Netherby Halls

by Claudy Conn

  The mention of the marquis’s title had set the tavern keeper at ease almost at once. The danger that this gentleman might be an investigator was at once put to dust. Noblemen were all given to such queer starts. For his part, he would have preferred any of the buxom beauties waltzing about his floor. What men wanted with the dainty frailties supplied by his silent and too often absent cohort was more than he could fathom. “My partner will see ye by the end of the week.”

  “I am not a patient man,” the marquis answered. “See to it that he does not dally.”

  “Ye have m’word. Ye’ll be ’earing from him by the end of the week, ye will.”

  The marquis did not condescend to reply to this but gave the man his back and found Percy taking the voluptuous singing woman off the table and into his arms!

  The marquis grinned boyishly as though he had not just been striking up a deal with the devil and broke out laughing as the woman toppled both Percy and herself to the floor.

  They laughed and kissed heartily, and then off she went to mingle amongst her cohorts, leaving Percy grinning broadly and the marquis to pronounce, “Too much woman for you, eh, ol’ man?”

  “Eh, oh … I can’t think of any other. Pledged heart, soul and—” He waved a hand over himself. “—body … and body … to the love of m’life.” He frowned. “But, Justin, I am hungry. In fact, ravenous. Dinner, I say, but, damn, not here.”

  “Right you are! Dinner. Come on, Percy, to the Warwick House for our meal!”

  ~ Thirteen ~

  SASSY STOMPED AROUND her room for a few minutes, unclear just what had her more upset, the fact that the marquis had kissed and nearly propositioned her or the undeniable truth that she had wanted him to kiss her. Oh faith, she had wanted him to kiss her!

  She had learned on her second day at Netherby that the bathing tubs were located in a room just off the large kitchen and had already utilized it on two occasions. The room had its own fireplace where one could warm the water for the tub. She made her way there, and after a few trips carrying water to the fireplace and then to the tub, she was quite ready to sink into the welcoming bath suds and relax. She pulled the screen in place, put a chair at the door, as it did not have a lock, and sank into the lovely soapy water.

  However, she could not get the marquis and his hot kisses off her mind. He made her feel such things—things she was very sure a respectable and unmarried woman should not feel.

  Molly pushed at the door and, finding it blocked, called out, “Miss Winthrop, would ye be taking Sunday dinner with the others in the dining room?”

  “No, thank you, Molly. I think I’ll just take a plate and go on up to my room after my bath,” Sassy called back.

  “I’ll fetch it fer ye, I will.”

  A few moments later, as she toweled off and wrapped herself in a warm velvet robe, Molly arrived with a plateful of food. She thanked her and made her way up the backstairs to her room. There she sat with a sigh and proceeded to pick at her food. Finally, she set it aside and climbed into bed.

  Sleep came fitfully.

  Dr. Bankes was in her dream, whispering in her ear, but the marquis pushed him aside. He took her hand and shoved her behind his back, and she clearly heard him say, “Stay behind me.” Why? Then her vivid, all too real dream centered on Bankes. He pulled out a pistol and aimed it at the marquis!

  Dr. Bankes was armed … the marquis was not.

  She awoke with a start and touched her ring. It was beginning to become apparent that if she was ever to understand what was happening to her, she was going to have to ask her ring to show her. She knew she was falling into a habit of turning to her ring, but matters were not normal at Netherby, and she believed the situation called for some otherworldly help. And she just couldn’t continue with these confusing dreams.

  She rubbed her ring and whispered, Show me.

  A cloud formed, no bigger than two feet in diameter, and then it cleared to display its contents.

  Instead of the scene where Bankes held a pistol threateningly pointed at the marquis, Sassy found herself watching the marquis undress.

  He turned to her, and his eyes held a strange glow around the deep blue color.

  “You have always known,” he said softly.

  “Known? Known what?” she whispered.

