A Split Worlds Omnibus

by Emma Newman

  A loud bang against the partition wall made her yelp. There was another and cracks appeared in the plaster. The third made glasses smash on the floor above and the cracks widen. She watched paint flakes fall as her vision was peppered with blue lights. Something broke through as her sight tunnelled, something made of metal as tall as a man moving towards them at great speed before she slipped away with Bartholomew’s name on her lips.

  12

  Carter filled most of the seat opposite her in the carriage and Cathy had taken to staring out at the mists to feel less crammed in. He rode in silence and seemed quite content once he’d checked the carriage over before they’d left the house.

  The kiss Will had left on her cheek was still on her mind. He’d come out to the lobby when he saw the carriage pull up and saw her dressed for visiting. “Where are you going?”

  “To see Charlotte Persificola-Viola,” she said, noting the way Carter stood to attention whenever Will was there. “Freddy’s sister-in-law.”

  “Oh. Did she invite you?”

  “…No. I just wanted to meet her. It’s part of what I should be doing, isn’t it? Getting to know the women of the Court.”

  He smiled and embraced her. Carter looked away. “That’s exactly right. Why are you starting with her?”

  Her heart had smacked the inside of her ribs as she wondered what to tell him. She couldn’t risk telling him about the files Max had delivered to her, but staying as close to the truth as possible was the best policy when dealing with the Fae and probably husbands too. “She employed the woman who was my Governess to teach her children. I thought it would be a good thing to talk about…you know…something in common.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I knew you’d be a fine Duchess. You’re too clever not to be. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, and rest if you need to.”

  She’d wanted to comment that finding something in common with Charlotte hardly required a university-level education but kept it behind her teeth. He was just trying to encourage her and bolster her fragile confidence. She smiled back at him. “I’m trying. In every sense of the word.”

  He’d asked her to tell him all about it at dinner and she fiddled with the buttons at the wrist of her gloves as she wondered what would come after they’d eaten. The previous evening he’d elected to stay at the Tower for private audiences after the Court was done and she was asleep by the time he’d got home. If he was home for dinner, there was no chance of such an easy way to avoid him.

  Then she remembered Lucy’s excitement, her exuberant speculation about which one of them would fall pregnant first and how wonderful it would be to have children close in age living in the same city. She and Tom had been married for months and trying for a child just as long. She was horribly open about it with her. The only good thing about enduring the conversation was hearing that it took some couples a while to conceive. She still didn’t want to take the risk though.

  Cathy sighed at the mists. Committing to staying with Will made it almost impossible to avoid having children, especially with the additional pressure they were both under. She’d considered trying to find a way to get contraceptives from Mundanus. Even though she’d been cursed she’d still read all the literature provided by the universities she’d attended, so she knew exactly what she needed and how to get it. But there were two major obstacles. The first was getting to a family planning clinic without any of the staff seeing it and reporting to Bennet. Another visit from Max was risky enough. The second was the fear that if Lord Iris summoned her back into Exilium he would be able to detect what she was doing and she couldn’t bear to think about the consequences.

  “Is something wrong, your Grace?” Carter asked. “Is the carriage making you feel unwell?”

  “I’m fine.” She smiled. “Carter, did you ever know anyone who changed their job?”

  “Well…house servants progress through the ranks, if that’s what you mean, your Grace?”

  “No, I meant someone who changed specialism.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never heard of anything like that, your Grace.”

  Charlotte’s was the first name that had leaped out from Miss Rainer’s Agency file. She had employed Rainer as a lady’s maid, then four years later Miss Rainer became her governess. The two roles were completely different in terms of status and had different implications for the member of staff. As a lady’s maid, Rainer would have lived her whole life in the Nether, never being expected to fetch and carry in and out of Mundanus. But as a governess she would only sleep in the Nether while her working hours would be spent in the nursery wing in Mundanus. If Carter was anything to go by, Miss Rainer wouldn’t have initiated the change and for her mistress to insist the Agency allow her to change positions—and thereby shorten her life significantly—seemed rather odd.

