The Witching Hour (Wiggons School #3) (Wiggons' School for Elegant Young Ladies) (The Wiggons' School for Elegan Young Ladies)

by Jane Charles

  What they did not need to know was that Lord Severen, a spy for England, had been sent by her father to find her. Lord Severen had not anticipated being saddled with a young teacher and five other students, but he couldn’t leave them behind to fend for themselves and save Claudia alone. Nor did she tell them that it was her father and brothers who manned the boat that gave them all safe passage. The less details, the fewer the questions. Besides, her father, Pierre Marseau, was still a hunted man. First it had been by the French because of his birth and later because it was learned he was helping aristocrats escape France. Now it was the English because his cargo had changed from smuggled people to fine wines, fabric, and whatever else was profitable to bring into the country behind the backs of the custom officers.

  “I ended up at the school where Mrs. Wiggons took me in and gave me an education. We changed my name so that I could begin anew, and I did what I could to relieve myself of any accent so that there were no further questions about the little French orphan. When the other students left to take their places in society, I remained and assisted with the language lessons and soon became a teacher myself.”

  “What of your father?” Rosemary asked.

  “Or your brothers?” Eliza added.

  Claudia bit her upper lip before she continued. “They were never arrested, but they disappeared.” It was not all a lie. She knew where they were most of the time, but it was impossible for her to return to France because they no longer had a home, and her father and brothers lived on their brigantine. The ship that once carried aristocrats from France now brought contraband such as lace and brandy to Cornwall.

  As a girl, she used to see them in the early morning hours as they rowed to shore. She, along with her two closest friends at the school, Tess and Natalie, often rose before the sun to watch for boats. Claudia never told her friends that she was looking for her family. Those two simply thought it a game to see if they could spot smugglers amongst the early morning fishermen. Mrs. Wiggons had allowed her to slip away the times she did see her father’s boat and saw his lantern signal. They met in the cave beneath Creighton Abbey, not that she ever told anyone. Not even when she was older.

  Claudia cleared her throat and focused back on her students. “So, you now know my story and why Lord and Lady Severen began to call me Claudette. There is no grand mystery, nor am I trying to hide a past. Mrs. Wiggons simply wished for me to have a new start and to try and put the nightmare of the Terror behind me.” She narrowed her eyes on the girls. “Lord and Lady Severen wish to live in peace, and you will allow them to do so.”

  “You’ve been at this school the entire time? Since you were a girl?” Rosemary asked.

  “Why was an English Lord in France during the Revolution?” Eliza asked.

  “He was young and had no intention of allowing the difficulties in France to deter him from having his grand tour.” It was the story Severen himself told often enough of how he met his wife.

  “It sounds rather boring to me,” Eliza said after a moment.

  It was supposed to, Claudia reminded herself. They didn’t know the real reason Lord Severen decided to settle in the area or why they were to have a new neighbor. Had Lord Hopkins not confided in her during his last visit, she’d not be telling these three anything of her personal life now, but if she didn’t convince them to cease their intrusions into the lives of others, matters could become very precarious for all involved.

  “Harrington Manor has been purchased,” Eliza announced as she and Rosemary ran into the room they shared with Sophia.

  “How do you know?” Sophia glanced up from her reading assignment.

  “We may have spied a handsome blonde gentleman arrive on horseback shortly before a number of wagons and carriages pulled into the drive.” She grinned.

  “The only way you could have spied such a thing was if you were away from the school,” Sophia eyed her two friends with suspicion. Not four hours ago they’d been lectured on minding their own business and reminded to remain on school property. Again. “The back of the manor faces the cliffs, just as the school. You would have had to be on the road and away from here to have seen any and all arrivals.”

  “He is our brother, and you shan’t pester him as you do everyone else in the area,” Lady Olivia Westbrook informed the three as she stepped into the room.

  “And we plan to warn him about you as well,” Lady Victoria pinned Eliza with a determined look and nod of her chin.

