Netherby Halls

by Claudy Conn

  The marquis whispered an incantation and saw the butler’s face go blank. He walked inside and to be certain asked, “Tell me, where is Mr. Lutterel, my man?”

  “I think in the study, my lord,” the butler answered vaguely.

  “Thank you,” the marquis said with a short smile.

  * * *

  Hiding in her room, Sassy tried to sort out her thoughts and put them in logical order. The trouble with that was her heart. Her emotions were at a high. What had he said to her? Why did he speak in riddles? Did he care for her? It had felt as though he truly cared for her, but if he did, why not say so?

  Also, when the rider with the tri-cornered hat had passed by, her inner magic shouted in her mind the word evil.

  Decidedly, and without a doubt, call it instinct, call it sixth sense, call it what she knew it to be, magic! Whether she wanted it to be so or not, she was a white witch, and that white witch inside her told her the man in the seaman’s tri-cornered hat was evil to the core. Well, then, what was he doing with the headmistress?

  She needed answers, and she started listing what she knew.

  Firstly, Delia came to mind, and the missing girl Beth, somehow wrapped up with the missing Miss Saunders. Something was terribly wrong, and somehow it was connected to the headmistress and the bearded man. No doubt—she had absolutely no doubt.

  She made up her mind, and with that, she made her way back downstairs and crossed over into the girls’ wing. Glancing down the hall, she could see that most of the doors were closed tight. Sassy had no notion which room was Delia’s.

  She was making her way to one of the few open doors when the sound of girls’ titters halted her. Sassy’s instincts went into play, and she gave them full reign as she stood and waited.

  “So blubber-headed he was. I don’t think he has ever had it before. Gawd, but he did make me laugh,” an unseen face and unfamiliar voice remarked.

  “What did you do?” asked another girl. Sassy recognized the voice as Caroline Hughes’s.

  “As he had his eyes closed, I was obliged to keep mine open while I took care of him.” The girl’s words were accompanied by hysterical laughter.

  Sassy cleared her throat. Sassy had often giggled and gossiped with her own friends. She had also often heard the servants at the parsonage talking about their romantic exploits. This, however, had a different ring to it, and a sudden fear entered her mind. “Excuse me,” she said, one brow up, and then as they jumped round to see her in the doorway, “Oh, did I startle you? I am trying to locate Delia Standish.”

  “Our room is at the end of the hall,” Caroline offered as she pointed.

  “Thank you,” Sassy said, starting off.

  “But she isn’t there now. She went out with the headmistress about an hour ago,” Caroline said in an odd voice.

  Sassy thanked her and quietly withdrew. Something horrible was going on at Netherby. She had to find out exactly what. She went to her room, grabbed her cloak, and hurried back down the staircase and out for a walk.

  She reached the rill that wound its way through the wooded walking path and listened to the water making its way over the rocks. What should she do? What proof did she have to go to anyone with her suspicions? None. She rubbed her hands together against the cold, as she had forgotten to wear her gloves.

  Her ring—should she call on the power of her ring to show her where the headmistress had taken Delia?

  “I knew I would find you here,” said James Bankes, at her back.

  She spun around, not at all pleased to be interrupted, and said with as much of a smile as she could muster, “Hello, James.”

  “What is it? Something is wrong, Sassy—it is all over your face,” he said at once with an accompanying frown.

  “Everything, James,” Sassy said, “but I just don’t know where to start.” As soon as the words were out she regretted saying anything at all.

  “Here is something new—start at the end and work your way back to the beginning.” He grinned at her as he clasped his gloved hands at his back and fell in step beside her.

  She gave him a smile and an arched look. “Don’t belittle my troubles. They are quite genuine, I assure you.”

  “Ah, I am sorry. Of course they are, but then you must not smile so radiantly at me. If we are to be grave, then let us be grave,” he teased.