  “Are all Agency staff given a specialism when young?” she asked Carter.

  “Yes, your Grace, apart from those brought in later of course.”

  She nodded. “Like the Rosas.” She wondered where they’d ended up.

  “And the people who grew up in Mundanus.”

  Cathy sat forwards, all attention on him now. “What do you mean?”

  “There are some staff who join the Agency after being born as mundanes. There’s one in your household, your Grace. Coll Jones was a mundane and entered the Agency just under two years ago. I hope you don’t mind me knowing, it’s just that I reviewed all of the staff when I took on my position.”

  Had he chosen to live as a servant? Why in the Worlds would he want to do that? “But how do they end up at the Agency? Surely that’s a breach of the Treaty?”

  “I’m certain the Agency wouldn’t do such a thing.” Carter seemed genuinely appalled at the implication.

  “Of course not,” she said lightly. He wasn’t the person to speculate with.

  The carriage was slowing down and Cathy looked out of the window to see a large Georgian house, one built of Portland Stone rather than the Bath stone she was used to. It had neat ornamental hedges at the edge of the drive, a subtle way to demonstrate wealth, and a stylised violet set into a stained-glass panel above the front door.

  As the step was lowered she reviewed what she knew of Charlotte and her husband Bertrand. He was the younger brother of Freddy Viola and, from what she saw of him at the Court, seemed to be the exact opposite. She couldn’t remember seeing him with his wife, probably because he’d been managing Freddy’s attempts to sour the room against Will the whole evening.

  Dame Iris had told her that Charlotte was one of the most beautiful in the Court but when beauty was the standard Cathy didn’t really think it was anything of note. She wanted to know if she held the same ideals as Miss Rainer and, if she did, whether she would be a good ally. All she’d learned from the Agency file was that she married Bertrand almost one hundred years ago and aside from a problem with her first lady’s maid—one that Miss Rainer had been brought in to replace—there was a standard turnover of staff. There was nothing mentioned about her maiden name or family, which surprised Cathy, but other than that everything seemed normal. They were sidelined politically, thanks to Freddy’s constant bad behaviour, and lived quietly enough not to merit more than a passing mention in the Dame’s Londinium Who’s Who. The only reason Dame Iris had mentioned them at all was because of their wealth, something Cathy had already learned from Margritte. Cathy wondered where she was and how she was coping with the grief. The guilt she carried with Will sat like stones in her stomach.

  Carter helped her down the steps and she smoothed out the creases from her skirts. The dark blue gown was wider in the skirt than most of her clothes and had a large collar with wide lapels. Her maid had chosen it to cover the fact that her corset wasn’t as tightly laced as normal, on the insistence of the nurse. It was the only time the nurse had said something she’d been glad to hear.

  The footman pulled the chain for the doorbell and Cathy took her time to go to the door. She’d sent a message ahead th
at she intended to visit. It was strange to think that Charlotte might be worrying in the same way she dreaded every time Dame Iris came to the house. Cathy didn’t like the thought of people being similarly terrified of her. She wasn’t going to be like that.

  A butler answered the door and she was invited in. Carter went first, eliciting a sniff from the butler. She followed, amused by Carter’s diligence. No family would be stupid enough to attack the Duchess of Londinium at their own house when both households were aware of her visit. It would no doubt get back to Bennet, but it was one of her duties as Duchess to visit other wives. She just had to make sure that none of the servants overheard their conversation.

  The house interior was pleasant enough with black and white chequered tiles on the floor and portraits hung on the walls. She noticed one of a man who looked just like Freddy, so much so that she wondered if it was him, but the woman standing next to him in the painting didn’t look anything like Georgiana. There were, unsurprisingly, vases of violets on pedestals and little tables that smelt of summer and made her long for blue sky again.