  Ladies Olivia and Victoria had come to the school almost two years earlier. They were sixteen-years-old and the same age as Sophia and her friends. The twins had always been quiet, preferring each other’s company to that of the other girls in the school, and Sophia had never gotten to know them. Not that she hadn’t tried, but they were so painfully shy when they arrived that she’d eventually given up. This was the most she’d ever heard either of them talk, and she was rather surprised by their determination.

  Eliza, not to be deterred, leaned forward. “The earl?” she asked with excitement.

  Both girls frowned.

  “No,” Oliva answered. “Gabriel.”

  The girls were dressed in thick cloaks and carrying their muffs. “Are you going out?” Sophia asked.

  “We are paying a call on our brother,” Lady Victoria answered with superiority.

  “We are not supposed to the leave the grounds unescorted or without permission,” Eliza reminded them with authority she did not possess.

  Sophia nearly snorted. Eliza and Rosemary had just done exactly what they warned the sisters of not doing. And, they did so on nearly a daily basis.

  “Miss Morris is accompanying us.”

  “Will you be living with him?” Rosemary asked out of curiosity.

  “We shall see.” Lady Olivia sniffed and lifted her nose as the girls left the chamber. Eliza followed them and looked out into the corridor before she returned and closed the door behind her and turned to Rosemary and Sophia with a grin.

  “What?” Sophia ask slowly. Whenever Eliza at that mischievous gleam in her eyes, it usually led to something that would land the three of them in trouble, such as being caught at Lord and Lady Severen’s this morning. Sophia should have just let Eliza and Rosemary go off on their own, but she rarely stayed back because someone who was reasonable needed to be present to talk them out of truly dangerous adventures. Not that it had always worked in the past.

  “Lord Gabriel Westbrook has the wickedest reputation, and he’s quite handsome too.”

  “We are not going to bother him,” Sophia warned.

  “For once I agree with you.” Eliza plopped onto the bed and bounced in her excitement. “A year from now we will be at our homes preparing for our first Season. I have no intention of my reputation being sullied by having my name associated with that of the Honorable Gabriel Westbrook.”

  Rosemary leaned in, her dark brown eyes bright with excitement. “Is he so terribly wicked?”

  Sophia blew out a sigh. Gossip was never good and could do a great deal of harm, but this was better than Eliza planning a visit to spy on Mr. Westbrook.

  “He’s made a fortune gambling, which is how he probably managed to purchase Harrington Manor since his father left him nothing, nor does he even receive quarterly’s from his brother.”

  Rosemary gasped. “Why ever not?”

  Eliza leaned in. “They say his father isn’t his father.” She nodded knowingly. “The same is said for Ladies Olivia and Victoria, by the way.”

  Rosemary gasped again. “They were born on the wrong side of the blanket?”

  “It’s none of our concern,” Sophia interrupted. The sisters already had a difficult life given how they’d lost their parents. She would not sit by while Eliza further sullied their name. The two girls were innocent of any shame cast upon their family. Besides, everyone knew of the rumors, and it wasn’t necessary to discuss them.

  The gossip sheets from London had become required reading in order to prepare for their comin
g out, as a lesson that if they did not follow the strict dictates of society, their names may one day be printed along with a scandalous story. Sophia secretly believed the reading the of the gossip sheets was to deter Eliza, more than the others, from her impetuous behavior. “Their father always claimed the relation, and they are simply rumors because the marriage between Lord and Lady Norbright was so volatile.”

  “They say Lady Norbright had many lovers and that Mr. Gabriel Westbrook is the only person to surpass the number his mother once enjoyed.”

  “How could you possibly know such a thing?” Sophia was fairly certain she would have remembered reading that bit of gossip.

  Eliza just shrugged and gave them a sly smile.

  There is no way she knew anything more than anyone else.

  “He’s fought duels and appeared intoxicated in the middle of Hyde Park where he relieved himself in the bushes for all to see.”

