David Liss - The Twelfth Enchantment - A Novel

Lucy was only half-listening, because as interesting as were Mary’s words, the pages were so absorbing. There was something in the curious etchings, something she could almost see. The first thing she observed was that these pages somehow went together. It was no coincidence that these three were left in the book. They were a set, and someone who perhaps believed he might choose pages at random could choose these three, not seeing how they belonged with one another. But there was something else, too. The patterns, the images, took hold of her thoughts, pulled them, led them like a boat upon a river’s strong current. There was meaning here, clear meaning, though it took her a moment to see it.

At last she looked up at Mary. “There is a principle of magic we have not discussed,” Lucy said. “The principle of sacrifice.”

Lucy understood at once that she had said something significant, for Mary dropped her teacup. It struck the floor and shattered, while the lady herself gripped the sides of her chair as though preparing for a great wind that might rip her from where she sat. Mary said nothing, merely stared at Lucy in wonder. Lucy was afraid to ask what it meant. They sat there, frozen in the moment, until roused by a pounding upon the door. Lucy listened as Mrs. Emmett answered, and then, after a moment, Mrs. Quince rushed in, with Mrs. Emmett behind her. Lucy had only enough time to close the Mutus Liber before Mrs. Quince could glance in its direction.

“Miss Derrick must come home at once,” announced Mrs. Quince.

“What is it? Is something wrong?” asked Lucy.

“You will worry about anything,” said Mrs. Quince. “No cause for alarm, except as it affects our peace. Your sister and her family have arrived, and Mr. Lowell does not wish to have them about without you present.”

“Oh,” said Lucy, who was still so intrigued by Mary’s reaction that she momentarily forgot to be thrilled at the news that her sister was there at last. Thus she allowed Mrs. Quince to lead her away without saying a proper good-bye or even understanding precisely what had happened.

18

A LL THE STRANGENESS OF HER MOST RECENT ENCOUNTER WITH Mary was forgotten the moment she walked into her uncle’s house and saw her sister in the front room, holding her baby, little Emily. Lucy rushed over and carefully hugged her sister, so as not to crush the baby, and then peeled back the blanket to afford herself a better look at the child, who was awake but gurgling peacefully, swaddled as she was in a blue blanket embroidered with silver lace.

Lucy looked at her sister and her niece, and hugged them both again. She felt the tears running down her cheeks, but she did not care. She was so happy to see them. This was her only remaining family, and how she loved her sister, and how she loved her niece. “Oh, Martha, she looks just like our Emily. The resemblance is remarkable.”

Emily had clearly brought Martha a full measure of happiness. Prior to having her baby, Martha had looked too thin and drawn and unhappy, but now she appeared plump and rosy and cheerful. She favored their father more than Lucy did, but she shared Lucy’s dark hair and rosy complexion. Her face was longer, however, more pinched, giving her the studious look she had taken so much to heart before her marriage.

She patted her baby’s back. “I do think she is the very image, though Mr. Buckles believes she favors his side of the family.”

“It matters not for a girl,” said Mr. Buckles, by way of greeting. He had walked in when Lucy was occupied with the infant, and was busy wiping a cloth along his forehead. “Were it a boy, it would be preferable that he favor his father.”

Lucy looked at Martha, for an instant forgetting that Martha did not know about her husband’s treachery. She expected that they would share a look of disdain or disgust, but Martha only looked away, appearing grave. She clutched her child closer to her breast. Lucy understood at once that Martha had come to hate her husband. It was there upon her face, and it made Lucy unspeakably sad. Even though such hatred was only just—even if Martha did not know that Mr. Buckles had altered their father’s will—Lucy did not want Martha to suffer.

She looked over at Mr. Buckles, who simpered foolishly at Uncle Lowell, and Lucy felt her face redden with rage. He had stolen what was hers, what was Martha’s, what was her father’s, and paraded about as though it were nothing. He made his insipid observations and commanded Lucy’s sister as though he were not a villain. She swore to herself that he would pay for his crimes. And then, because his hand was outstretched, she took it and welcomed him back to Nottingham.

Lucy spent the next morning in seclusion with her sister and niece. Often her thoughts turned to the aborted conversation with Mary the previous day. She had obviously said or done something to alarm her friend, and she wished more than anything else to know what it was before seeing her again.

So Lucy was relieved when she received a message from Mary asking her to meet her in the marketplace that afternoon. Martha appeared insulted when Lucy excused herself, observing that it must be a very particular friend who would call her away from her sister and niece, whom she sees so seldom. Lucy assured her she was, and that Lucy only needed a little time to assist her friend in purchasing a new hat for dinner that night. Martha clearly wished to be invited along, and Lucy dreaded that she would speak her desire aloud, but she did not, and Lucy comforted herself that she would have plenty of time to spend with her sister.

Lucy met her friend in the crowded marketplace at noon, and Mary took both of her hands somewhat awkwardly, for she held a little leather bag by a string in one hand.

“I know you have not much time,” said Mary, “but we were interrupted at such an awkward moment yesterday, and I wished to speak with you before more time passed.”

“I have longed for the opportunity,” said Lucy. “If I said something to offend you, Mary, I am so very sorry.”

Mary laughed and then hugged Lucy. “Offend me indeed. Hardly. You astonished me, that is all. I have never met anyone, heard of anyone, so perceptive as you.”

“But I hardly knew what I was seeing or what it meant.”

“I know,” said Mary, walking Lucy over to a little bench where they could sit. “You must understand that the pages of the Mutus Liber contain certain truths about the magic of the philosopher’s stone, about the principles that make it function. The pages, though in various locations, always seem to be grouped according to one of these important principles. It is almost as though the pages will not allow themselves to be separated. Perhaps it is not so surprising. We talk about the most powerful magic in the universe, for it is the ability to transform one thing into another thing. Most of the magic that even the most skilled cunning women or hermeticists practice is no more than the natural push and pull of the universe. But this is something different.”

“Is it dangerous?” asked Lucy.

“Oh, yes.”

Mary opened her leather bag and removed a piece of paper, an ink pot, a quill, a flat piece of wood, which Lucy divined was for her to write upon, a book, and a plump red rose. She then took the small volume and leafed through it briefly, looking for a page, which she soon found.

“This is a charm to kill plants,” said Mary. “It is dangerous magic, traditionally used for evil, and it involves changing the nature of something. Plants are made up largely of water, and this spell works by moving the water from one location to another. If you would make the attempt, please.”