Page 75 of His Wicked Charm

Lilah nodded and went back to the book. She turned the page. “This just looks like a list of Latin words. Some have a word beside it like healing or war.”

Con looked at the page. “I recognize some of these. They’re the deities of ancient Britain—though most of these are the romanized versions of their names. Sulis—the goddess of the healing spring at Bath. Latis. Cuda, the mother goddess. Belatucadros—that one really trips off the tongue, doesn’t it?”

Lilah stared at him. “How do you know all this?”

“You know my father is mad about anything Greek or Roman. He might not be interested in ancient Britain, much less the present one, but he was keen on the Roman rule in England. It was part of our studies. Contrary to what some believe, I did actually study now and then.” He tapped his finger on one of the words. “The Matres. That’s another triple concept. They were three goddesses, always pictured together.”

“Like the three Fates. What were they goddesses of?”

He shrugged. “They’re shown carrying fruit, so they probably have something to do with the harvest. Fertility. But they also seem to have some connection to death and the afterlife.” He laughed at Lilah’s amazed expression. “The Matres were described in that book I read the other night.”

She contemplated the list of names. “Are these the gods he thinks once walked the land?”

“I suppose. I would guess that this gateway must lead to the gods.”

“My grandfather must have been quite mad. Ancient gods and gateways.”

Con shrugged. “Maybe. But it also could have been just some silly thing three idle and bored young men came up with to pass the time. I think a number of the secret societies have religious or mystical themes. Things like that help with rituals. I suspect it’s the rituals they like, more than the religion.” He paused, then went on, “And if Sir Ambrose was insane, Sabrina’s and Peter’s grandfathers must have been, as well.”

“I suppose that’s reassuring.”

“What else is in there?” Con leaned in to turn the page. Their heads almost touched; their bodies were so close Lilah could feel his heat. “This supports the barrow idea.” Con pointed at the objects drawn on the next page. “That looks like a statue. A bowl. An earring. I’m fairly certain that is a torque.”

“What do you think this statue is?” Lilah peered at the ink drawing.

“A rotund and rather frightening woman. Is that a snake in her hand? But see, in her other arm, she’s carrying a basket or a bowl.”

“It’s like the Matres you were talking about, though there’s only one instead of three.”

Con nodded. “My guess is a fertility figure, though the snake usually has some connotation of death or the afterlife.”

The next page was a listing of dates.

“Records of their meetings,” Con suggested. “They start in June 1841. At first they’re irregular, then they become four each year.”

Lilah paged through the book. “Look how many there are.”

The next page was blank. Con turned back to the listings. “Look at these last couple of pages. The dates are haphazard again.”

Lilah studied the entries. “This is around the time my grandfather died. My father took over, and he wouldn’t have been faithful in keeping the accounts.” She sighed and set the book aside, turning to Con. “What are we going to do? I feel as though we just discovered a great deal, but I can’t see that we’re any further along in finding the key. Or where it goes.”

“I feel exceedingly odd saying this to you, but I think we must be patient.” Con took her hand. “We do know a great deal more, and understanding what they were doing will help us. Your grandfather was much more involved in this than your father, so I think we should focus on him after we finish here.”

“You’re right.” Con had not released her hand, but Lilah didn’t want to point that out. Reluctantly she said, “I suppose we should stop. It’s getting rather late.”

Con gazed intently into her eyes, his thumb tracing her fingers. “Do you—would you like me to keep watch tonight?”

“Keep watch? For wh—oh, you mean to catch me if I start roaming about in the middle of the night?”

“Yes.”

Lilah squeezed his hand, warmed by his concern. “That’s very good of you, but I have solved the problem. I shall lock my door and put the key away.”

“Very well, but if you need me...”

“I know.” Lilah’s chest was suddenly full and aching. For the first time she could remember, she wished that she was different. That she was a woman who didn’t worry or plan, who wasn’t skeptical and bound by convention. The sort of woman who could ignore the conventions and not think of the consequences. The sort of woman Con could care for.

“Lilah...” Con stopped, his face troubled. “You aren’t... You wouldn’t seriously consider marrying that man, would you?”