  “Here, let me help you,” he said, ignoring her question as he undid the buttons of her dark velvet gown. Where had she gotten such a gown? Its style was definitely high fashion, and suddenly she noticed the diamonds around her neck. How? Where was she? She looked around. They were in the bedroom, the bedroom where she’d first seen him.

  Her gown fell to the floor. She helped him remove her small things, and he stood back to look at her wearing only the diamonds at her ears and neck. His eyes were bright with desire and something else. “Luscious,” he whispered.

  “Stop!” she told her ring. “This is not what I wanted to see!”

  She played with her fingers fretfully. What was happening to her? Oh, Mama, she thought, I wish you were here to explain it all.

  I am, said a soft voice that seemed to caress her, and it came to her all at once! Her mother’s Book of Light, invisible to all without magic. She rushed to her portmanteau, where only one object remained unpacked: an ornately carved wooden box.

  She rubbed her ring and whispered, “Open.” The lid flipped back gently, and Sassy scooped up the small leather satchel hidden within.

  “Now,” Sassy said, still speaking to herself in a whisper, “we shall see.” However, it was at this point that Sassy heard a sound outside and went to her window, only half-shielded by the first panel she had sewn and put up earlier.

  As soon as she looked out her window, she immediately withdrew and placed herself flat against the wall. Then, bent low and in a crouched position, she blew out the candles on the sideboard table.

  Hurriedly she straightened slightly and looked out the window. Intruders, two, she thought. It wasn’t clear, as the light was that of only a half moon, but one of the men boldly carried a lantern, and she focused on his movements. He was enswathed in dark clothing—but, faith, what was that on his head? A turban? Was he wearing a turban? That didn’t make sense.

  The other man had his back to her, but he appeared tall and well built. He wore a dark coat and an old-fashioned tri-cornered hat.

  Three of them—there were three of them! What did they want? Why were they here? She could think of nothing that had any great value at the school. Yet, they had the look of thieves!

  Hastily she slid into her slippers and tied her serviceable wrapper tightly around herself before making a mad dash for the stairs.

  She reached the first-floor landing and nearly skidded to a halt, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle any sound. Disbelief suddenly took command of her senses, and she gave way to her wobbly knees and crouched in the dark, flat up against the banister.

  The iniquitous sight that had sent her into such a state was that of Miss Sallstone, appearing fully awake, holding a glass-encased lighted candle and opening the doors wide with a welcoming whisper.

  Shocked, Sassy watched the woman usher in the three men, one of whom one looked to be a brute with an untrimmed beard, swarthy and crude-featured.

  Miss Sallstone invited these blackguards into the school … and then she led them to her private quarters across the hall.

  What the deuce was going on? Unconsciously she rubbed her ring, and a voice, her mother’s, whispered in her ear, Evil, my daughter. It permeates the air at Netherby. Be careful.

  * * *

  Lessons went well, although Sassy had a difficult time concentrating. Her mind flitted between thoughts of the marquis and of the elusive mystery surrounding the headmistress and the men she had invited into her private quarters. What was it all about? Just what was the woman doing entertaining such men at a school for young ladies—and in the middle of the night?

  But the question remained: what could she do? Were the girls in any danger? Something
inside told her they were. The answer was clear: she would have to keep a silent watch, at least until she could discover more.

  After all, she saw nothing amiss—other than the impropriety of entertaining questionable gentlemen so late into the night.

  After lunch her students went, according to their schedule, to their music class. Sassy wandered toward her favorite woodland path. She hadn’t gone far when the handsome Dr. James appeared and detained her.

  “Miss Winthrop, how good you are to me,” he remarked happily as he approached her with a wide, boyish grin that lit up his attractive face.

  She smiled in response. “How so?”

  “I was just wondering where I might find you during the girls’ music lesson, and out you stroll right before my adoring eyes.” He gave her a slight bow. “And may I tell you how lovely you are in sunlight. Very few maids can have such a thing said about them, you know.”