  “Seriously, James, there is something very wrong, but you are friendly with the headmistress, and it wouldn’t be fair to embroil you in this,” Sassy said as it occurred to her that perhaps she should not trust him. He was sweet, he was pleasant, and he was kind. And yet, her sixth sense told her to steer away from him, and she knew her sixth sense was never, ever wrong.

  “Tell me what you think you can,” he urged gently.

  “Very well, I shall tell you this in the hopes that there might be an explanation that will set my mind at ease.”

  “Yes?”

  “The headmistress has had visitors at a very odd hour, and those visitors … don’t look respectable and certainly should not be allowed on school grounds. I know I sound like a prig, but …”

  He laughed, and the sound set her on edge. Something was off here. He should have been shocked. When she arched another look at him, he put his hands up and backed off slightly. “Well, really, Sassy, you make it sound very clandestine.”

  “And so it was. James, it was two in the morning, and she is the headmistress of a school for orphaned girls with gentry as family. What if one of them happened to be up, on her way to the kitchen or playing some prank as young people do, and they witnessed these men visiting the headmistress? Not only was it a very odd hour to receive visitors, but these, as I said, were not respectable in appearance.”

  Dr. Bankes no longer smiled. “I see,” he said.

  “You don’t seem shocked,” she said, eyeing him curiously. He was going to offer her an explanation. Her magic whispered, Careful, over and over again.

  “Only that she allowed herself to be caught.” Although Sassy had promised herself to be ready for his answer, she had not expected this answer.

  “What?” she exclaimed.

  “I don’t have the right to tell you this, for it was told to me in confidence. However, I believe I must in order to dispel whatever wild notions are racing through your young head,” said the doctor.

  “What?” Sassy repeated.

  “Mistress Sallstone is married,” he said softly.

  Sassy was taken aback. “I thought she was a widow?”

  “So did she. She thought her husband was lost at sea. He suddenly turned up here, and she discovered that he has sunk beneath saving. He wants money from her. He threatens to expose her and their marriage, and she pays him to be quiet. But what you were doing up and about at such an hour,” he said, shaking his head, “has me baffled.”

  Sassy was surprised by his words. Everything still felt wrong. He seemed to take this in stride, and she held herself aloof as she answered, “That is what has you baffled? As it happened, I awoke from a nightmare and thought I heard intruders.”

  “Ah, of course. Well, with any good luck he should be putting out to sea, and Miss Sallstone will no longer be bothered with him.”

  Sassy gazed at him for a long moment. A drum was pounding out a beat, and the word she heard over and over was danger.

  He asked, “What else troubles you?”

  “Naught.”

  “Good, good,” he said. Sassy had the feeling he was anxious to quit her company. He took her arm and led her back towards the school, and she did not demur. She wanted to see for herself if her suspicions were correct.

  “Don’t go wandering about at night, Sassy. I shouldn’t like you to run into him and his friends. They are, as you saw, unsavory.”

  “Hmm,” she said as a bell chimed in her head. There is so much more to it than what he told you. Don’t trust him, that bell sound pounded out those words in her mind.

  She was not totally surprised that he waited at the bottom of
the stairs while she ascended to the upper floor. He wanted to make certain she was out of the way, she thought. Well, well, what are you going to do, James Bankes, she wondered as she gave him a hurried smile and walked out of his sight.

  She pretended to go into her room and then, crouched low, went to the railing just before the staircase. She watched as he turned and went into the headmistress’s private chambers—without knocking.

  * * *

  “James, where have you been?” Bianca Sallstone demanded as he walked into the room, dropped off his gloves on a nearby settee, and removed his outer garment to throw it with some annoyance there as well.

  “We need to talk,” he said ominously.

  “What? Whatever is wrong?” she asked, moving close and putting her hands on his arms.

  “You were seen with that ugly brute you have the misfortune to be married to,” he snapped. The doctor shook his head. “What it is you ever saw in the scoundrel is beyond me.”

  “Seen? That is impossible. Who could have seen us?”

  “Sassy Winthrop.”

  “That little bitch!” Bianca exclaimed.

