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.She looked like a foreign princess on her way to a ball.Deestretched out his hand to touch her.Her body was completelyinsubstantial.Dee 's hand passed right through her."No touching, I am afraid.That's the problem with holograms.What can I dofor you gentlemen?" Lilith said, brightly."You are the demon Lilith?" asked Walsingham."You may call me that.It is Lucy's name for me.You could not pronounce myreal name." Lilith smiled."Of course, she will not tell us her secret demon name or we would have powerover her,"Dee said quietly to Walsingham.Lilith smiled."Lilith, Lucy thinks you are her friend," said Walsingham.Page 188 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I am her friend.Indeed, she is my only friend.I will protect her with mylife," said Lilith.Simon was always amazed how much loyalty Lucy inspired in those around her.She had subverted the core of the English Secret Service and now, apparently,she was starting to work her charm on the demon realms."If you are her friend then you will let her go.Leave her and let her live anormal life," Walsingham urged.Lilith looked sad."I cannot, Elder Walsingham.""We could use magic to force you out," Walsingham said, coldly."I beg you not to try.In order to jump from Lucy, I would need energy.Mybody would suck it from the nearest source automatically.That would be Lucy'sbody.This is involuntary.I have no control over it.Remember the dog.Pleasedon't make me kill Lucy, Elder Walsingham, I love her."Walsingham looked flummoxed and Simon did not blame him.They both rememberedthe agony-twisted form of the puppy.Lilith was not at all what they hadexpected.Like the experienced interrogator that he was, Walsingham changedtack."How could you leave Lucy without killing her?""I could lock onto an external power source and saturate my body.It wouldneed to be close by.I could leave her safely then and journey home," Lilithsaid."I see," said Walsingham."I must think further on this."Lilith's image began to flicker."The spell is failing," saidDee.Lilith winked out like an extinguished candle and only Lucy's reflectionappeared in the mirror."Well, that didn't work," said Lucy."What! What are you all staring at?"Act 16The River CrouchBurnham-on-Crouch might not be the most miserable town inEngland but, on awet afternoon, it made a rather good approximation.The town was perched onwhat was almost an island in a sea of mud.It boasted a single jetty that randown far enough across the mudflats to allow loading at all but the lowestspring tides.But Burnham's location on the north bank of the mouth of theCrouch Estuary suited William's current needs.TheSwallow' spinnace staggered onto a buoy off Burnham.Its foremast wavedcrazily in the swell.A party left the ship and rowed for the shore."My God, what a dump," said William."Essexis just one big mudflat.Are thelocals born with webbed feet?""There are pleasant enough lands around the old Roman city atColchester ,"said Simon.He put his cloak around Lucy."Are you warm enough, my lady?""Your cloak is welcome, sir," she said."There is a cool wind over themarshes."Page 189 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThey landed on the jetty and walked up into the town, which boasted onetavern.William led the way in."I need a table and four mugs of your bestbeer, landlord."A man wearing an apron came out to seat them."Sit here, lady, gentlemen.CanI get you some food?""A hot meal would be good.What do you have in the kitchen?""My wife has made a coney and turnip pie this very day.It is stuffed withpepper and currants and pricked between the legs so as not to break its body."The landlord waited expectantly."Excellent," said William."We will have four servings."The landlord bowed and went back to the kitchens."That sounds good," Simon said."Aye, well.I would not expect too much from such an out-of-the way place,"said William.The potboy arrived with their beer.Simon turned to Lucy."Are you warmednow, my dear?"Lucy returned his cloak."Thank you, husband." She kissed him on the cheek asthe potboy put down the mugs.Lucy was doing her best to adopt the accent ofthe minor rural gentry.The crystal-clear accents of theLondon aristocracywere a little too distinctive.They chatted inconsequently.The potboy returned with radishes and salt as ataster to clear their palette and tempt their appetite.William wasastonished.This country tavern served food more like a fashionableChelseahouse than a place on theEssex marshes.The landlord placed a whole pie in the centre of the table and wiped fourplates, which he laid out for the diners.William indicated to Lucy that sheshould break the crust first.Lucy helped herself to a man's share.Williamwondered where she stored so much in such a slight figure.Somehow, he hadexpected that a titled lady would pick delicately at her food but she attackedher meals like a sailor on a blowout.When all had helped themselves, theytasted the food.The pie was baked to perfection."I wonder what the goodwife has used to glaze the pastry," said Simon, whoconsidered himself something of a gourmet."I suspect she has used an egg mix.The pastry is crisp and firm but just dissolves in the mouth.""Mmmmm," said Lucy, and helped herself to another portion having wolfed downthe first.She became aware that the men all looked at her."What? The sea airhas given me an appetite.""I must ask for the recipe so you can make this pie for me, beloved," saidSimon, playing to the gallery.Lucy finished a mouthful before replying."Of course, I will slave in akitchen to make it for you, dearh eart.Especially as you are so poor that wecannot afford a cook." She gazed at him adoringly.William choked back alaugh.Lucy and Simon held hands a lot during the meal and often gazed into eachPage 190 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlother's eyes.William knew that they were only obeying his instructions but hefelt more than a twinge of jealousy.Lucy treated him politely but with acoolness that wrenched at him
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