Netherby Halls (15 page)

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.”

“Good night then,” she said, moving past him and out
the front door.

* * *

The marquis stood thoughtfully for a long moment
before he turned toward the anteroom to Bianca Sallstone’s private
quarters. He noticed a light flickering where the headmistress’s
door met the hardwood floor.

When he knocked, Miss Sallstone opened the door wide
and smiled a welcome.

“Why, my lord, how nice.” Bianca Sallstone put a hand
to her tousled curls. She stepped aside and waited for him to
enter, inviting him to be seated with a wave of her hand.

He took a moment to slip off his greatcoat and draped
it over a nearby empty chair, dropping both his top hat and gloves
there as well before taking up a seat.

Bianca’s eyes brightened appreciatively, he noted, as
she looked him over and wet her lips with a lingering tongue.

She sat behind her desk, smoothed the silk of her
skirt, and then folded her hands on the desk in front of her.
“Well, now that we are comfortable, my lord, may I inquire what
lucky thought brought you to Netherby?”

Slowly he crossed his ivory covered thighs and tapped
his knee. He examined his black hessians as though only their shine
was important before bringing his eyes back to her lovely
countenance. “I am a careful man, Mistress Sallstone. When we spoke
earlier, I mentioned the fact that I was interested in subscribing
to Netherby—I still am. However, I reserve the right to make
sporadic visits, just to assure myself that all goes on as it
should, when I
am not
expected.”