling is to help, not harm.”

Grateful for that, Tamsyn said, “Between Paris and Calais, we were stalked by a gifted man we called the Scorpion. He’s the one who arrested Cade, and he has the terrible gifts of mind blocking as well as the ability to inflict hideous pain by touch.”

Marie looked appalled. “Claude Bastien! He is notorious in gifted circles. He works for the French government, but also for himself. You must get your brother away from him as soon as possible!”

“My thoughts exactly. I can feel Cade through mind touch, but he is almost paralyzed mentally. I’m a healer and I’m sure I can lift the paralysis, but first I must free him. Do you know where Bastien lives? And how well guarded the place is? It was suggested to me that the Bastien property is a bit beyond Frethun and right on the sea.”

“Your information is good,” Marie said. “I’ve only seen Chateau Bastien once from a distance. It is formidable, a very old fortress.”

“Do you know of anyone who works for him, or has worked for him in the past? It would be very helpful to know what to expect.”

“The few servants he has managed to keep never speak of the fortress. They all fear their master.”

“With reason,” Tamsyn muttered.

“The chateau is built on a rocky rise above the sea, and it’s said there are caves below that were used by smugglers in the past.” Marie shrugged. “Perhaps they are still used that way.”

Tamsyn was hit by a powerful certainty that those caves might be her way into the chateau. “I think I’ll do some exploring.”

“Be very, very careful. Bastien is the worst kind of gifted man, one who uses his powers for gain and cruelty.”

“He destroys. I heal,” Tamsyn said fiercely. “Whose power is greater?”

“You have great power,” Marie agreed. “But even more you need luck and guile.”

“I can manage guile. Luck I’ll have to pray for.” Tamsyn frowned. “After I rescue Cade, do you know any smugglers who could take us back to England?”

Marie bit her lip. “When the time comes, transport over the channel can be arranged. I do know a gifted woman in Frethun, a widow, who could help you enter Chateau Bastien if she’s willing. Her aid would come at a price, however.”

“Whatever her price, I will pay it,” Tamsyn said flatly.

“The price wouldn’t be in money,” Marie said. “I’ll send her a note to say that you will call on her tomorrow. She can decide how much she wants to say.”

“Thank you,” Tamsyn said, praying that the gifted widow would be in a cooperative mood.