  “Temper now … temper. It was your own fault for not taking more care,” he answered with what he hoped was a firm warning in his voice. She could be extremely vicious when she lost control of herself, and he didn’t need her indulging in a tantrum now.

  “What was the spiteful little wench doing up at such an hour?”

  “She awoke from a nightmare and heard intruders. She was on her way to advise you of the problem when she saw them in your company.”

  “Damn her eyes!” Bianca snapped angrily. “I wrote to Edna, saying we should dismiss her, but she hasn’t replied. She probably doesn’t want to insult Lady Margate. But maybe I’ll just—”

  “Oh, do shut up. The fact is she was about to advise you that the school was being invaded by strange-looking men when she witnessed you welcoming the culprits inside your private quarters.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “The truth. I told her he was your husband, here to plague you.”

  “What?” screamed Bianca.

  “Damnation, woman, should I allow her to imagine something else was towards?” he said disgustedly. “Take care in the future.”

  “May she rot in hell. Just because she is the daughter of a vicar, you think she is Little Miss Perfect!” Bianca seethed.

  “Never mind that—just take care in the future,” Bankes warned her.

  “Devil take you too, James,” she said angrily.

  With a laugh he picked up his hat, gloves, and coat. Then he strolled out of her chambers and out the front door.

  * * *

  From the window above in the long hall overlooking the front courtyard, Sassy watched Dr. Bankes head for the carriage house. She knew something from his story was missing, but what?

  She hurried to her room, closed the door at her back, and had started to rub her ring when she was interrupted by a knock at her door. “Yes?” she called out.

  Molly opened the door and stuck her head in. “Is now a good time?” Her hands were laden with a tray of hot food.

  “You wonderful girl! Here on the table, and sit, join me,” Sassy said, realizing she was famished.

  “I ate already.” Molly smiled broadly as she sat. “But I did bring a few extra biscuits and butter to nibble on.”

  They dove into the food, and when Sassy pushed it away, satisfied, she said, “Now, where did we leave off?”

  Molly pulled out the book, and they began her next lesson.

  ~ Nineteen ~

  MONDAY BROUGHT WITH it dismal skies of gray and the threat of pouring rain. Lessons seemed drawn out and endless to Sassy. Her mind was elsewhere, and she found she had to force herself to stay focused.

  During lunch she braced herself and went in search of Mistress Sallstone, whom she found in the school library.

  She read pure hatred in the woman’s eyes, and her intuition told her that the doctor had definitely betrayed her confidence. She was surprised and hurt, but she had to admit to herself that a part of her had always held back her trust from James Bankes. She had sensed that James Bankes was not what he wanted her to think he was. She really needed to rely on her magic more than she had in the past. She was alone now without parents to shield her from the world, but she did have an ability to do so for herself. She had to listen to her instincts more, much more.

  “Mistress Sallstone, last week I put in an order for paper and have not yet received it,” she said softly but without smiling.

  “That is because it has not yet arrived from London,” Miss Sallstone replied coldly.

  “From London,” Sassy repeated in surprise. “Why from London when Bristol is so near?”

  “Because, my dear, not that it is any of your nosey business, this school is supported by Lady Devine, who presently resides in London. She makes all such arrangements for supplies. However, if you are in desperate need, we do have some credit with a local tradesman in Bristol.”

  “Desperate need? Ma’am, I have not enough paper with which to continue tomorrow’s lessons,” Sassy returned, still not smiling. She felt evil well up in the woman staring hard at her. Something dark and twisted hovered in Bianca Sallstone’s inner being. Why had she not allowed her magic to tell her that before?

  “Obtain what you can from the other teachers.” The headmistress waved her off.

  “I have tried, but they have not enough themselves,” Sassy answered.

  “Very well. Take the wagon and go get what you need. Mind now, our credit at Jameson’s is limited. Get only enough for the week. We should have all our supplies from London by that time.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sassy said as she turned to leave.

