~ 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.