  Sophia did recall reading that bit of news.

  “Some say that he’s even in league with the devil.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “He never loses at the gaming tables, and he has walked away from duels without even a scratch. No matter what he does, he lands on his feet, like a cat with nine lives.” Eliza’s eyes went wide as she warmed to the topic. “The same is said of his friends, the Devils of Dalston--eight gentlemen who share a private residence for what people can only assume are the most depraved activities since no one ever speaks of what happens there.”

  “They share a residence?” Rosemary asked.

  “None of them live there, but secret gatherings haven taken place,” Eliza assured her as if she knew for certain exactly what did take place, which was impossible to know, of course.

  “They can’t be that secret since you seem to know about them,” Sophia pointed out.

  Eliza ignored her and leaned closer to Rosemary, who was always willing to hear her tales. “Some believe they are practicing the black arts. Mr. Westbrook requested his tailor make eight black robes and an emblem resembling a pentagram was designed into the pattern.”

  Leave it to Eliza to exaggerate something that might be quite innocent, though Sophia had read about the robes and wondered what they were about. It was all quite ridiculous as far as she was concerned.

  “Why would they need those?” whispered Rosemary, who hung on every word Eliza uttered.

  “Witchcraft, of course.”

  Sophia did roll her eyes this time. If the gentlemen were practicing witchcraft, surely they would have been arrested by now. It was a crime not taken lightly in England. Though nobody had been executed in nearly a century, witches were still jailed.

  There were several more stories surrounding Gabriel Westbrook, and Sophia dearly hoped Eliza didn’t spend the rest of the afternoon regaling her and Rosemary with each and every one of them. But one thing was true, he and his friends had some of the wickedest reputations. Eight gentlemen who were wealthy, attached to titles, handsome, and dangerous to the virtue of any woman they happened to meet.

  Oh dear, and Miss Morris was about to step into the lion’s den. Hopefully someone warned her, or she at least remembered all of the horrid things she had read so that she might protect herself.

  Chapter 2

  And Avicenna also bears this out, Naturalism, Book 3, c. the last, when he says: “Very often the soul may have as much influence upon the body of another to the same extent as it has upon its own body, for such is the influence of the eyes of anyone who by his glance attracts and fascinates another.”

  ~ Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger

  His sisters believed the only reason Miss Morris remained was to see that they were escorted on their return to the school. However, Gabe knew very well that she had a different purpose for accompanying Olivia and Victoria to his new home. Unfortunately, he’d not been able to discuss those reasons in front of his sisters. They knew nothing of his real life, that he was an agent for the Crown, though there were many times Gabe wished he could assure them that he wasn’t the degenerate they read about in the news sheets. However, as secrecy was utmost important in his profession, his sisters might never learn that he wasn’t what all of what Society believed him to be. Hopefully by being in Cornwall, far away from London and sequestered in a girls school, they knew little to nothing of what was being said about him.

  So far, he’d enjoyed a visit with Victoria and Olivia, and Gabe found himself relaxed, seeing that they had grown into confident young women, even if a bit more reserved than he’d like. Then again, the two had always been quiet, preferring each other’s company over anyone else in the household, not that he could blame them since their family estate wasn’t exactly a pleasant place to reside.

  “Girls, as you will be visiting during the Christmas holiday, why don’t you run upstairs and choose the suite of rooms you’d prefer.”

  Victoria straightened and set the cup and saucer on the table. “Might we explore the stables as well as the house?”

  “Of course.” His sisters had always been horse mad. “You might recognize a chocolate mare.”

  She nearly squealed when she jumped from the settee. “You brought Daffodil?”

  Gabe laughed, especially relieved to see her quiet reserve slip away. “Yes. As soon as I knew I’d be moving to Harrington, I retrieved her from the estate in Kent.”

  “What of Poppy?” Olivia asked with concern.