  It flitted through her brain that the good doctor seemed to know a great deal about her students’ schedule, and that struck her as odd. However, he was amusing, and she laughed shortly and said, “Dr. Bankes, you rush at me at a most blinding speed. Really, sir, you give me no opportunity to reprimand you, as you justly deserve.”

  “Whatever do you mean?” he answered, grinning broadly.

  “You throw your delicious compliments at me so quickly that if I am not careful, you shall turn my head,” she bantered.

  He laughed. “But I object, it is not a compliment, it is truth, m’girl—truth!”

  “’Tis nonsense. Gratifying, but nonsense, all the same.” She started walking once more, and he fell into step beside her.

  “Then nonsense is what you must hear as long as I have breath,” he returned gallantly.

  She laughed out loud. “Now that sounds plain silly.”

  “Yes, yes, it does,” he agreed, reaching for and obtaining her gloved hand. He brushed her bare wrist with a quick kiss and said, “I have come to ask a favor.”

  “Aha, so, there was a purpose to your compliments.” She arched a playful look at him.

  “Indeed. Miss Winthrop, I have come to ask that you accompany me. You see, there is a traveling band of actors giving a showing of The Taming of the Shrew …” He hesitated and looked at her expectantly.

  She felt a blush enter her cheeks. “That is most kind. It would not, however, be seemly for me, in my present situation, to be seen at the theater with you, unchaperoned.”

  “Aha! I am not obtuse to the proprieties, and although I care little for them, I am aware that those proprieties would weigh with you. Hence, I have taken the liberty of purchasing fourteen tickets. Miss Graves advises me that there are twelve students in your class. That leaves us two tickets with which to accompany them and make sure they do not get into any mischief!”

  Sassy blinked, for she had not expected this and was, in fact, flattered that he had gone to such trouble on her behalf. “You astound me! I … why … I know not what to say.”

  “What else but yes? You surely would not deprive your students of such a classical outing?” the doctor replied with a mischievous look in his eyes.

  “But this must have cost you a great deal?” Sassy exclaimed.

  “Yes, it did. That is why you must accept—for now I shall have to work hard, so much harder to cure the ills of patients far and wide so that I do not fall into debt,” he said with a dramatic wave of his hand.

  She laughed and inclined her head. “Then on behalf of my students and myself, I do accept. Thank you.”

  Dr. James Bankes bowed his head. “You have made your humble servant exceedingly happy.”

  ~ Fourteen ~

  SASSY WAS EXCITED at the prospect of going to the theatre and looked forward to it with great anticipation.

  No nightly visitors appeared again to disturb her peace and worry her mind, and Sassy filled the ensuing days with student activities. However, by the end of the week, the arrival of the Marquis of Dartmour at Netherby blew such forced calmness to smithereens.

  Sassy’s afternoon was at a happy conclusion, for she had tutored, she had finished sewing the remaining panel of her window draping, she had repaired damage to her redingote, and she had just sighed in realization that she was left with nothing to do.

  It was already a gray day and getting darker as night approached, but, she told herself, there would be no harm in taking a stroll about the grounds. She donned her drab brown pelisse, slid on her gloves, and made her way downstairs just as the front doors opened to divulge the marquis’s arrival.

  She hadn’t thought it possible for her heart to beat as fast as it had suddenly begun thumping. A rush of forceful feeling welled up inside her and burned as it lodged in her throat. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t feel, and now, she knew why. Her mother’s ‘secret manuscript’ had revealed to her what ‘transition’ meant to the white witches of her family—not only did it mean that great magical power was at hand, it also meant her true mate would be disclosed. Thus, was he her true mate? Was her magic forcing her to feel this strong attraction for him, or was it real? She wished she knew if this was what her mother had experienced when she’d chosen her father. She had to know if this was real.

  She found herself frozen on the last step, staring across the central foyer at him. His eyes, blue and full of life, stared back at her as he murmured, “Miss Winthrop.”

  “Yes,” she said, evidently agreeing that was who she was.