  Charlotte Viola came to the main doors leading off the lobby. She was indeed beautiful, strikingly so, with high cheekbones and flawless skin. She appeared to be in her late twenties but Cathy had no idea what her real age was. Her brown hair was arranged in the classical Greek style and her dress was Empire line, making her look like she’d stepped out of the Regency. It bothered Cathy that she was noticing these things. Dame Iris had clearly infected her thinking.

  “Your Grace,” Charlotte said and gave a deep, elegant curtsy. “It’s a pleasure and an honour to welcome you to our home.”

  Cathy’s hand twitched as she almost gave an uncertain wave. Instead she inclined her head and smiled, just as she’d been taught the day before the Court. She felt like a fraud. “Thank you. And please call me Cath…erine.”

  “And, of course, please call me Charlotte. Would you like to come through to my drawing room?”

  “I’m sorry about the short notice,” Cathy said.

  “Oh, it’s no bother at all,” Charlotte replied. “Quite the contrary. I’m afraid my husband had a prior engagement and wasn’t here when your message arrived.”

  That suited her just fine. Cathy glanced behind her, suspecting that Carter was about to follow her in. “You can wait outside, Carter.”

  “But—”

  She glared at him and he backed down. She couldn’t remember that ever working on anyone before. She followed Charlotte into a richly furnished drawing room with a cheerful fire and a table already laid out for tea. The butler closed the door behind them. There was an embroidery frame in the corner with a partially completed country garden design. It seemed that women kept in the Nether developed a passion for embroidering and sewing the things they could no longer enjoy in Mundanus.

  “Do you like to embroider?” Charlotte asked, having noticed Cathy’s attention.

  “No,” Cathy said as she sat. “I’m not nearly as gifted as you.”

  “I find it passes the time so pleasantly,” Charlotte said. “Would you care for a cup of tea?”

  Cathy nodded. Charlotte wasn’t what she’d expected, but she wasn’t even sure what that had been. Someone more like Miss Rainer? She reminded herself to be patient. Charlotte was hardly going to open the conversational dance with an observation about the subjugation of women in society.

  “May I compliment you on your dress,” Charlotte said as she handed over the tea. The cup and saucer were the typical dainty porcelain favoured in Society, with tiny violets incorporated into the design. “It’s such a beautiful colour.”

  Cathy sipped the tea after an embarrassed smile. Small talk was still agonising, even when she was trying instead of daydreaming herself away from it. Charlotte served sandwiches and cake as Cathy struggled to think of a way to talk about something worthwhile.

  “How are you finding Londinium?” Charlotte asked. “I understand it’s quite different to Aquae Sulis.”

  “It is,” Cathy said after hurriedly swallowing a mouthful. She felt the lump moving towards her stomach and fought the desire to belch. “Have you been to Aquae Sulis?”

  “Sadly not.”

  The crackling of the fire filled the room as they both sipped and took dainty bites. Cathy put her teacup down, determined to end the agony. “I wanted to speak to you about Miss Rainer.”

  “Oh!” Charlotte’s face became radiant with happiness. “Miss Rainer is an excellent governess. She taught my daughter and son.”

  “Yes, she taught me too,” Cathy shifted to the edge of her seat now she was on topic.

  “How splendid,” Charlotte said.

  “She taught me very well. I understand you were the one who…made her into a governess?”

  Charlotte’s smile lingered and she seemed to be searching for words. “Miss Rainer is a very intelligent woman.”

  “Is that why you suggested she change career?”

  “She was a superlative lady’s maid too,” Charlotte said. “However, she excelled in her later role. She was so passionate about things that matter.”

  Cathy paused. She had the impression she was having a conversation slightly out of sync. Was Charlotte trying to tell her she knew about what Miss Rainer used to teach but didn’t feel safe enough to say it to her directly? “Have you been in touch with her lately?”

  “I understand she’s been very successful and taught in many households since she was here, thanks to my recommendation.”

  Why hadn’t she answered the question? “I saw her, only a few weeks ago, and something terrible has happened to her.”

