“Of course it is, my lord,” Thea answered. Superstition aside, she had his attention now, and she was going to keep it. “Please, Reverend, continue.”
The clergyman removed his glasses and rubbed his nose before saying, “Historically church leaders have wanted us to believe the devil is a supernatural being. Something separate and apart from us. However, I hold to the more modern understanding that the devil is really the evil inside all of us. We make our own ‘devil.’ Take Bonaparte. He has been the mastermind behind a monstrous evil that has toppled governments and cost countless lives. Does that make him a devil? Only God knows. But in my humble opinion, I believe him to be one.”
Thea was not interested in Napoleon. “What of curses, Mr. Wells. Can the church remove curses?”
His response was to burst out in laughter. “Curses? Why would we remove curses? The idea of a curse is an antiquated notion. It is the device of the uneducated mind. We now know someone can’t put an evil eye out on another person with just a few words of mumbo jumbo. So there is noneed of the church to provide protection. Tell me, are you afraid of curses, Lady Lyon?”
Thea shrugged. “I am merely curious.” Mirabel had a very pained expression on her face. She was not pleased with Thea’s line of questions. Thea dared not look to Neal, but she hoped she had made her point.
Mirabel cleared her throat and changed the topic. “Would you like more port, Reverend?”
“Oh, no, I must be on my way. Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Palmer.” He rose from the table, Neal rising with him. “And my heartiest congratulations to both you and your lady, Lord Lyon. It has been an honor.”
“Thank you,” Neal said. “Let me see you to the door.”
The second the men left the room, Mirabel waved the servants from the room before leaning across the table. “Are you mad?” she demanded of Thea.
“No, determined.”
“This is your wedding night, and if you want to spend it battling your husband, you are a fool.”
“I’m making a point.”
“A point that will make your husband look like a fool! Oh, that is so much better.”
“Mirabel—,” Thea started, ready to explain herself, but then Neal appeared at the doorway.
He did not look pleased.
“—that was a delicious meal,” Thea heard herself finish lamely. “The quail was quite succulent.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Mirabel responded, her jaw tight. She was truly displeased with Thea. She rose. “I believe the time has come for me to excuse myself. Many happinesses to you both.” She started for the door but paused in front of Neal. “And, Lyon, please be good to my friend. She’s headstrong and foolish but a wonderful woman. She’ll make you a good wife once you find your way past all the armor she wears to protect her emotions.”
Mirabel directed that last comment to Thea, and with those words, she left the room.
Thea didn’t think she’d ever been so insulted. She sat, her gaze in front of her, waiting for Lyon to chime in with his unhappiness with her as well.
He walked into the room, his footsteps barely a sound on the carpet, but she could feel him draw close.
Lyon took the chair next to hers, turning it out so that he could sit seeing her face. He didn’t speak. Not immediately.
Osgood came by the door to check on the room, saw them, and beat a hasty retreat. Neither Thea nor Lyon moved.
She was determined to let him be the first to speak. Perhaps bringing up exorcisms and curses at the table had not been wifely, but Neal needed to hear someone else’s opinion besides her own.
The minutes stretched long between them, and then, finally, she could take it no longer.
“You are too intelligent to let your life be ruled by superstition,” she announced.
He regarded her with a solemn face. Even angry with him, she couldn’t help but marvel at how handsome he was. He had a sensual mouth, a lean, strong jaw. They were so close that she could see the line of his whiskers and smell the scent of sandalwood off his skin.
“I shouldn’t have broached the topic,” Thea said.
He shook his head, gave a small shrug.
“I was worried when you were gone all day.”
“I had to think.”