Netherby Halls

by Claudy Conn

  As she watched them, some hurriedly, write their names, her heart went out to them. She believed that she had made the right decision in coming to Netherby Halls. She also believed what she had suspected the moment she had climbed the stairs—something was off here, something dark and dangerous! Her magical aura was usually passive and calm, but now, now it was on edge.

  ~ Eight ~

  SASSY DRAPED HER dark blue redingote over her shoulders and slipped her arms into the sleeves as she made her way outdoors. She took a garden path, meandering slowly along the long drive of Netherby towards the main gate.

  It had been another long, full day, and she needed to collect her thoughts while she still had the late afternoon’s light to walk by. Her day with her class had been productive, and she had been thrilled to find most of the girls seemed to like her. In fact, she was pleased to admit to herself, she had become quite popular with them during her short time at Netherby.

  For the first time since she had left her home at the parsonage, she felt somewhat satisfied with her new life. Only somewhat though, because after a few days at Netherby she was very nearly certain a mystery enshrouded the place, and that mystery dealt in something wicked. She was beginning to think it was time to call on her magic to show her what was wrong. However, consequences, not always immediately apparent, were ever present when one used magic. One could get addicted. She would have to be careful not to turn to it every time she had a problem. In addition, she had another worry: when she pushed at the dark pulse with her white magic, it pushed back!

  The sound of a male voice broke into her musings and caused her to jump and put a hand to her chest. She turned and found an imposing figure of a tall young man clad in a dark frieze coat.

  He tipped his silk top hat, exposing a thick crop of sandy-colored hair. Even in the dwindling afternoon light, Sassy could see his clear, gray eyes were smiling warmly at her.

  “I am sorry—did I startle you?” he inquired.

  “No need to apologize,” Sassy said with a smile. “I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t notice anyone about.” She eyed him and wondered who he could be.

  “Ah, but you see, I have been stalking you,” he said teasingly and then laughed easily.

  Sassy thought the sound warm and friendly and put up a brow. “Stalking me, sir?”

  “Indeed, I confess the whole. I was just about to make my tracks to the stables and fetch my horse when I noticed you walking and had an overwhelming fancy to desert my intentions of going home just yet.” He bowed briefly. “I am Dr. James Bankes, at your service, Miss Winthrop.”

  “Oh,” Sassy said, recalling that Molly had mentioned him in connection with the headmistress. “But how did you know my name?”

  He chuckled and said, “Ah, now there is a mystery indeed. Do you like mysteries, Miss Winthrop? I own that I have a certain fascination for intrigues and such. Take your appointment to your new post here at Netherby, for example. A vicar’s daughter with something of a living, and a guardian for protection, yet she, this vicar’s daughter, prefers to leave her life of leisure and work for her sustenance. Then if that is not enough to suggest a mystery, add to it that she, this vicar’s daughter, is no doubt the most beautiful woman in all the land and should have been snapped up in marriage long ago. Now, Miss Winthrop, does not all that confound you as a mystery?”

  Sassy listened to this with growing unease. She knew he was merely flirting with her, but how did he know so much about her? And why did he seek her out? She couldn’t forget that Molly had said the headmistress entertained him in her private quarters. What did that mean exactly?

  She felt a sense of wariness. Indeed, she could only think all this information had come from the headmistress’s lips, and this was an irritant she couldn’t shake.

  Her chin went up as she turned and started back for the school. She frowned at him as he fell into step beside her. “Dr. Bankes, though I thank you for the compliment, and the pretty tale, I take leave to inform you that my past, present, and future are none of your affair. However, I feel it incumbent upon myself to straighten a crooked painting and put a fallen chair to rights, and therefore, I feel it necessary to give you the true facts. Yes, I have what some might call a ‘living’, though the more realistic might deem it pin money. Yes, again, the woman who was a dear friend to both my parents offered to allow me to live in her home when my papa died and then was kind enough to recommend me to Lady Devine, but she is not my guardian, and I did not want to impose on her kindness. Thus, I came to Netherby—your mystery is now solved.”