  “And, Miss Winthrop, don’t dally in town!”

  “’Tis why I am skipping lunch, and I gave the girls a reading session in case I am not back just on time,” Sassy answered as she left Bianca Sallstone at her back.

  She donned her cloak and chip hat, pulled on her kid gloves, and hurried outdoors, towards the carriage house.

  Gunther came out to meet her, and she told him she would take the cob and wagon into town. He frowned as he looked up at the sky and said, “Did she forbid ye the carriage?”

  “No, but she mentioned only the wagon,” Sassy answered, a smile curving her lips.

  “Right then, I’ll take ye, and we’ll use the carriage. It looks like the sky is about to open up, and there is no need for ye or the supplies ye be procuring to get wet!”

  Without another word, Molly’s father went and hitched up the team to the carriage. Before long they were on their way into town.

  They arrived in Bristol without incident, and Gunther drove them to Jameson’s Book Store, where she purchased her supplies.

  This done, she waited outside for the clerk to bring out and load the supplies. The attractive little store was directly opposite a busy dock, and she stared at the Sea Winds with a sudden, sick feeling.

  She watched the crates of merchandise being loaded onto the large sailing vessel. Sailors shouted merrily to one another, and on the surface nothing seemed amiss, but as Sassy gave way to her instincts and allowed her magic voice to whisper in her mind, she knew better.

  “Where is she headed?” Sassy asked Gunther.

  “North Africa.” He shook his head disparagingly. “Bless me, but I’ve heard tales about that place, wild tales, heathen life there.”

  She smiled. “Have you never wanted to travel and see what lies beyond our lovely Albion?”

  “Lord bless ye, Miss, why would I ever be wanting to do that?” he scoffed.

  She laughed good-naturedly until the sound froze in her throat. Her jaw dropped as she stared at the turbaned man—the one and the same she had seen at Netherby with the men who had visited the headmistress in the middle of the night.

  She didn’t have to stare to know it was him. Her magic clearly displayed in her mind his image together with the
bearded man, who she now knew was Bianca’s husband, and the other brute.

  She watched him take the gangplank onto the ship, and without hesitation jumped down from her vehicle, calling to Gunther that she would be right back. She dashed across the avenue, running headlong into a sailor in her mad rush.

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” The young sailor steadied her and then immediately, shyly, dropped his hands.

  “Sailor … please, just a moment,” Sassy said breathlessly. “That man, the one with the turban and robe?”

  “Whot? You mean Abdul?” the sailor asked in surprise.

  “Yes, I suppose that I do mean Abdul. Does he sail with your ship?”

  “Aye, he does. Queer one though—better give him a wide berth, Miss,” answered the young sailor.

  “Your meaning?” She gave him a winning smile.

  He was not immune to her charms as he stuttered, “Ye be the prettiest thing oi ’ave ever clapped eyes on, and that one, well, has a hard way with the ladies. Oi’ve seen him, er, rough, oi ’ave.” He clucked his tongue. “Acts loike he be a bloomin’ king, and he be naught but a servant. His master be a sheik, though.”

  “Thank you,” Sassy said and turned to cross back to the carriage.

  Gunther stood looking at her with great disapproval. “Miss, if you don’t mind my saying so, you shouldn’t be hobnobbing with the likes of that sort.”

  “Don’t worry, Gunther. Now I suppose we must hurry back to school for the afternoon lessons.”

  * * *

  The marquis, his beaver top hat tilted low on his head, his cane swinging from his gloved hand, had witnessed Miss Winthrop’s mad run across the avenue and her subsequent conversation with the young sailor.

  He was both astonished and irritated. What was wrong with her, chatting up that young sailor? The lad had not been able to take his eyes off her. Damn, didn’t she know what effect she had on men?

  After moving to a better position behind a stack of large wooden crates, he was able to hear bits and pieces of their conversation. Something about the man with the turban. Why the deuce was she interested in that blackguard, and why was she involving herself in things better left to men?