herbs.
He asked them to notify him if anyone attempted to purchase some." I see. One of them sent word that
he had sold some of the rare herbs?" Yes. Lorring is so ill that he can no longer leave his home. So I
went to see the apothecary as soon as the message arrived. But I was too late. He had been stabbed. He
lived only long enough to tell me that whoever had purchased the herbs was planning to attend Ware's
house party." My God." A fresh wave of alarm shot through Emma. Do you believe Miranda murdered
the poor man?" If she is the one who possesses the recipe, I must assume that it is entirely possible that
she killed the apothecary. And, perhaps, others as well. But do not fret, Miss Greyson. You will be safe
so long as you play the innocent." I am actually rather good at that," Emma muttered. It is a require ment
in my profession." He gave her an odd smile. Do you know, until I made your acquain tance, I had no
notion that paid companions were so clever and resourceful." It is a demanding career, I assure you, sir."
I believe it." He paused meaningfully. If you are satisfied with the description of your new duties, there is
just one more thing I would like to have plain between us." What is that?" If you ever do find your way
into my bed, Miss Greyson, it will not be because I have paid you to do so."
CHAPTER SEVEN he following evening, before he dressed for dinner, Edison lit a candle and set it on
the floor. He sat down in front of the taper, legs folded into the correct position, and contemplated the
flame. He had long ago discarded most Vanza rituals. But once in a while, when he needed to look deep
into his own thoughts, he used the candle. Meditation with the aid of specially scented and colored
candles was an ancient practice on Vanzagara. The monks used it in the temples, and every Vanza
master taught his students how to use the flame to focus their concentration. Traditionally each student
received his first candles from his master. The particular scent and color of the tapers were unique to that
partic ular master. There was an ancient Vanzagarian saying, To know-1 the master, look at the student's
candles. It was customary for the student to use the master's candles until he had achieved the Third
Circle. At that time he concocted his own meditation tapers, creating them with his personal choice of
fragrance and color. Edison had received his first candles from Ignatius Lorring. They had been a rich,
dark purple. He would never forget the exotic scent. Almost as exotic as Emma's scent. Where the devil
had that thought come from? he wondered. Irritated by his own lack of concentration, he focused again
on the flame. At about the time he would have been expected to craft his own candles, he had stepped
outside the Circle. He had never got around
to creating his own personal tapers. On the infrequent occasions when he elected to meditate, he used
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
any ordinary household candle that came to hand. Common sense told him it was not the scent or the
color that enabled one to sink into that quiet place where truth existed. It was willpower and
concentration. He gazed deep into the flame. Methodically he went through the process of stilling his
body so that his mind could focus more clearly. The cloak of stillness settled on him. The flame flared
more brightly, until he could see into its heart. He looked into the depths while he allowed his thoughts to
chart their own course. After a while they took shape and substance. The decision to bring Emma
Greyson into the tangled mystery of the missing book might well prove to be a serious mistake. But after
examining it, he was satisfied that his logic was sound. I f Lady Ames was the thief and if she had
convinced herself that Emma was suscep tible to the elixir, then Emma was already ensnared in the web.
She might well be in peril at some point in the future,
He asked them to notify him if anyone attempted to purchase some." I see. One of them sent word that
he had sold some of the rare herbs?" Yes. Lorring is so ill that he can no longer leave his home. So I
went to see the apothecary as soon as the message arrived. But I was too late. He had been stabbed. He
lived only long enough to tell me that whoever had purchased the herbs was planning to attend Ware's
house party." My God." A fresh wave of alarm shot through Emma. Do you believe Miranda murdered
the poor man?" If she is the one who possesses the recipe, I must assume that it is entirely possible that
she killed the apothecary. And, perhaps, others as well. But do not fret, Miss Greyson. You will be safe
so long as you play the innocent." I am actually rather good at that," Emma muttered. It is a require ment
in my profession." He gave her an odd smile. Do you know, until I made your acquain tance, I had no
notion that paid companions were so clever and resourceful." It is a demanding career, I assure you, sir."
I believe it." He paused meaningfully. If you are satisfied with the description of your new duties, there is
just one more thing I would like to have plain between us." What is that?" If you ever do find your way
into my bed, Miss Greyson, it will not be because I have paid you to do so."
CHAPTER SEVEN he following evening, before he dressed for dinner, Edison lit a candle and set it on
the floor. He sat down in front of the taper, legs folded into the correct position, and contemplated the
flame. He had long ago discarded most Vanza rituals. But once in a while, when he needed to look deep
into his own thoughts, he used the candle. Meditation with the aid of specially scented and colored
candles was an ancient practice on Vanzagara. The monks used it in the temples, and every Vanza
master taught his students how to use the flame to focus their concentration. Traditionally each student
received his first candles from his master. The particular scent and color of the tapers were unique to that
partic ular master. There was an ancient Vanzagarian saying, To know-1 the master, look at the student's
candles. It was customary for the student to use the master's candles until he had achieved the Third
Circle. At that time he concocted his own meditation tapers, creating them with his personal choice of
fragrance and color. Edison had received his first candles from Ignatius Lorring. They had been a rich,
dark purple. He would never forget the exotic scent. Almost as exotic as Emma's scent. Where the devil
had that thought come from? he wondered. Irritated by his own lack of concentration, he focused again
on the flame. At about the time he would have been expected to craft his own candles, he had stepped
outside the Circle. He had never got around
to creating his own personal tapers. On the infrequent occasions when he elected to meditate, he used
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
any ordinary household candle that came to hand. Common sense told him it was not the scent or the
color that enabled one to sink into that quiet place where truth existed. It was willpower and
concentration. He gazed deep into the flame. Methodically he went through the process of stilling his
body so that his mind could focus more clearly. The cloak of stillness settled on him. The flame flared
more brightly, until he could see into its heart. He looked into the depths while he allowed his thoughts to
chart their own course. After a while they took shape and substance. The decision to bring Emma
Greyson into the tangled mystery of the missing book might well prove to be a serious mistake. But after
examining it, he was satisfied that his logic was sound. I f Lady Ames was the thief and if she had
convinced herself that Emma was suscep tible to the elixir, then Emma was already ensnared in the web.
She might well be in peril at some point in the future,
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