  Charlotte’s smile was rapidly replaced by concern. Cathy could see there was something else…fear?

  “She’s a scullery maid now,” she continued. “And she isn’t herself at all, it’s like someone sucked out her personality and replaced it with a job description.”

  Charlotte’s eyes became round and she looked away, her cup rattling in the saucer, but she still didn’t say anything.

  Cathy was losing her patience. Just because she was the Duchess it didn’t mean they couldn’t talk properly. “I think the Agency did something to her because my parents reported her unorthodox lessons.”

  “Miss Rainer was a superlative teacher who gave only the best lessons,” Charlotte said with a voice suddenly bright and cheerful.

  Cathy frowned. “Please, can’t we speak candidly? I know I’m the Duchess but you don’t have to be afraid of talking to me about this.” Charlotte remained silent but was still unable to meet Cathy’s eyes. Cathy lowered her voice, in case the servants were listening in, ready to report back to Bennet. “Don’t you understand? I think the Agency did something terrible to Miss Rainer because she was teaching me about equal rights for women, the Suffragettes and Peterloo and all the other things we’re not supposed to be taught. The people who run the Agency are…are…”

  She couldn’t find the right words. What were they doing? Removing a problem reported by important clients or participating in a wider conspiracy against women? Was she mad to even consider the latter? Bennet had blackmailed her because she’d caused problems, not because of her sex.

  “The Agency are always so helpful and are marvellous at providing just the right staff.” Charlotte’s cheerful voice made Cathy feel nervous.

  “Are you afraid that something you say to me will get back to your husband?”

  Charlotte took a deep breath and seemed to force herself to look Cathy in the eye. “My husband is a very powerful man. He always gets what he wants because he’s so clever and resourceful.”

  Cathy shivered. “Did he do something to you?”

  Charlotte looked away. “My husband is absolutely devoted to me.”

  “Oh, bollocks,” Cathy muttered beneath her breath. “He’s put a curse on you, hasn’t he?”

  Charlotte giggled and covered her mouth with a shaking hand as if Cathy had told a silly joke.

  “Is there anything at all yo
u can tell me about Miss Rainer? Did you realise she was special and help her get out of the Nether as much as possible by being a governess? Is that why you did it?”

  Charlotte stared down into her teacup. “It’s so lovely that we have someone so special in common,” she said, the cheerfulness switched back on like a sprite’s glow after a hammer had struck the globe. “Would you like to see where she used to teach my children? It was such a happy time.”

  Cathy hoped this was a ploy to get them somewhere more private, or perhaps into Mundanus. Maybe the curse she’d been put under only worked in certain circumstances. “I’d like that very much.”

  Charlotte put her teacup back very delicately and as they both stood she reached across and caught hold of Cathy’s hands. “I’m so delighted you came to see me. And I would be so very happy if we could be friends.”

  There was an intensity in her eyes as she spoke and it moved Cathy to squeeze her hands back. “So am I. And I would like that too. I have a feeling that I could be friends with anyone who knew Miss Rainer well.”

  “She is very talented,” Charlotte said. “She always had a knack for working out who could be a good friend.”

  Charlotte led her out. Before Carter moved, Cathy ordered him to stay put and followed Charlotte up a wide staircase, both of them looked down on by dozens of portraits as they climbed. They passed a maid who bobbed a curtsy and hurried away. Clearly they hadn’t expected the mistress of the house to take the Duchess on an impromptu tour.

  “Miss Rainer was such a valued member of the household,” Charlotte said when they reached the top floor. “Come and see how neatly she kept her old room. It hasn’t changed since she left.”

  She opened the door of a room next to the green baize door that would lead out to the nursery wing. It seemed Charlotte didn’t want to take her out into Mundanus.

  The room was quite large and had several empty bookshelves. There was a single bed stripped of its linens and the personal effects were gone from the dressing table. Charlotte closed the door behind them as Cathy scanned the room, looking for anything unusual.