  “How fortunate, indeed how fortunate I am to find you just at this moment. I was sure you would not agree to see me, but in spite of that fear, I came in hopes that you would,” he said breathlessly.

  “I-I … well, you see, I am on my way out … going for a walk,” Sassy murmured.

  “Ah, have you had me on trial and sentenced me without reprieve?” he said, his blue eyes twinkling.

  She laughed in spite of the fact that she wanted to bolt past him. “If that is your form of apology, I accept,” she said, taking the last step and walking towards him. Her feet were not listening to her. This was not what she wanted to do. She wanted to keep a distance between them—she had to.

  He had moved into position to block her path, and she made no attempt to go around him, although she could have. She knew she could have, but instead looked up at his devastatingly handsome face, into his mesmerizing blue eyes, and said, “My lord …”

  “Yes, and I find a strange urge to say, my lady, for you are,” he whispered softly.

  “I don’t understand. I am but a vicar’s daughter. Now, please let me pass,” she said, not wanting to pass at all.

  Sparks burst between their bodies. It was as though energy had formed a net and wrapped them within its web. She felt herself pulled closer to him. She had to get control, but how could she when this, this was all written?

  “What is written?” he asked suddenly, his dark brows forming a frown.

  What—impossible? How could he hear her thoughts? “I … don’t know what you mean,” she said, not looking at him.

  “You just said, it is written,” he said.

  And so it was—not his name, just that she would dream of her mate, he would come to her, she would know him. How had he heard her think that? “I never spoke any such words,” she said. “Now, let me pass.”

  “Miss Winthrop, please, I would like to make a new start. Won’t you let me?”

  New start? He had hit a nerve. “Yes, of course,” she answered immediately and without thinking it out.

  “Then, if you would allow—I would be honored if you would consider joining my party for dinner and the theatre on Friday evening. I know it is short notice, but I only just became aware the troop was in town and would be performing tomorrow night.”

  He expected her to say yes. She saw that in his eyes, felt and sensed it with every nerve, and she discovered without any doubt that she wanted to say yes to this man who stopped and started her heart with the sound of his voice. But she couldn’t say yes and realized how very disappointed
she was as she told him, “I am afraid it is impossible, my lord, but thank you … thank you so much.”

  “No?” He frowned, but then his brow cleared. “Ah, but let me explain. Both Miss Delleson and Mr. Lutterel will be with us, which makes it quite an exceptional outing.”

  “Nevertheless, as much as I would have enjoyed the pleasure of … of all of your company, I am unable to join you,” Sassy replied, reluctant to tell him why.

  He wasn’t giving up. “Sophy … Miss Delleson has expressly mentioned to me that I must not walk away unless you agree. She will be greatly, and poutingly, disappointed. I do assure you, Miss Winthrop, you will be comfortable, for I shall not do anything you may not like.”

  His eyes and their blue color looked like warm pools she could dive into, get lost in, seek comfort in … What was happening to her? She wanted this man with every fiber of her being. How could this be? She scarcely knew him.

  “I could not accept if it were the Prince Regent himself doing the asking, my lord. You see, I have already accepted Dr. Bankes’s very kind invitation to the same performance.”

  “Ah, and of course the proprieties needn’t be considered when you are accompanied by the good Dr. Bankes?” His voice was dry and his words clipped.

  “Dr. Bankes was thoughtful enough to include my class in the invitation, so I have no fears that the proprieties are in danger,” she responded curtly.

  “Smooth, very smooth of your doctor. I must give him that. I was not aware that country doctors were so well affluenced. He must have a thriving practice, for theatre tickets are dear.”

  His words found a home in Sassy’s brain and snuck up on her. She had not thought of this. Poor Dr. Bankes. And how kind of him, she added in her mind. Another voice whispered, Interesting.

  She said, “Well, if you have nothing further to speak to me about, I would like to proceed with my evening stroll.”

  “There is much I would like to speak to you about, Sassy,” he said using her given name in a low, sensual tone that went right through her and made her eyelashes flutter. “However, I fear you are not ready.”