Netherby Halls

Miss Saunders:

You were most kind, and I do indeed thank you for trying to help, but I must do as I am told. There is no other way, though in truth, I am ever so frightened.

Beth

Faith, thought Sassy, what does this mean? Who is Beth? Is she a student? What did she have to do with Miss Saunders? Once again, Sassy was certain that Miss Saunders had not run off. But here was just one more question: who was Beth, and why was she frightened?

~ Fifteen ~

SASSY HELD HER soft gray velvet skirt up as she hurried downstairs the following morning. It was still quite early, and the machinations of the school had not yet begun. However, she was certain that Molly could be found in the kitchen with her mother.

She reached the first floor and started down the hall towards the kitchen when the sound of clip clop on wood brought her head around.

“Molly,” Sassy said quietly.

“Oh, Miss, my, ye be that lovely, even at this hour. Just look at ye! My, my,” said Molly admiringly. “What are ye doing up and about? Ye’ll tire yerself out, ye will,” Molly reprimanded her with affection.

Sassy smiled warmly at the freckle-faced girl and touched her chin. “Adorable girl, but I need you for a moment, if you have the time?”

“Of course I do, but first let me jest put the last of the silver on the table,” Molly said, running ahead and into the dining room. She returned after a few moments. “There, I’m yers, I am.”

Sassy took her hand and steered her away from the main hall. When she was sure they would not be overheard by anyone who might pass by, she said, “Molly, is there a student at Netherby by the name of Beth?”

Molly immediately sounded out the name and repeated it. “Beth? Could be Elizabeth. She is in your class.”

“No, she doesn’t go by Beth, only Elizabeth. Anyone else?”

“Well, yes, but she isn’t here anymore. There was a girl in Miss Graves’s class—Mary Beth Hodges. Everyone called her Beth, as there were too many Marys, ye see.”

“Where is she now?”

“Odd what happened with her. She was due to leave in June but stayed on a bit. She was unhappy, real unhappy and skittish too, but wouldn’t confide in any of the girls, so I never did know what was wrong with her.”

“Do you know where they sent her?”

“Hmmm, can’t say that I do, but I heard her once tell Miss Saunders she would die if they made her go to that awful place. I happened to overhear her telling Miss Saunders that she was in trouble and that they wanted her to go somewhere awful. I remember feeling sorry for her. When I didn’t see her here anymore, I jest thought she ended up running off.” Molly eyed Sassy and asked, “Why do ye ask, Miss Winthrop?”

Unable to give her an honest answer, Sassy hedged. Molly saw it at once and lowered her voice. “Something havey cavey going on here, ain’t there? Papa says he is sure of it, and Mama frets over it. Says she doesn’t know what it is, but she says it can’t be anything good with all the sneaking about and lying going on.”

“Thank you, Molly,” Sassy said without addressing her comment. “But tell me, did Beth have a friend her own age, besides Miss Saunders?”

“I couldn’t say as I really didn’t see her that often, but I know that Delia Standish was with her more than any other. Ye might want to speak to her.” Molly reached out and touched Sassy’s arm. “But, Miss, don’t go poking around. ’Tis what Miss Saunders was doing just before she vanished.”

Sassy patted her hand. “Don’t worry, Molly, I won’t disappear on you. But, Molly, don’t speak of this—our little talk stays between us, right?”

“God slap me down if I so much as opens m’mummer to spill a word of what is betwixt us,” swore the young girl solemnly.

“Thank you, Molly.” Sassy smiled.

“But, Miss, ye best don’t be trying to snatch any tigers by the teeth. They would tear ye to ribbons, if ye catch m’meaning,” Molly warned sagely.

“Do we have tigers we need to watch out for, Molly?” Sassy asked quizzically.

“Aye, that we do, maybe worse,” the girl said as she walked off towards the kitchen.

Sassy watched after her and rubbed her ring absently. Again, she felt that something was off at Netherby, but she couldn’t fathom just what it was. Her magic wouldn’t let her look into the future, but she wondered if it would let her look into the past. If she used Beth’s note to Miss Saunders … perhaps?

Some hours later, grateful to her responsive class for taking her mind off these worries, Sassy watched Delia Standish during lunch. She saw a tall, thin, poised young lady of fifteen. But something in her dark brown eyes troubled Sassy.