  “Do you think I’d leave your horse behind and bring only Victoria’s?” He was just thankful his brother hadn’t sold them since he was doing his best to rid the family estate of any reminders that he had younger siblings or a mother. In fact, most of the belongings Gabe had brought to Harrington Manor he’d taken from the family estate. Items that his brother wanted gone before the year’s end or he’d have them destroyed, including the portrait of their mother, which Gabe had hung in the room they now occupied. The rest of the items were what clothing and personal belongings his sisters had left behind when forced to leave with little more than what they wore, which happened to be black since they’d buried their father only the day before. That was almost two years ago, and Gabe had taken leave of his duties to secure clothing and a place where his sisters could live. The Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies had turned out to be the perfect location as they could reside there, thrive, and receive the education that he could not provide. What did he know of setting up a household and managing accounts or servants?

  “Would you like to join us, Miss Morris?” Olivia asked.

  The teacher cast Gabe a glance.

  “I’d like to discuss your progress in school with Miss Morris. Go along, see to your horses and then explore the house.”

  They practically ran from the parlor in their excitement, which relieved him of much of his concern. When they first arrived, the two were polite, though not quite cold. He was afraid they’d never exhibit or enjoy youthful exuberance since much of their lives had been spent hidden in the nursery, out of sight of their father and Peter. Though Gabe would have liked to have seen to their care himself, his profession and sordid reputation made it impossible.

  “More tea, Miss Morris?”

  “Yes, please.”

  A footman stepped forward and retrieved her cup while Gabe studied the teacher. Was this beautiful, young blonde really his contact? He’d read the documents Hopkins provided, and knew her to be three and twenty, but Gabe just hadn’t expected the woman, on the verge of spinsterhood by profession alone, to be so beautiful with golden hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin, and perfectly formed coral lips. It was a shame that someone such as Miss Morris was hidden away from Society. Honestly, it was a surprise she’d not already married.

  “You may leave us,” Gabe directed the footman after he handed Miss Morris her tea. “We will require privacy.”

  The man nodded and quit the room, closing the door behind him. Gabe only knew a few of the servants. The remainder of the staff had been sent by Hopkins or someone from the Home Office, and
they were already waiting to put the rest of the house in order when he arrived only a few hours ago. They all worked for the same employer, and they were here to assist him if necessary. When this mission was over, they’d be given new assignments. The only reason Gabe was owner of the manor was because he was here as himself, otherwise he could have been the footman pouring tea, and another gentleman would be here sitting with Miss Morris.

  “I understand that you and I have an acquaintance in common,” Gabe began. Just because she was his introduction to the owners of Creighton Manor and any other neighbors he might need to meet, or to warn him of any neighbors that might be a concern, did not mean he would not first confirm that he was speaking to the correct operative.

  “Lord Hopkins, yes. He visited his daughter a few days ago and we spoke.” Her voice was light and delicate, with an underlying confidence and a hint of French in her accent. “He told me to expect you.”

  Gabe nodded and took a sip of his tea.

  “Now that you have arrived, I’ll advise Mr. and Mrs. Kazakov so they can issue an invitation to dine at Creighton Manor along with Lord and Lady Severen and Mr. Dimitri Petrov.”

  He knew Lord and Lady Severen and had worked with the couple in the past.

  “Will you also be present?” Gabe asked.

  “Yes. Mrs. Kazakov is one of my dearest friends so no one will think it odd that I am invited.”

  Mrs. Kazakov, formerly the teacher, Natalie Pritchard, had once been known as Natasha Petrov. Dimitri Petrov was her older brother and friend to Anton Kazakov. Their connection was linked back to not only Saint Petersburg, but the Home Office as well. The two men nearly lost their lives on behalf of England, and for a time, it was believed the men had died.

  “Will your father and brothers also be present?”

  She gave a quick shake of her head. “I have not been in the company of my family since I lived in France. It is safest for them if everyone believes they’ve abandoned me.”