Free The Twelfth Enchantment: A Novel by David Liss Page B

swooned, but next she knew, she sat by the fire, her head down, a blanket over her shoulders and a cup of hot wine in her hand. She did not recall her father upbraiding Mr. Morrison for running off with his daughter. Instead, she had a vague memory of the two men talking closely together, whispering, as though Emily’s death, and Lucy’s reaction to it, required that men who ought to be enemies join together for her own good. Most inexplicably, she was almost certain she had seen her father shaking Mr. Morrison’s hand. Lucy did not think it could have happened that way, but it was not a subject she had ever felt she could discuss with her father.
    Mr. Morrison had once been a fixture in their neighborhood, friendly with Lucy’s father, but after that day he simply vanished, ashamed tohave been exposed, and wanting no more entanglements with a love-struck sixteen-year-old girl whom he had played with for his simple amusement.
    Lucy told Mary Crawford a brief version of the story. When she was finished, Miss Crawford took Lucy’s hand. “It was a youthful indiscretion that led to no harm. Whatever happened to your sister was none of your doing. You know that to be true, but it is time for you to
believe
it. You must cease condemning yourself for something you never did.”
    Lucy looked away, blinking back the tears.
    “I cannot imagine how miserable they have made you,” Miss Crawford said.
    “They are not as kind as I should like,” said Lucy, “and your words are most welcome, but that is not what affects me. It is that you have made me think of my father.”
    Lucy recalled the day, some weeks after he first invited her into his library, they reviewed together a book upon astronomy, and Mr. Derrick began to speak at great length upon the subject of Galileo and his excommunication.
    “I am certain,” her father said, “that this punishment affected him greatly. But Galileo reported what he believed to be true, and so I suspect that while the charge of heresy was unwelcome, he likely did not berate himself. Do you not agree?”
    Lucy said that she did agree.
    Mr. Derrick closed the book with a dramatic snap. “We must always remember not to condemn ourselves for what we have not done.” Lucy had rarely felt more loved and understood. Now here was Miss Crawford, who was determined to be her friend. That would not be enough to help Lucy through whatever she must face in the days and weeks ahead, but it was something. It was something indeed.

7
    W HEN LUCY RETURNED TO HER UNCLE’S HOUSE, SHE WAS IN A BUOYANT mood. Miss Crawford would help her to regain her inheritance. Perhaps, even at that moment, Lord Byron was thinking of her, considering the implications of courting a girl with no dowry, but Lucy would not be so penniless when her inheritance was returned. It was not the princely sum a peer might hope for, but he was only a baron after all and could not be so very choosy.
    She knew it was foolish to count her father’s inheritance before it was in hand, certainly before she had heard from Miss Crawford’s solicitor. As for Lord Byron, he likely flirted with every young lady he saw, and she could not reasonably expect to be in his presence again. Even so, it felt wonderful to indulge in the fantasy, and she did not wish to stop herself.
    Lucy had hardly ever troubled herself to imagine her life as Mrs. Olson. She thought of that future only as one in which she would be freeof her uncle and Mrs. Quince, but Byron—that was something else altogether. She saw it at once, the two of them dressed in the height of fashion, traveling in his brilliant equipage, attending balls and routs and patronizing pleasure gardens. She could see herself hosting gatherings at their fine home, being greeted as Lady Byron. And she imagined the private times together, the walks, the quiet meals, the evenings before the fire.
    Unfortunately, this new feeling of hopefulness had a price. Now that she could dream of other prospects,