  “Not quite,” he said, appearing not at all abashed. “That leaves still two unanswered points.”

  “You amaze me, Dr. Bankes, for you already know more about me than I could ever hope to learn about you—all in one evening,” Sassy said dryly.

  “That is because you are far more interesting than I, Miss Winthrop. So, how is it you are not married?” he asked brazenly.

  “Outrageous! Very well, I shall tell you,” she said with exasperation. “No one has had the good sense to ask me!”

  “How remiss of the young men you have known. In fact, I can’t believe that there were any young men in your town!” Though he was obviously a flirt, his tone sounded genuine, and Sassy laughed in spite of herself.

  “In truth,” she said, “I suppose I didn’t have any real male acquaintances, and when Mama died two years ago—well … I lost interest in having a social life.” She glanced at him then. The sympathy she saw in his eyes brought a rush of heat to accost her cheeks. What was she doing, talking like this to a total stranger, one who was friendly with the headmistress?

  She pulled at her collar, tugging it tightly around her neck, and cast her eyes on the path ahead of her as she picked up her pace.

  “The breeze has gained some strength,” he said with a touch of concern in his voice. “I had better accompany you back to the school, as it is also getting late.’

  “Thank you, Dr. Bankes, but there is no need for you to walk all the way back with me.” Sassy was touched with unease. He was charming and good looking. He seemed gentle and sincere, and he also seemed interested in her. Still, she felt a tingle of something she could not name.

  “No need?” His brows went up. “Miss Winthrop, it would be a gross impertinence for me to voice my thoughts regarding my wishes on your behalf. So, I shall say simply that it is my earnest desire to further our acquaintance and I mean to do so by walking you to your school’s front door.” He shrugged, and his smile was both attractive and seductive all in one as he added, “Besides, I must take that direction if I am to collect my saddle horse and make for home.”

  She laughed at that. “Dr. Bankes, I must say I find it vastly amusing to hear you speak of impertinence in such a fashion, for you have been just that from the moment you introduced yourself.”

  He laughed as he slowed to a stop, and when she turned to look inquiringly at him he took her gloved hand and bent to kiss her wrist, saying as he lifted up from that audacious maneuver, “You aroused my curiosity.” He said as he eyed her meaningfully. “And more, and I hope to renew our lively conversation in the very near future. Shall I hold such a hope in vain?”

  He was being blatant in his flirtation, for they had only just met. Her brow was up, her voice quiet as she answered this. “Did you not say you enjoy mysteries, Dr. Bankes?” With that she moved away from him, for they had arrived at the wide stone steps to the front doors. Without looking back, she took the steps and let herself in.

  Inside, she found Molly rushing towards her and saying, “I lock up at this hour, Miss Winthrop, but I’ll get ye a key for the future, though I’ll thank ye not to mention it to the headmistress. She wouldn’t like ye to have one, but it would make it easier on me and the staff.” She smiled warmly. “Then ye can pop in and out whenever ye like, for I’ve noticed ye enjoy yer walks.”

  “Thank you, Molly. That would be so convenient,” Sassy said, marveling at the girl’s speed, for once
again she had disappeared down the corridor.

  She crossed the central hall to the staircase, but a voice at her back called her to a halt.

  “Miss Winthrop!” Miss Sallstone’s tone was severe and her face no less so as she stood in the archway of her anteroom doorway. “Please step inside, as I would like a word with you.”

  Sassy felt her heart rate increase and silently chided herself. She had nothing to concern herself about. She had a good rapport with her students and had been working very hard.

  Miss Sallstone’s slender arms crossed themselves at her heaving breast, and her expression was stormy. “I do not like to have to reprimand you so soon after your arrival,” she said, her voice harsh. “However, your thoughtless behavior tonight leaves me no choice.”

  Stunned, Sassy frowned as she shook her head slightly. “My thoughtless behavior? Whatever are you referring to?”

  “Stupid child, you don’t even realize, do you? Good Lord, I am referring to your strolling about in the dark with Dr. Bankes!”

