Netherby Halls

“What other things?”

“That is not for your young ears—nor my Molly’s, so don’t be asking her, for she’ll never rest till she knows. Ye both be too danged curious for yer own good.” He halted his horses and said, “If it is some shopping ye need, this is the street to do it on.”

Sassy picked up her skirts and nimbly made her way off the short steps of the wagon’s seat to the cobblestone. However, she then twisted her ankle slightly as she took her first step.

She held the carriage a moment as she shook out her foot and smiled up to thank him, but he stayed her. “Hold on, Miss, ’tis a goodly walk back to the school, every bit of an hour’s walk. Best head back well before dark sets in,” he said gruffly. Without waiting for an answer he set his horses back in motion.

Smiling over the man’s odd manners, Sassy made her way down the avenue to a fabric shop, quickly chose a length of pretty, pale green cotton, had it wrapped in a brown paper bundle, and left the shop.

The scent of freshly baked pastries took strong hold of her, and before long she had purchased a tiny cake and began the happy process of devouring the delectable as she walked and looked into storefront windows.

By the time she neared the edge of town and the main road back to Netherby, she was sure her little package had mysteriously gained weight. Her arm ached as she stopped and shifted her package to the other hand.

The sound of approaching wheels and horses’ hooves brought Sassy’s head around. She was quick to recognize the gentlemen she had encountered on her way to Netherby, and her heart began to race when the coach slowed to a stop near her.

One of these gentlemen she would, she believed, never forget, for although she had not had that erotic dream since that first time she saw him in person in Sutton Village, she had been thinking of him frequently, especially after their meeting in the road.

Sitting beside Percy Lutterel was a young, pretty, and fashionable young woman in a haze of pink from top to bottom.

“Hallo, Miss Winthrop,” Mr. Lutterel said as he jumped nimbly down from the coach. He tipped his hat as he walked towards her.

The Marquis of Dartmour moved closer to the window, and just at that moment Sassy’s gaze met with his bright blue eyes.

She nearly gasped at the rush of sensation that flooded her. It felt as though her blood was on fire with a fever. Why did this happen whenever he was near? Apparently I am forever destined to meet him on the road.

No sooner did this thought enter her mind than she s

aw a look of surprise click into his glittering blue eyes and heard words that never came from his lips as he answered her, And apparently destiny just might be the answer.

Sassy tried to recoup from this startling event. She had only been able to exchange thoughts with her mother and now and then with her father. Never before had it occurred with anyone else! What was happening to her? Had he answered her? Or had she imagined it? Had she read his thoughts? Was that it?

Her magic, she knew, had increased with her ‘coming of age’. Her mother had explained that this would happen as soon as she reached her majority, which she’d described as the beginning of a special time of transition when Sassy would have to learn to control some very startling realizations.

She had asked her mother to explain what this meant, but all she would say was that it was different for each woman blessed with the power of white magic.

“What …?” she asked, feeling foolish, for she’d heard Mr. Lutterel speaking but had not been able to concentrate on what he said.

“I asked if it was Miss Winthrop,” Mr. Lutterel repeated. “Do I have that right?”

“Yes, sir, it is. You have a commendable memory,” Sassy answered, giving the young woman inside the coach a sweeping smile. The pert blonde inside the carriage did not look pleased.

Mr. Lutterel, it appeared, noted the same circumstance just at that moment and hastened to right his oversight. “Thank you, you know already my friend here, the Marquis of Dartmour, and this is my cousin, once removed, Miss Sophia Delleson.”

Sassy observed the look on Mr. Lutterel’s face; it appeared to her he worshipped the young lady.

Miss Delleson regarded Sassy with a cool smile as she took her measure and inclined her head. Sassy could see a calculating look in her glance. When her voice came, it purred. “Percy, however did you find time to make acquaintances in Bristol? I have lived here all my life and have never come across Miss Winthrop, or any of her family—anywhere.”

“Miss Winthrop has only just arrived in Bristol,” the marquis said smoothly, his face giving away nothing of what he felt. His thoughts were once again cut off from Sassy.

“Oh well, that would explain why I did not recognize the name. Still, one would think…?”

Though the marquis’s expression didn’t change, Mr. Lutterel blushed at his beloved’s cattish manners. “The marquis and I were fortunate enough to be on hand when Miss Winthrop’s carriage broke down,” he said, “though I am sorry to state that we were unable to be of any meaningful assistance.”

“I see,” said Sophy, still cool.

Sassy did not appreciate Miss Delleson’s superior attitude or the fact that her position on the road forced her to strain her neck to carry on a conversation. She felt her temper on the rise but controlled herself as she said, “Please, Mr. Lutterel, there is no need for such explanations. I believe Miss Delleson has a very good understanding of my situation. Your cousin obviously and quite correctly assumes that she and I have not met because I lack the necessary credentials that would enable me to travel in what she has been taught are the ‘first circles’. And I doubt that the fact that I am a teacher at Netherby Halls will alter her opinion of my status.” She inclined her head. “Good day.” She began to move off, but the marquis jumped from the coach and came to stand in front of her.

“Surely you don’t think that we would allow you to walk, carrying a package, all the way back to Netherby?”