Netherby Halls

These girls were orphans, from noble homes, but orphans all the same. At this stage of their lives, she knew that they lacked parental supervision. Did they also lack attention from the relatives they did have? What she knew was that they were orphans whose relatives had shipped them off to boarding school. Her heart already ached for them.

Her heart already belonged to them on that score. She smiled warmly, and many of the younger ones responded in kind. Sassy’s gaze found one young girl, and for a minute they connected and the child smiled hopefully.

“You have already been told that I am Miss Winthrop. With that knowledge, you are now quite ahead of me, and we cannot let such a situation continue. Therefore, if you will take out your paper and pens, and each write down your full names, I shall make a tour and gain an advantage. You see, I shall not only learn your name, but your style of hand as well.” Sassy hoped her smile would set them at ease.

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.”