  Sassy’s chin went up. She didn’t need to explain herself to this woman. This had nothing to do with her job. “I understood the evening hours were my own, Mistress Sallstone.” She felt her cheeks burn.

  “And so they are, but that has naught to do with discretion, and it is discretion we are referring to here. Our teachers are expected to conduct themselves in a manner beyond reproach.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more,” returned Sassy, refusing to allow the woman to lecture her. “I do not believe I conducted myself in a manner that could be considered a deviation from what is seemly.” Her temper almost got the better of her at that point, and she had to force her fists from going to her hips. “I should like to point out to you that, firstly, I was strolling on my own, and on school grounds, and in full view. Dr. Bankes—who I assumed from his air and his knowledge of my name and circumstances, was an accepted visitor at Netherby—introduced himself to me and then walked me back to the front doors. I see no impropriety in that, madam!”

  The headmistress’s cheeks blazed bright red. Her eyes were full with a loathing that surprised Sassy. She knew the woman did not like her, but this, this was unexpected.

  “I shan’t argue the proprieties with you, Miss Winthrop. While you are a member of my staff you shall observe the standards I set forth. In the future you are not to go off at night alone with a man—even if that man is as respectable as our Dr. Bankes.”

  Sassy saw at once that the woman meant to cower her with the threat of dismissal. She was in a precarious situation but could not, would not allow her to dictate to her when she knew she had done nothing wrong. “Again, I have done nothing wrong. I repeat, I was out for a stroll and bumped into Dr. Bankes, who kindly walked me to the front door. We did not hide ourselves behind a bush. We did not have a clandestine meeting.” After a deliberate pause, she said meaningfully, “Nor did we meet behind closed doors!” Sassy eyed her grimly and shook her head. “What is interesting is the fact that Dr. Bankes had been given a great deal of personal information about me—by someone here. I feel your concern is unfounded, as I know full well what conduct is and is not becoming to a lady.”

  Sassy was fully aware that she had sealed her fate with the headmistress. No doubt, a letter of complaint would go out to Edna Devine in the morning.

  * * *

  The little vicar’s daughter has a great deal to learn if she thinks she can buck me. Bianca narrowed her eyes as she studied Miss Winthrop and tried to make a decision about what next she should say and do. The chit was not biddable and therefore could be a problem. She paced and put her hands together as she thought things through.

  She had sensed from their first meeting the girl would be trouble in every imaginable way. The first thing she would do in the morning would be to send off a note to Edna and recommend the girl be dismissed. That would get rid of the threat Miss Winthrop posed to her … situation.

  “Heavens, you do have a temper, another facet of your character that makes you unsuitable for Netherby. I was trying to point out to you that the older girls might notice you with the doctor, and as they are impressionable, it wouldn’t do, as they are bound to see romance in the slightest things.”

  “I see,” Miss Winthrop allowed.

  Bianca could see that Miss Winthrop had not been taken in by this. “I caution you for your sake as well as theirs.”

  “My sake? Are you saying that the good doctor is a libertine?” Miss Winthrop asked, obviously skeptical.

  “Good gracious, no. Would I allow him here if he were? No, it is just, well, solitary walks should be taken in the daylight hours.”

  “As I am teaching most of the day, that is not quite possible.” Miss Winthrop was unrelenting. “But tell me, madam, is one of the girls ill?”

  “Why no. Whatever makes you ask such a thing?’ Bianca realized her mistake as soon as the words were out. Miss Winthrop was a clever little bitch she was going to have to get rid of, and soon.

  “I assumed so because of Dr. Bankes’s presence here. Isn’t it rather late for him to be out at Netherby without cause?”

  Bianca tried to hide the anger from her eyes as she calmed herself to answer, “Well, actually, I don’t like to speak of it, but I have terrible headaches and find sleep a chore. The doctor was here dropping off a portion of laudanum.”

  “Then, please, do not let me keep you from your rest,” Miss Winthrop said as she turned towards the exit. Though the words were polite, Bianca seethed at the impertinence in the chit’s tone.

  “Good night, Miss Winthrop. Do take our talk seriously. You would be the better for it.”

  She watched the set of the girl’s shoulders and made up her mind. One way or another, Miss Winthrop was going to have to be eliminated!

  ~ Nine ~

  WHEN SASSY’S CLASSES were over, she went looking for Miss Graves. She found her having a cup of tea in the library and approached her tentatively, unsure of the reception she would receive. To date, none of the other teachers had been friendly.

  “Sit, Miss Winthrop, and tell me—what is it?” Miss Graves motioned to a chair.

  Sassy took up a chair. “I would like to skip lunch and head into town to fetch some fabric to make curtains for my bare window,” she explained.

  “Your window …? My goodness, of course, dear.” She frowned and put a finger to her thin lips. “Puts me in mind of something odd. I seem to remember that Miss Saunders, your predecessor, had purchased a length of fabric for that very purpose.” As she sighed heavily and touched her lace-covered gray hair, a sad look came into her faded eyes. “I suppose she took it with her when she left us. Shocking thing … and so very difficult to believe. You see, Miss Saunders was such a nice young woman—oh, not in her first blush but younger than the Tyler sisters and I—and we had become friends, you see. She left without saying good-bye, and that was certainly not like her at all. She was not the sort to run off with a man, and I find it difficult to believe that she would just up and leave like that.”

  “Well, perhaps, she didn’t have a choice,” Sassy offered, “and perhaps, just perhaps, she did meet someone?”

  “No! I refuse to believe that. She just wasn’t that sort, and also, though not quite unattractive, she was not the girl a man would try and sweep off her feet, if you get my meaning. Not the sort to turn men’s heads—and no dowry.” Miss Graves sighed. “A sad mystery to me.”

  “Did she leave a note for the headmistress?”

  “Note? No—and that is the other thing. You see, she was terrified of the headmistress, and although she might have found another position, she would have left me a note, if only to set my mind at ease.” Again Miss Graves shrugged and frowned over the situation.

  Once again, Sassy had been left to speculate about her predecessor. Every magic nerve in her witch’s body was on edge. Something was off at Netherby—something sinister hung in the air and in the walls. She excused herself and headed for her room to fetch her cloak and
purse.

  * * *

  Gray was the color of the day, but Sassy didn’t think it would rain as she made her way to the school’s carriage house.

  During the week, teachers were asked not to leave school. Being under constant constraints was trying for Sassy, as it was all so new. She had never been so hampered in her life, and it was taking all her patience to deal with all the rules. In addition to the loneliness she was experiencing, she felt a bit of a prisoner. If it weren’t for the deep affection she now felt for most of her students, she would count her days as dreary.

  She arrived at the large wood and stone barn and peered inside to find the face of a tall, thin man wearing a dark wool coat and cap. He nodded at her with something of a grin. “I was wondering when ye would be looking for a ride into town.”

  “Hallo,” she said with a smile. “I am Miss Winthrop, and you must be Mr. Wilkes, Molly’s father?”

  “Aye, though you can call me Gunther, and I know who ye be.” He tipped the peak of his cap to her and gave her an apologetic smile. “I can take ye into town, but I won’t be able to wait on ye to take ye back, Miss Winthrop.”

  “Oh, I quite understand and do not mind the walk back. I am told it is only three miles from the center of town, yes?”

  “Aye, three miles, maybe a pinch less, and sorry I am that I can’t wait for ye.”

  “It doesn’t matter, and the ride into town will be a great help.” Sassy smiled brightly and added, “I have seen you in the rose gardens, and they are simply beautiful. I suppose you have double duty, here and the gardens?”

  He glanced over her approvingly. “Aye, though I get help from town with the gardens and sech.” He nodded to her and said authoritatively, “Up wit ye then, for I ’ave no time to spend wasting it jabbering wit ye here.”

  Silence reigned as he tooled the pair of chestnut cobs down the driveway. At their back was a large wagon, presently empty but about to be filled with supplies in town, Sassy thought with a smile.